Jul 17, 2025
Storytelling can become more productive when you start with a template. And it’s not easy to find templates for business stories. In this episode, we explore a surprising (and fun) story structure for service-based solopreneurs, adapted from a holiday classic and inspired by Ann Handley’s Everybody Writes.
This story template covers a lot of bases. It’s a variation of a success story. It focuses on the client, not the guide. It makes you think of your service as a problem-solving mechanism: What need do you fulfill?
You will learn…
…what makes this such a good template
…some differences between these fairy stories and business
reality
…how this structure connects the client’s need with your
service
…how to adapt this template for a service-based solopreneur
And, as usual, it’s short and to the point. No need to take notes: I've prepared a takeaway guide to your own version of this template.
RESOURCES:
Ann Handley’s book - Everybody Writes
Strategic Intensive - Solve that
marketing problem.
The Ultimate Story Template- download your
personal guide to this story
RELATED PODCASTS:
Interview with Jaquette Timmons - Stories of a Financial Coach. Click hereWhich do people admire: Talent or Hard Work. Click here.
NOTE: I mentioned a story that seems patterned on Rudolph: Danger the Dogyard Cat.
Danger the dogyard cat
I found it when I was living in Alaska and it’s still
popular. The book was written by Libby Riddles, who was a real
Alaska musher and the first woman to win the Iditerod, a grueling
challenge for dogsled racing. In this children's book, ae
feisty cat named Danger gets adopted from the pound. He has to
confront all the sled dogs who initially don’t take him seriously.
Then one day there’s a crisis and the team needs a leader to
follow. I forget the exact details, but ultimately Danger the cat
ends up leading the dogs and they win the race.
Click here to learn more.