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You don’t have to bleed on the timeline to be trusted
If you're afraid, read this
Stephen Stanberry
July 2nd, 2025
In partnership with
Let me say something you might not expect from a storytelling guy, friend:
I don’t think vulnerability is always the move.
There. I said it.
And no, I’m not saying you should be a robot.
Or that emotions don’t matter.
Or that you should never talk about the tough stuff.
But this whole “you have to bare your soul to connect” narrative?
Mid.
Because here’s what I’ve learned after working with founders and creatives for years:
You don’t have to get vulnerable to tell a good story.
But you do have to get real.
Not deep.
Not dramatic.
Just honest.
Here’s what that might look like:
– Telling a story about a client call that felt off
– Sharing the moment you decided to walk away from a dead offer
– Writing about the day you almost didn’t show up (but did anyway)
None of those require trauma dumps or sob stories.
But they do require truth.
Because what people are actually craving
is connection—
not catharsis.
They want to feel like you get them.
Not like you’re performing pain for engagement.
So yeah.
Tell your stories.
But don’t pressure yourself to make it “vulnerable.”
Make it real.
Make it human.
And let that be enough.
Cheers,
Stephen….I know slept for 2 hours
—
P.S. If you’ve been holding back because your story doesn’t feel dramatic enough to “land,”
I’d bet money it’s more relatable than you think.
Try posting it anyway.
Or send it to me.
I’ll tell you if it hits. (It will.)
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