Your story. The vulnerable one. You know, the Elizabeth Gilbert crying on the bathroom floor, time to change my life story, and now I help others do the same. Is this your only option? Let’s discuss.
July 2001. The White House.
I was wearing a neck scarf because I thought it looked senatorial.
(Is that a word? It’s 11 p.m. I’m not looking it up. Just roll with it.)
After spending the previous day following a then very young Congressman Jeff Flake (yes, that Jeff Flake!) around the Capitol Building because my friend Christine and I were convinced he looked like Thomas Jefferson, I was ready for the *big* day.
The day all the 17-year old high school mock senators, chosen by their peers to represent their state, (2 girls per state) at Girls Nation met the President of the United States.
Right before bagels, we were told New York (that’d be me) would be the first to meet President George W. Bush.
Um. Terrified. Excited. Oh-Em-Gee.
We step up and I am the first person to shake his hand. As I say, “Mr. President what an honor…” my left-hand goes to his back and as if a robot had taken control of my body.
Whack. Boom. Right on his back. Kind of like a football coach. A weird one.
He laughed and totally took my nervousness in stride. He couldn’t have been nicer. We spent the rest of the time talking about “The Big Apple”, all the pizza I ate thanks to “Book It”, what actually defined “upstate New York” and “cows”. It was a moment I’ll never forget.
The moment I *technically* slapped the 43rd President of The United States.
How To Write More Compelling Stories To Your List
Why am I telling you this? Besides the fact that it’s a good story about me?
My reason is a tad more important than myself because I’m here for you after all. Yeah, it’s about you…
Listen, lately, I’ve been reading lots of marketing peeps talk about how you can write compelling copy without talking about yourself or your personal life.
Cue The Family Feud X.
I don’t mean to get all “Lovely Ladies” from Les Mis on you but you’re selling yourself. Your knowledge, your experience, your practical magic, and you’re super specific point of view (that will sometimes offend people – that’s ok). You’re teaching through you.
Everything has already been said. The last original idea was probably said by Aristotle (again not even remotely gonna look it up) but it hasn’t been said by you, to this audience.
And that is the golden ticket.
“But, Marisa,” you say. “How many times can I tell my Elizabeth Gilbert ‘crying on the bathroom floor’ story?”
I sooo get it.
You Don’t Always Have To Share The Super Vulnerable Story
That’s why I just told you a story about the time I slapped The President of The United States. I could easily tell this story in an email to my list and then relate it back to my ideal client and ask about a time they did something they were super nervous to do like launch a course, go live on Facebook, send that email.
I’d further connect it to not being worried if you don’t do the exact right thing, that done is better than perfect, and the most important thing is getting out there (even if yah, you slap someone on the back in the process). Next step would be a strong CTA to book a call with me so I can help them get more copy and content out into the world.
See how that works?
It’s also a fun way to insert your personality. Instead of saying, “Take the bull by the horns” I could say “Slap the President” on a piece of copy and then ask – what’s your new go-to phrase in the next email you want people to read?
And I could, if I wanted to, take it a step further (for a longer piece of writing or speech) and tell you that week in July 2001 was the last innocent time in my life.
How I think about that girl nearly every day. A month before 9/11, before global and personal heartbreak. A girl with dreams so big she was certain she’d achieve, and then Mandy Moore’s “17” would start playing.
(By the way, I’ve always been a die-hard Mandy Moore fan. I didn’t just hop on for This Is Us Mandy. I’ve been there since the lyric, “I’ve got a crush on you. I hope you feel the way that I do…”)
The point is you have stories and it ain’t just the “vulnerable” one you’re constantly crafting at masterminds. Tell that story when it’s needed but tell other stories, too.
How to Generate More Compelling Stories
Recently, a client of mine collaborated on a blog that started like this…
Turns out whale watching is a nightmare for your weight loss…
The story had zero to do with how she lost 35 lbs and has never looked back (also true and super compelling story) but it was a different part of her story which we were able to directly link back to what her audience had been asking for – simple snacks when you’re traveling.
So, let’s take it one more step for you…
Right now – don’t think just write – tell me one of those quick stories.
That would be in the comments right below this. 😉
Here’s some more help to get you thinking…
Where were you the first time you tried a Ring Pop?
Eddie Jordan was teaching me how to ride my bike. We had just got them for a dime. (A dime, y’all!)
Who was your first childhood crush?
Mine was Judas from the Jesus of Nazareth miniseries. I never told a soul. Too terrified. I went to Catholic school, sweetie – can’t say ya’ love Judas,. Years later, I would learn that Judas was played by Ian McShane!
The *one* song that comes on Spotify that could cause an accident because you’re so excited?
“Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars you would think I was clinically insane if you saw me driving during this song.
I can’t wait to read your stories. Because I also bet I can directly link them back to your business. Gosh, I love games like this!!
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Marisa Corcoran here…
The business and messaging coach for online business owners who want to become intentional icons.
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How To Write Better Subject Lines (With Examples!)
There’s nothing worse than writing a great note to your list and getting stuck on the subject line. But the thing is, if you half-ass the subject line, your note most likely never gets read. I got you 🙂 Get my best tips and some of my favorite subject lines that work.
Writing Good Copy Requires Nudity…for Shakespeare
I learned something epic back when I was in the grad acting program at Harvard and it’s time to share it. Because it’s going to help you write better copy. And that’s basically why I’m here – to promote nudity and better copy.
If This Ride Is About Changing the World, I Want to Get Off (How to Get Better at Talking About What You Do)
How to talk about what you do without resorting to words, phrases, and ideas that aren’t serving you and don’t utilize the most unique asset you got – you, sweetie! (It’s actually a GD superpower!) This is a necessary one for any service-based entrepreneur. For reals.
Tom Selleck from Magnum PI. I was 12. He was on after school and it was love at first sight. I still get a little flutter when he comes on tv. Blue Bloods is now my favorite tv show and when he goes on dates I get a little miffed.
Hi Teri,
First off, I wish I could tag my mom here because she, too (along with all of my aunts) LOVE Tom Selleck.
My mom is also an avid Blue Bloods fan!! You saying you get "miffed" when he goes on dates is literally the best thing I’ve read in a while.
Can you give me a bit more insight into your business so I can see how we can link this awesome story back to it?
Thanks for being here!
M
Been Caught Stealing?
And no, I"m not talking about the Jane’s Addiction song. I’m talking about the one day my best friend, Kelly and I rode bikes to the town pharmacy like we did every day after school to steal candy, and we got caught!
I can’t tell you how many times we did it, but on this particular day….
yep, I got caught with a 3 musketeers down my pants.. The old man from behind the counter came running out after us, and before we could escape on our bikes, he grabbed me by the arm and told me we’d been nabbed….
No more adding to my secret candy stash that took up my whole top dresser drawer….
Hi Melissa,
OMG I love this story! I’ve swiped some handfuls of M&Ms from the bulk section at Wegmans (the grocery store I grew up going to) when I was a kid.
So there are so many things you can do here…
Hope this is helpful!!
M
Pancakes on the Run
My best friend Kate and I were masters of the last minute dash to the school bus. It looked like total chaos from the outside but we had a mission, a system, and complete trust in our partnership. Our mission was how to sleep in until the very last second and still make it to school on time. She lived 2 houses down and across the street and the school bus picked us up at the corner past her house. I could hear it coming from a block away, and every morning I would dash past her front door (open so she could hear me yelling) full speed, barefoot and half dressed, clutching the thermos of coffee that we’d share, wearing only the bare bones of my outfit with socks, shoes, belt, accessories and make-up jammed in my school bag and trailing in the breeze as I ran. She’d leave the house as the bus drove by and my job was to hit the corner in time to hold it for her as she ran down the street in a similar state of well orchestrated disarray. We’d dive into the back seat of the bus together giggling and gasping for breath. Once we devoured the ziplock of microwaved blueberry pancakes that was her contribution to breakfast, we’d brush our teeth using the leftover ziplock as a spittoon. We spent the remaining 20 minute ride to school happily finalizing our outfits, putting on make-up and doing each others hair as if we were at home in one of our bathrooms rather than on a public school bus. We didn’t care what anyone thought and weren’t shy about letting the world witness the fine tuned efficiency of morning routine. When we stepped off the bus we looked as put together and ready for the day as anyone else and felt like masters of the universe bc we’d figured out how to have it all -sleep, breakfast, looking cute and getting to school, and we did it on OUR terms- which always involved team work and lots of laughs… It drove our mom’s crazy and we probably got some weird looks from the other kids on the bus (but we were too busy and happy to notice).
I’m a health and life coach. This was a fun exercise and I think I could tie this in to a bunch of themes. Thanks for the inspiration. xx
Vanessa,
This is such a GREAT story. I loved how descriptive you were – right down to the ziplock spitoon!!!
You can definitely tie this into so much…
-Doing things on your own terms, what works for you.
The options are endless here and I encourage you to create something ASAP with this and get it out there. Amazing! 🙂
Guess how many surgeries I have had and see what shape I’m in now!!!!
Yes, plural on surgeries. If you think you have an excuse to not exercise, especially if a doctor said you don’t need to run, then I have many to share. There are excuses for anything and everything. I’m depressed because I’m fat, I’m fat because I eat, and I eat because I’m depressed!!! This is a spin to Fat Bastard (Austin Powers!!!!) Look I have had over 17 surgeries from 30 to 47, the major ones being right knee replaced, bones removed in right wrist, right shoulder completely replaced, left shoulder reconstructed. 4 years ago I decided I was going to get in shape and lose weight. I am now 53 years old, I have lost 35 lbs. Best shape of my life. Thru my trials and tribulations I have learned that nutrition is key to all lifestyle. Fitness is about 20%. Don’t get me wrong, eating right and sitting on your ass, isn’t going to help, but getting your nutrition right will give you the energy to MOVE!!!
What are your excuses for not living a healthy lifestyle? Let’s talk and figure out what we can do together on your journey to figure out how to make the best of your life.
Hey Gary!
Powerful story here. I think you could definitely break down the story of your surgeries and connect it (like you’ve done here) to going after the life and health you want (and deserve) despite your excuses.
AND also diving into why Fitness is only 20%.
These are both great prompts for an email, social post, etc.
Squirrels make me nervous.
Why? Honestly, I didn’t think much about them until the unthinkable happened. I was living in Delaware in a rather run down apartment building. The screen to my bedroom window was wedged into the window frame rather than locked into screen slots because, well, that’s how they did things there.
Anyway, at 4am I awoke to a "scritch, scritch" sound. I looked at my window and saw the shadow of a squirrel on my windowsill. I said a silent prayer," please God, let that squirrel be on the outside and not the inside of my window.
I crept out of bed and touched the window shade to find whether my prayer had been answered and FREAKED to find that I was also touching the body of the squirrel. I shrieked, he jumped from the frame INTO my bedroom and began running around.
What did I do? I began screaming, "I don’t want you here, Get out!" Shockingly no one in my building called the cops. What did my cat do? She ran into the living room and hid behind the couch.
Of course, I then called my mom, who suggested, duh, call the building maintenance because she was not driving two hours to help me out. Which I did he came and although he looked completely terrified himself, he did catch the squirrel in a box and take him outside.
The final chapter is that at the time I was working as an Elementary School Counselor. My friend who was the art teacher heard the story. She abandoned plans for her second grade class and had them instead make clay squirrels. Later that day when I returned to my office I found clay squirrels sitting in every nook and cranny in my office.
I am a yoga and meditation teacher and yoga therapist. I use mindfulness, yoga poses, breathing practices and philosophy, neuroscience, herbalism and Ayurveda to help people live with more peace and kindness.