Sales Skills / Tell Stories That Sell / Lesson 04

LESSON 04 · TELL STORIES THAT SELL

Find Stories in Your Everyday Work

Practical ways to find stories in your everyday work, because you already have a treasure of moments worth telling.

Stories are everywhere. Notice and keep them.

11 tipsEasy things to say7-day plan

11 tips that really help

These ideas come from Building a StoryBrand (Donald Miller), Pitch Anything (Oren Klaff), Made to Stick (Chip Heath and Dan Heath), and everyday practice. The first six help the most. Pick one and try it today.

TIP 1

Great stories are hiding in your week

Everyday moments with customers, colleagues and suppliers hold lessons and results worth sharing.

TRY THIS
Look back over seven days.

TIP 2

Keep a story notebook

Writing down small events as they happen stops good material from being forgotten.

TRY THIS
Carry a pocket notebook.

TIP 3

Notice moments of surprise

Unexpected events, such as a customer reaction or a small mistake, make memorable stories.

TRY THIS
Note one surprise today.

TIP 4

Collect customer questions

Common questions point to fears and hopes that a story can answer.

TRY THIS
Write the question you heard most.

TIP 5

Record small wins

A quick fix or kind word from a customer can become a short, powerful story.

TRY THIS
Add one win every day.

TIP 6

Remember your own mistakes

Honest stories about errors and lessons build trust and humanity.

TRY THIS
Choose one lesson to tell.

TIP 7

Listen to colleagues' stories

Teammates often have strong examples you can borrow with permission.

TRY THIS
Ask a colleague for one.

TIP 8

Look for before and after

Any situation that changed from worse to better can be shaped into a story.

TRY THIS
Find a clear contrast.

TIP 9

Ask customers how they would tell it

Their version often reveals what mattered most to them.

TRY THIS
Ask in a follow-up call.

TIP 10

Sort stories by theme

Group them under trust, speed, savings or care so you can find the right one quickly.

TRY THIS
Create four folders.

TIP 11

Review your collection monthly

Regularly polishing a few stories makes them ready when needed.

TRY THIS
Pick two to improve.

Easy things to say

When you are stuck, pick one of these. They work in many sales conversations.

SPOT

“That moment with the baker was a good story.”

NOTE

“Let me jot that down.”

“Here is something that happened this week.”

LEARN

“It taught me to listen first.”

THANKS

“Thank you for letting me share.”

ASK

“Has anything like that happened to you?”

Your first week

One small action a day. Each day is only a little bigger than the last.

DAY 1
Keep a story notebook

DAY 2
Write down one moment daily

DAY 3
Pick one to develop

DAY 4
Add details

DAY 5
Tell it aloud

DAY 6
Check permissions

DAY 7
Share one this week

More lessons in “Tell Stories That Sell”

Keep going. Small steps every day make a big change.

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