Hey there! I’m Coach Maya.
Picture this – you walk into that big meeting. Your slides look perfect. Your data is solid. But halfway through your presentation, you notice something is off. People are checking their phones. Someone’s doodling.
Ugh, right? I’ve been there too.
But here’s what I’ve learned after working with entrepreneurs and sales professionals – facts don’t sell. Stories do.
Let me share what happened with one of my clients, Jake. This guy had an incredible tech idea. For months, he’d walk into investor meetings with beautiful charts and impressive graphs. Really smart stuff. But every single time? “Thanks, Jake, we’ll be in touch.” Sound familiar?
Then we tried something different. Instead of leading with market data, Jake started with Maria’s story. She owns this little bakery downtown. Big chains were crushing her business. She was about to close. Then she discovered Jake’s app. Six months later? Her bakery is booming.
She just hired three new people.
The investors? Completely hooked. They wanted to visit Maria’s bakery. They wanted to taste her cookies. And yeah – they funded Jake’s company.
Why the total flip?
Because suddenly they weren’t just investing in another app. They were the heroes helping small businesses like Maria’s survive and thrive. So how do you do this?
Three quick tips:
- Use OSB. Obstacle, Solution, Benefit. Don’t say “We increased engagement by 40%.” Say this: “Our users were leaving after one day. We figured out they were confused. So we simplified the app. Now they stay for months.” See the difference? You created a mini movie.
- Make them the hero. Don’t make it about you. Make it about them. Instead of “I built this amazing product,” try “You’ve probably felt frustrated when great ideas get buried in big companies, right? That’s exactly what we’re solving.” Now they’re not just listening to your pitch. They’re remembering their own frustration. They want to be part of the solution.
- Get specific. Don’t say “our product helps students.” Say “Meet Becky. She went from failing math to getting an A+ in three months.” Names and details stick. Vague statements don’t.
Here’s your challenge: Before your next presentation, ask yourself – what’s the story I’m really telling?
Find that one person whose life changed because of your idea. Tell their story. Make your audience feel like they’re part of something bigger. Remember: Numbers inform. Stories inspire.
This is Coach Maya – now go tell your story!
***Due to an oversight, I forgot to attribute the Eloqui OSB Template (registered intellectual property) to the proper creators, namely Eloqui and co-founders Deborah Shames and David Booth: www.eloqui.biz.***
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Maya Hu-Chan is a globally recognized speaker, author, leadership consultant, and ICF Master Certified Coach. She specializes in global leadership, cross-cultural management, and diversity and inclusion. Maya also offers keynotes and leadership workshops. Contact her here: https://mayahuchan.com/contact/