Why Stories Hook Us

Photo by Bernadette Marciniak

Did you know our brains crave stories like chocolate? Or a steaming hot bowl of ramen noodles in my case. 

I stumbled upon a groundbreaking study by neuroeconomist Dr. Paul Zak, (nicknamed "Dr. Love" by Fast Company), who showed how stories fire off empathy chemicals in our brains in a way that can alter human behavior.

For visionaries like you and me, this changes the game for the impact and growth we can create. Why?

Dr. Zak's study showed that when a story fires off two specific chemicals in our brains, we will act more generously towards strangers. He predicted with 80% accuracy whether an individual would give money to help out a stranger in need or not.

Does it work in real life? Yep. Two weeks ago, in fact, with one of my new clients.

Idea Public Schools in Texas reached out to me to help them revise a run-of-show script and keynote speeches for their annual fundraiser luncheon.

Their mission is to get 100% of their high school seniors, many of whom live in underserved communities, accepted into college. For 13 years in a row, that's exactly what they've done. 

The good news was they had lots of impressive data to show off. But they also knew their regular donors needed a fresh story to revive excitement for the mission.

Good news gets stale when you report the same story year after year. That's why having more than one story about your organization is so important to your growth.

So instead, I interviewed each speaker (Oprah-style). Together, we uncovered hidden personal stories that when added to their speeches, gave me, and them, goosebumps and teary eyes. 

Guess what happened?

My client raised 4x more donations than they did the year before. And received 3 major gifts from brand new donors. 

Imagine what hidden gems could 4x your impact if your audience knew about them? If you're wondering if you've got some – trust me, you do.

If you or your organization need help unlocking the stories that will ignite new supporters for your brand, schedule a free Clarity Call with me to explore these options.

Or, if you'd rather learn how to mine your personal brand story as an entrepreneur, artist or founder, join my Own Your Message Small Group Program.

It's a 90-day brand intensive where I coach you step-by-step through my CIRCLE framework to craft your brand story, and signature ideas only you can tell to speak powerfully about your business, gain media attention, and attract new customers. Limited spots available.

Ready to stop playing small? I got you. Let's talk and explore what's possible for you and your business.