The Story Advantage

Playbook
by Lisa Bloom, Story Coach

Instructions for Use of this Playbook: Read through the whole book once. Then go
back and answer each question in detail. Write lots of notes and begin your story
journey. Don’t overthink it! You need to write it all down and begin to craft your
stories. Once they are on paper, it's time to start crafting and telling.

Welcome! This is your chance to become a powerful storyteller and begin to see how
you can impact and influence your surroundings, your business and your life!

0
Part I - DISCOVER Your Story
Your compelling story is the foundation of your business; your sales and marketing, your
level of influence, your success and your financial gain. Let’s get it right!

The discovery part of this workbook creates access to the core of your stories. Complete
the following questions and discover YOUR story.

1. Why are you interested in discovering your story?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. How do you plan to use the story?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. When have you had an opportunity to tell your story before? How did it feel?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. What affect would you like your story to create? What is your dream outcome?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2021 Lisa Bloom, Story Coach Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.story-coach.com
1
5. What difference will it make to your life/business when you can tell your success
story?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Write your story – as it is right now! (don’t worry about what comes up, write it from
your heart)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. What are some of the correct choices that you made to get you to where you are
now?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. What were the pivotal moments in the journey?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9. What is the one thing that you were meant to do?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2021 Lisa Bloom, Story Coach Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.story-coach.com
2
10. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your life up to this point?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11. How did you handle, or are you handling this challenge?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12. Who are the people you have most relied upon in your life?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

13. Who are the people that have most influenced you in your life’s journey?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

14. Who are the people that have relied upon you, who have you influenced? Who
would you like to influence and help as you move forward with your story?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2021 Lisa Bloom, Story Coach Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.story-coach.com
3
Part II - CREATE Your Success Story
Now that you have discovered the core of your stories, you need to begin to actually craft
your message so that you have the most impact and influence in every situation.

Here are the important elements that will support you in telling a powerful story:

1. Be clear on your intention in telling your story – no self-serving here! You need to
be offering your listener something, even if it's the chance to be inspired by your or
someone else's story.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Be energetic, be passionate, get excited – people love to hear enthusiasm and it's
catching – your energy will rub off on them and they'll thank you for it!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Open up, let people in – don't be afraid to get a little vulnerable, it will allow them
to see you as 'real' and it is a huge connector. Telling your story is the best way to
win trust.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Be authentic – you are the only person in the world with your specific set of
experience, skills, abilities, and passion – it's your job to share that and you are the
best person in the world to tell your story, you lived it!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2021 Lisa Bloom, Story Coach Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.story-coach.com
4
5. Remember that great stories have an interesting plot; something has to happen to
make it interesting. Center your stories around some kind of conflict, it will make
your story interesting and compelling; when the conflict gets resolved, this creates
transformation and that is your key message.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Make sure your stories have interesting characters. Describe your character so that
we get a true sense of the person and help your audience experience how your
characters interact in the world.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Use interesting imagery; when you really see the story, your audience will too.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Be specific when you tell your story, remember that a clear and well described
moment can have universal resonance. The more specific you get in your telling, the
more your audience will relate to your story.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2021 Lisa Bloom, Story Coach Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.story-coach.com
5
Part III - INNOVATE with Your Success
Story!
The context within which you tell your stories is very important. Remember, the right story
at the right time is incredibly valuable and allows you create possibility and positively affect
your bottom line every time. These are the 8 principles that will bring you clarity to the
level of impact and influence you can have with story:

1. Your Audience: Be clear about your audience; who are they? (end-users, income
centers, internal clients, management layers, company headquarters), what are they
dealing with? What do they want to achieve? What is bothering them? How can
you support them?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Your Offer: What are you offering your audience? And this does not mean the
actual offering itself, but what is the solution that you provide, what transformation
can you help this person achieve?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3. Your Competition: Who are your competitors? What do they offer? Why is their
offering so appealing? What do they have that you do not?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4. Your Solution: Why can YOU provide the best solution? What's different about
what you offer compared to your competitors? What is your added value?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2021 Lisa Bloom, Story Coach Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.story-coach.com
6
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Your Experience: Which of your life and business experiences specifically illustrate
the value you add to your business?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6. Your Personality: Bring in those quirky things about your personality that make you
different, the things that make you stand out and memorable. It may be where
you're from, a specific hobby you have, or what you are passionate about. That way,
you'll be remembered!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7. Your Synergy: What can you create in collaboration with your team, your
colleagues, your competition or your clients? Think out of the box, with a sense of
what's possible rather than in response to crisis.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8. Your Story: People love stories and will listen and remember them. You have an
interesting story (even if you think you don't) – take the time to craft a story that
makes you feel comfortable and empowered. It truly is the key to building a
stronger and more profitable business.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2021 Lisa Bloom, Story Coach Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.story-coach.com
7
Tips for Powerful Communication
No matter how good your story is, how clear your intention, you need to be able to
communicate effectively. Here are some important steps you can take that will ensure that
your message is being heard and your voice is having influence:

• Create a clear intention. In advance of your presentation or conversation, take time

to be clear on the following: what do you want your audience to feel, think and do
as a result of your input? What is your desired outcome?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Be conscious of your body language. Remember your body often speaks louder
than your words. What do your posture, facial expression and gestures tell your
audience about your level of commitment or energy around the subject you are
speaking about. Make sure that you raise your energy levels as much as possible so
that you have the greatest impact on your audience.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Keep eye contact with the audience at all times. People tend to give presentations
while looking at one person or one area of the room and this kills engagement.
Every person in the room should know that they have been seen during your
presentation. Make sure you see everyone and give them the gift of direct eye
contact throughout the whole presentation (this is true for small groups and one-on-
one conversations).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2021 Lisa Bloom, Story Coach Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.story-coach.com
8
• Be descriptive. Using imagery helps bring your talk alive and will create more
connection between you and your audience. When you really see your story, when
you clearly describe the situation, then your audience can see it and experience it
with you. This increases your connection and the level of trust that exists between
you and your audience.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Know Your Terrain. When you can map out the geographical location of your story
as you tell it, it creates a huge connection with your audience. Not only do you stay
on track in terms of the 'layout' or landscape of your story, it gives your audience the
sense that they are embarking upon the journey with you. This increases the
relevance of your story and increases your expertise status.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2021 Lisa Bloom, Story Coach Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.story-coach.com
9
…and finally…

Your Story is the Key to Your Success.

But don't take my word for it. Don't believe me at all. Just try it.

Notice that successful people are great storytellers and successful businesses tell a great
story. And try it for yourself.

Follow ALL of the exercises and suggestions in this workbook. Really give it a chance.

Pay attention to everything that you say and consider that it's all a story. You are very
committed to your stories (we all are!) and some of them DO NOT serve you well. It is up to
you to transform these stories. See if you can tell them from a different perspective, see if
you can tell these stories in a more empowered way.

Best wishes and best stories

Lisa Bloom
Founder Story Coach
http://story-coach.com
lisa@story-coach.com

Copyright © 2021 Lisa Bloom, Story Coach Inc. All Rights Reserved
www.story-coach.com
10