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Your sanitized stories are killing your content

Your sanitized stories are killing your content

The stories that get the most engagement? The ones where you're holding baby bottles while your world collapses.

Stephen Stanberry
July 25th, 2025

friend, If you want to attract clients—the right ones—faster than overthinking and endless value drops...

You've got to make them feel something.

You want them to scroll, pause, and think: "Wait… that's me."

And the best way to do that?

Tell stories.

When I say stories, I don't mean fake ones and polished fiction.

Just real, human moments that reel in your ideal clients.

Stories that reflect what your audience is dealing with right now. Pull up emotions they haven't put into words. Gently call out what's holding them back.

Because let's be honest, friend:

Everyone loves a good story.

Say "Let me tell you what happened" and suddenly, everyone's listening.

That's the power of stories. They disarm people, open the door to trust, break the "teacher vs student" dynamic and say, "I've been there too, here's how I came out."

The mutual consent theory (you've seen it too)

You know when a football/soccer club fires their manager and puts out some BS statement about "mutual consent"?

Nobody actually "mutually consents" to getting fired.

But that's the sanitized version everyone tells.

And content works the same way.

People don't need another carousel with "5 ways to grow."

They want something that hits.

The right story turns silent readers into DMs. It turns doubt into "I want this." It turns "random post" into "whoa... they get me."

So if your content feels flat, people scroll past your offer, and you're doing all the things and still feel invisible...

Here are the only 3 stories you should tell:

1. The Contradiction Story

Show the official version vs. what actually happened.

Best for: Breaking false beliefs, exposing hypocrisy

Example: "For months I told people 'the company and I decided to part ways.' Reality? I got fired while feeding my twins for hiring 'too many Jamaicans.'"

2. The Bridge Story

Take us from where you were to where you are now.

Best for: Showing transformation, building credibility

Example: "I went from getting my access revoked in real time on a Google Meet to helping people tell stories that build businesses."

3. The Mirror Story

Reflect their exact reality back to them.

Best for: Making them feel seen and understood

Example: "Getting fired is like watching a football manager get sacked and reading about 'mutual consent' the next day."

Need story ideas?

The sanitized version you tell vs. what actually happened
A moment when everything fell apart while you were just trying to do your job
The ridiculous reason someone gave you for their decision

Here's the thing most people miss:

They think their messy stories make them look unprofessional (a dentist actually told me this 👀).

But your audience isn't looking for perfect.

They're looking for real.

The stories that get the most engagement? The ones where you're still holding baby bottles while your world collapses.

Not the LinkedIn-friendly versions.

That's exactly why I put together a simple guide that shows you how to find these moments in your own life and turn them into content that actually connects.

Because when your content sounds like lived experience, people listen.

And when they feel understood, they buy.

"Love, Learn, and Live Storytelling" walks you through the exact frameworks I use to turn ordinary moments into trust-building content. The same approach that turned my most embarrassing firing story into my most engaging content.

For just $7, you get the templates, examples, and story prompts that help you stop hiding behind corporate speak and start sharing the stories that make people think: "Finally, someone who gets it."

From my beautifully unfiltered journey,

Stephen

P.S. Stop telling the politically correct version. Your mess is your message, but only if you're brave enough to share it.