Your audience doesn’t care about your story - here’s what they actually want
It started with a single note.
She wasn’t trying to inspire anyone. In fact, she was just trying to make it through her day. Each morning, she’d grab a dry-erase marker and write a short message to herself on her bathroom mirror: ‘You’re enough.’ ‘Today is yours.’ ‘Keep going.’
The notes were small, private, and barely legible by the end of the week when the smudges blurred her words. But they worked. Slowly, she felt lighter. The insecurities that weighed her down started to loosen their grip.
One day, a friend stopped by and caught a glimpse of the mirror. ‘What’s that?’ she asked. The woman explained, almost embarrassed, that it was her way of staying positive.
Her friend didn’t laugh. Instead, she grabbed her phone and snapped a photo. A week later, she shared her own mirror note, tagging the woman with a simple caption: ‘Inspired by you.’
From there, the notes spread. First to a few close friends, then across a growing community. Soon, mirrors everywhere were covered with affirmations, reminders, and messages of hope. A movement was born - not because someone planned it, but because one person’s quiet act of self-care became a ripple.
At first, she didn’t see the bigger picture. It was just her way of coping. But when the ripple began, she realized the impact of what she’d started. Her small, personal act became a mirror for others.
Did you know that 88% of consumers say they feel a stronger connection to brands that share their values or personal stories. And when those stories inspire action, engagement increases by up to 62%.
That’s the power of storytelling.
But when I say storytelling, most creators I talk think that means telling some dramatic sequence of events that belong in a Tarantino film.
But stories don’t have to be loud or flashy to inspire action. A single story that speaks directly to your audience’s fears, hopes, or aspirations is enough to spark movement.
What separates the brands that convert from those that don’t is their ability to turn small, authentic moments into larger, scalable moments of impact. The ripple doesn’t start big - it starts with one person saying, ‘I gotta know where they’ve got the hidden camera cuz this is exactly my story. Hey [person in my life with similar story], you’ve got to read this.’
Here's how to use my Ripple Story Framework to transform small, authentic connections into scalable conversions:
1. Start With One Person
Build your story for a single individual in your target audience. Not a segment. A person. Picture their struggles, aspirations, and emotional state. Your message should feel like a private conversation.
2. Focus on Authentic Action
Share a moment that reflects genuine emotion or transformation. Don’t try to impress - just connect.
3. Create Room for Reflection
Leave space for your audience to see themselves in the story.
4. Invite Participation
End your story with an action they can take - not just to engage with you, but to apply the insight to their own lives.
5. Amplify the Ripple
Watch for responses, feedback, and stories your audience shares. Highlight these to create a sense of collective movement, multiplying the impact.
Why This Works
Emotional storytelling works because it taps into the human need for connection and belonging. The ripple effect happens when someone doesn’t just hear your story - they feel part of it.
By aiming for just one meaningful connection with a specific person in your target audience, you create a story that’s deeply personal and universally relatable. This combination inspires action, turning an individual connection into a collective movement.
Here’s What You’ll Get Out of It
By applying the Ripple Story Framework, you’ll:
• Foster Authentic Engagement: Build connections that feel personal and meaningful.
• Inspire Action: Encourage your audience to not just engage but to act.
• Multiply Impact: Turn individual connections into a larger movement that amplifies your message.
“Stories that resonate aren’t loud - they’re relatable. Start small, and let the ripple grow.”
Your Turn
Let’s create your first ripple:
1. Identify Your Person
Picture one person you want to connect with. When I say picture, I mean create the. Name them. Then write down their fears, goals, and struggles.
2. Build a Micro-Story:
Think of a small moment from your life or business that mirrors their experience. Write it out in 100 words or less.
3. End With an Invitation:
Add a question or action step that encourages them to reflect or engage.
4. Share It:
Post your story where your audience is most active. Watch for responses or reactions that indicate it resonated.
5. Spot the Ripple:
Look for comments, shares, or feedback. Highlight these responses in your next piece of content.
Emotional connection doesn’t start with feature film level storytelling. It starts with one person. When you focus on creating a meaningful story for just one, the ripple takes care of itself.
Prefer listening to reading sometimes? Want an extra layer?
Press play for the ‘Narrated Insights’:
Today’s Mega-Prompt: "Understand Your Audience with the Avatar Creator Prompt"
Paid members get to use today’s mega-prompt to: create a vivid, relatable profile of their ideal customer. You’ll dive into their daily struggles, big dreams, and the emotions driving their decisions, so you can create content that feels personal and builds real connections.
Here’s a sneak peek:
"Step into your audience’s world - what keeps them up at night, what motivates them to take action, and how your message can make them feel seen and understood."
As a Paid 8am in Atlanta Member, you will also unlock exclusive tools designed to turn storytelling into a revenue-driving machine:
Prompt Archive: Gain access to an extensive archive of prompts, each designed to help you create stories that connect emotionally and convert effectively. The archive offers actionable techniques to create targeted brand narratives for top, middle, and bottom funnel stages, ensuring you always have proven strategies at your fingertips.
Daily Mega-Prompts (M-F): A fresh, actionable mega-prompt every weekday - backed by advanced strategies like behavioral triggers, neuroscience, and sales funnel alignment - to help you create stories that engage, convert, and grow your brand.
Scalable Storytelling Power: With systems and frameworks designed for efficiency, you’ll create stories that connect emotionally and convert predictably.
💡 Your stories are the key to more leads, higher conversions, and increased revenue. Upgrade now with just a few clicks 👇🏾