Entrepreneurs can learn a lot from stories and storytelling. Is there a way for us to apply storytelling to our businesses? How do we find our story to tell?

On this episode, I talk with television editor and online video content expert, Jeff Bartsch, about how to tell stories and leverage them to make your business more impactful.

“If you have a story to tell, you already have the platform and the equipment: the internet and your phone.” –Jeff Bartsch

Things We Learned From This Episode

1. The importance of backstories (10:58- 11:40)
A big part of storytelling is explaining backstories. You need to tell the audience who someone is and where they come from for them to care. Unless someone is invested in the backstory, they’re not going to be interested in the character’s development. In the case of a business, imagine your company as the character.

2. We are our own greenlight (12:34- 13:41)
In the past, storytellers would flock to Hollywood to pitch their ideas to film executives. Today, with the advent of the internet and high-quality camera phones, anyone can share their stories. The only thing holding us back today is ourselves. We have to decide that we want to share our content.

3. Know who you are (17:58- 20:30)
When you’re an entrepreneur, you need to have a keen sense of self. By knowing who you are, you know where your strengths lie and what you need to pay more attention to so that you can complete the tasks you struggle with.

While you may not be scripting a feature film or directing a documentary, your business has a story to tell. When you delve into it, a huge part of brand structures rely on storytelling. Consider your story and use it to show your clients who you are. It will make us more unique and help us stand out. We’ll attract more of the right people to our businesses.

Guest Bio

Jeff Bartsch built his career editing television in Los Angeles for NBC/Universal, Apple, Disney, and many others. He is the author of “Edit Better: Hollywood-Tested Strategies for Powerful Video Editing,” and he’s been featured in the Associated Press, Time Magazine, and USA Today. Jeff helps online video creators spread their message and tell the stories they care about the most at StoryGreenlight.com.