For years, I have suggested that people start a daily story file. At the end of each day, take two or three minutes and think about the stories that impacted you. This was a good idea because I got people thinking about their most important experiences.
But, in a recent conversation with a colleague, we realized that storytelling is such a common topic today that it may be falling on deaf ears. If people feel like, “I’ve heard it all before” then they’ll stop listening to our insights about stories and narrative.
So, we came up with a better idea. We realized that people don’t remember stories, they remember moments. There’s a reason experiences are in their memories. They have an emotional connection to them.
These brief, vivid snapshots of life are the seeds from which great stories are born. That’s what we need to capture. It’s not always easy to recall a full narrative. This is where my old advice of maintaining a story file falls short.
New And Improved Advice
My new suggestion is to create a “Moments File.” Each day, jot down those instances that resonate with you. Whether it’s a kind gesture, a humorous incident, or a moment of difficulty, these are the raw materials of compelling stories.
Invest two or three minutes every day to reflect and record. You’re preserving memories and building a reservoir of relatable, authentic material for your speeches or sales presentations.
Most of these will never show up in your presentations. However, the most impactful will be the seeds of stories that make your communication more engaging and genuine.
Invest in your “Moments File” and you will create a reservoir of influential and memorable material that will increase your impact on every audience you speak to.
If you’d like, help cultivating your memorable moments, schedule a time to talk with Michael: https://calendly.com/speakingcpr/30-minute-call
Michael’s mission is to help leaders, managers and sales professionals communicate with more confidence, impact, and influence. This passion is born from his own communication difficulties early in his career.
Fortunately, he discovered that public speaking is like riding a bike, swimming or driving a car - it’s a learnable skill. Once he discovered this ‘secret’ he became a voracious student of the craft. He took courses, studied some of the world’s best speakers and storytellers and continues to study presentation and business storytelling skills.
He is hired by companies and organizations, leaders, managers and sales professionals, and TEDx speakers to help them become more confident, impactful and influential communicators.
Address:
Phone: 
