How Storytelling Can Grow Your Business Fast (Do This First)
How Storytelling Can Grow Your Business Fast (Do This First)
Why Storytelling Is Your Secret Growth Lever
Storytelling isn’t just for Hollywood.
It’s not just for Harry Potter fans.
And it’s definitely not just for people with creative writing degrees.
In today’s information-saturated, AI-driven, content-commoditized world, storytelling might be the single most powerful tool you have to:
Stand your brand apart from the noise
Attract better, higher-quality clients into your business
Build a loyal audience who sticks around — even if it’s small at first
But here’s the problem…
Most coaches are telling stories all wrong.
They’re missing one key thing that makes all the difference between a nice story and a story that converts strangers into paying clients.
I’m going to walk you through that key thing in this post — and give you a 3-part storytelling framework you can start using immediately.
(And no, it has nothing to do with the acupuncture ball I’m holding right now — although it does remind me of that little golden ball they chase in Harry Potter. Quidditch, anyone?)
Why Storytelling Works in Business
Here’s the truth:
Humans make buying decisions emotionally first, and logically second.
Stories…
Bypass resistance
Build trust
Make you memorable
Act as a bridge between your audience’s current struggle and their desired outcome
Russell Brunson calls it the Epiphany Bridge Story in his book Expert Secrets. I call it the connection multiplier.
Because when you do it right, your story becomes the bridge that moves people from:
❌ “I’m stuck, overwhelmed, and nothing’s working”
✅ “I believe I can do this — and I want YOU to help me”
The Moment I Figured It Out
Let’s rewind to 2019.
Back then, I owned a gym in South Florida. And to grow that gym? Content wasn’t really the driver. I got clients by:
Networking in the community
Running some Facebook ads
Speaking on local stages
Even doing TV spots
But when I tried to get online clients? That’s when things shifted.
I started posting:
Workout tips (“Here’s how to squat”)
Quick Tabatas
Mindset nuggets
Nutrition hacks
And in 2019, it worked a little. But by 2020? Everyone and their neighbor was online, sharing the same tips. Content got commoditized.
I’d get likes. I’d get comments. People would say, “Great workout!”
But nobody was buying.
The Masterclass That Changed Everything
One day, I ran a live masterclass. And instead of teaching tips… I told a story.
Not just any story — my story.
The one about the day I got electrocuted inside a burning building as a firefighter.
I told them how I was out of shape at the time… how the near-fatal accident happened… how I bounced back physically and mentally… and how that fueled my mission to help others.
And something crazy happened.
People DM’d me. They wanted to work with me — not because I was the most qualified expert (there are tons of experts), but because:
They connected with my story of perseverance
They saw themselves in it
It gave them hope
That’s when it clicked:
People buy into you before they buy from you.
And your story is how they connect.
The Big Mistakes Coaches Make With Storytelling
Before we get into the framework, here are the traps I see most coaches fall into:
Telling random stories instead of strategic ones
– A story should have a point and lead somewhere.Making themselves the hero instead of the client
– Donald Miller’s StoryBrand principle: your audience should be the hero, not you.Rambling like it’s a diary entry instead of using structure
– Guilty as charged in the past. If you’re rambling, you lose attention.
The 3-Part Strategic Storytelling Framework
There are tons of storytelling frameworks out there (I probably use 15 myself), but here’s one of my go-to frameworks you can implement today:
1. Hook
Grab attention in the first sentence. This is non-negotiable.
2. Struggle + Turning Point
Share a relatable struggle your audience identifies with, then reveal the turning point.
3. Resolution + Lesson
Tie the resolution directly to the belief or offer you want them to embrace.
How I Used It to Turn Content Into Clients
When I first started aiming my content at early-stage coaches (typically doing $5k–$20k/month), I thought about the stories from when I was in their shoes.
For example, the “posting and praying” days when I was burning out trying to post 2–3 times a day, DM 50 people, and still end up with rollercoaster months.
Some months were awesome. Others were crickets.
I almost quit.
Until I decided to go back to something that worked in my gym days: live events.
I read Jeff Walker’s Launch and thought: What if I did a mini launch with live videos?
I used a killer hook.
I told strategic stories — mine and my clients’.
And I invited people to take the next step.
The result?
✅ 13–14 inbound DMs in just a couple of days — unheard of for me at the time.
✅ New clients.
✅ A repeatable system.
The Three Stories Every Coach Needs
If you want your storytelling to create demand, you need these in your arsenal:
1. Your Origin Story
Why you do what you do — the macro story of your brand.
The problem you were in
The low point
The turning point
The result and ripple effect
2. Client Success Story
Mirrors your ideal client’s journey so they can see themselves in it.
3. Belief-Shift Story
Changes how they see their problem. Plants your epiphany in their mind.
The goal isn’t just to inform. It’s to get them to think differently.
How to Weave These Stories Into Your Content
Share 1–2 strategic stories a week
Use them in videos, emails, posts, and Reels
Always tie them back to the next step you want them to take
When you do this consistently, your audience:
Feels understood
Trusts you more
Starts reaching out
Bottom line: Information alone doesn’t make people buy. But a well-told, strategic story? That can change everything.
If you use this framework, come back and tell me how it went. Or shoot me a DM — I’d love to hear your story.
Who Is Jason Meland?
I am a value creator, mentor, and entrepreneur. I help online coaches master their messaging, attract dream clients, and build thriving high profit, high impact businesses.
When You’re Ready, Here’s How I Can Help You:
Grab a copy for the 5 posts responsible for 7 figures in online fitness sales: https://www.indemandcoach.com/5-posts-ebook-2505
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