SHORT Stories Win Long Meetings

One Insight

People forget claims.

They remember change.

A one-minute story is more powerful than a five-minute résumé because it shows movement, not adjectives.

Sophie, an energy engineer, was moving into consulting.

Instead of listing her qualifications, we built a 60-second pitch focused on her clients’ pain points, not her CV.

She opened with the crisis they faced, explained her unique edge, and shared one concrete result.

The effect?

✅ Meetings got shorter.

✅ Decisions got faster.

✅ Her calendar turned into a client pipeline.

One story changed how people saw her and how quickly they said yes.

Use this structure to tell stories that stick:

S – Situation: Set the context — what’s happening now?

H – Hero: Show your relevant edge (why you?).

O – Obstacle: Describe the challenge or tension.

R – Resolution: Explain your approach or action.

T – Transformation: End with a clear, measurable change — a number, behavior, or reduced risk.

💡 Tip: Draft three SHORT stories; one for your customers, one for your team, and one for your board.

Rehearse until you can tell each story while walking.

If you can’t say it while moving, your audience won’t be moved either.

Practice makes stories natural and natural makes them memorable.

Replace your long introduction with one SHORT story.

Watch for nods, not note-taking that’s how you’ll know you’ve connected. If they ask for more, you’ve already won.

Because stories create memory. And memory creates momentum.

Et Voilà!

Link to book speaking engagement