Creating a System for Capturing Stories
Why Your Business Growth Depends on It
Stories are happening all around us—every client conversation, every challenge overcome, every small win that quietly shifts our confidence. The problem isn’t that we don’t have stories.
The problem is that we don’t capture them while they’re alive.
For years, I believed storytelling was something you did after success—once things were polished, packaged, and proven. What I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) is that the real power of storytelling comes from building a system that captures stories as you live them.
Why Stories Slip Away
If you’re a purpose-driven entrepreneur or nonprofit leader, your days are full. You move from meeting to meeting, client to client, idea to idea. Powerful moments happen—and then they’re gone.
I’ve lost count of how many times I thought:
“I’ll remember this later.”
I didn’t.
And those forgotten moments weren’t small. They were lessons, turning points, and insights that could have:
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Strengthened my message
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Deepened my confidence
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Become content, talks, posts, or programs
The Shift: From “Someday” to a Story System
Everything changed when I stopped treating storytelling as a creative mood and started treating it as a practice.
A story system doesn’t need to be complicated. It simply needs to be intentional and repeatable.
Here’s what works—and what I personally use.
Step 1: Choose One Place to Capture Stories
Not five. Not ten. One.
This could be:
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A dedicated notes app
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A simple Google Doc
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A physical journal
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Voice memos on your phone
The format doesn’t matter as much as the habit. Your brain needs to know: “This is where my stories live.”
Step 2: Capture the Moment, Not the Masterpiece
You’re not writing a blog or a speech in the moment. You’re collecting raw material.
After a conversation, ask yourself:
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What surprised me?
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What challenged me?
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What moved me emotionally?
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What did I learn about myself, leadership, money, visibility, or service?
Even three bullet points are enough.
Some of my most meaningful stories began as a single messy sentence written at the end of a long day.
Step 3: Name the Lesson
This is where business storytelling becomes transformational.
Every story carries a lesson—and lessons are what your audience is really listening for.
Try finishing this sentence:
“This experience taught me…”
That lesson becomes:
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A social media post
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A blog theme
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A keynote insight
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A coaching moment
Without naming the lesson, the story stays personal.
With the lesson, it becomes purposeful.
Step 4: Review Weekly, Reflect Monthly
Once a week, skim what you’ve captured. You’ll start to see patterns:
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Recurring challenges
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Repeated breakthroughs
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Messages you’re clearly meant to share
Once a month, choose one story and ask:
“How can this serve someone else?”
That question alone turns lived experience into leadership.
My Reflection
I wish I had captured more of my journey earlier—not because I wanted content, but because I wanted clarity.
Story systems don’t just help you market better.
They help you see yourself more clearly:
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How far you’ve come
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What you’ve overcome
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What you’re uniquely qualified to teach
Your story is already working in your business—whether you acknowledge it or not. A system simply allows you to work with it, instead of letting it slip away.
Reflection Question for You
👉 What is one story from this past week that taught you something—and where will you write it down today?’
Let’s explore how to turn everyday stories into powerful content that attracts the right clients without feeling salesy.
Your story matters. Capture it while it’s still speaking to you.
To Your Success,
Lynn Sanders
P.S. News Flash! Circle your calendar for Jan.24th, 10 am ET for the first Global broadcast about The Great Discovery Global Founders Launch — unveiling a first-of-its-kind worldwide education and affiliate marketplace. Meet the founders, see the vision, connect with people globally, and explore the possibilities to bring YOUR stories out into the world. Register: https://thegreatdiscovery.com/courses/696526a093e31?affiliate=lynnsanders