tell a story

think about the most magnetic person you know. odds are they can tell a hell of a story. that's not a coincidence.

why storytelling is a superpower

humans have been wired for narrative since we sat around campfires. data informs, but stories persuade. facts tell people what to think; stories make them feel something. and people act on feeling, not logic.

whether you're in a job interview, on a date, leading a team, or just trying to be more interesting at dinner — storytelling is the skill that ties it all together.

the anatomy of a good story

every compelling story follows a basic structure:

setup — establish the context. who, where, when. keep it tight.

tension — something goes wrong, something unexpected happens, there's a conflict. this is the engine of your story. no tension, no interest.

resolution — how it played out. the twist, the lesson, the punchline.

that's it. three parts. you don't need to be a comedian or a novelist. you need a beginning that hooks, a middle that builds, and an end that lands.

the skills underneath

good storytelling requires a few things most people don't practice:

pacing — knowing when to speed up and slow down. pauses are powerful.

specificity — "a bar in Tucson at 2am" is infinitely better than "this one time at a bar."

commitment — half-told stories die. commit to the bit. use your voice, your hands, your face.

editing — the best stories leave things out. every detail should serve the narrative.

start practicing

next time someone asks "how was your weekend," don't say "good." tell a 60-second story about something that happened. even mundane things become interesting with the right framing.

record yourself telling a story. it'll be painful to watch. that's how you get better.

if this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.