Businesses are no longer anonymous entities. As entrepreneurs build the unicorns and profit powerhouses of the future, their customers want to know their story. Being able to effectively share your founder story will win you keynote speeches, social media followers and a bunch of raving fans. How you tell it matters.
Founders often mumble through interviews, giving vague information about starting from their mum’s garage or working nights in restaurants to fund their dream. But a memorable founder story has to be intentional. Craft the narrative that others will remember for a long time to come. For content, speeches, blogs or simply when you meet new people, these ChatGPT prompts will ensure your founder story makes a bigger impact.
Tell your founder story with these 5 ChatGPT prompts
Open strong
“It was 5am and I hadn’t gone to sleep yet,” opened the charismatic founder who was just asked how they got started. A strong opening gives a sense of “gathering round.” It primes the audience to hear the rest. The beginning of your story sets the tone for everything that follows. Make the start compelling with the following prompt.
“I started my business [describe the time period] when I was [describe what you were doing before] because [explain why you started it]. My top realizations were [explain the realizations that led to you starting] and the breakthroughs of the first few months were [explain what they were.] Can you use this information to suggest options for the opening lines of my founder story in an engaging and compelling way?”
Be memorable
Every defining moment in your business journey can be a mini story. These mini stories, when combined, give you a unique and memorable founder story that people will repeat in conversations for years. These accounts not only make your journey interesting, but they also define who you are. Becoming more familiar with people will help them remember your vibe.
“Some of the most memorable experiences of my business journey so far were [describe the experiences you’ve had]. How can I describe each of these events in a way that leaves a lasting impression? Continue from the strong opening lines just created to lead into some stories about my journey. Pull out the following characteristics in these stories [explain how you want to portray yourself to others].”
Resonate well
Your audience will be hooked by the opening lines and the stories you tell, but they’ll truly resonate when they see themselves in you. Shared experiences, challenges and triumphs mean they start to cheer you on. If you can overcome those hurdles, they can too. Look for relatable examples that your audience may have gone through, and incorporate them for maximum impact. Here’s the prompt to transform your message.
“At the start of my journey I had challenges including [describe your challenges, for example financial situation, home life, lack of role models, limiting beliefs, need for security, fear of rejection] but I overcame these to be where I am now. How can I best convey this theme to make my story resonate with a wide audience, in a way that makes them feel inspired and want to support me?”
Deliver impeccably
The same information can be delivered numerous ways, to wildly different reactions. Comedians practice delivery of their punchlines for hours on end, to hit exactly the right note with a crowd. Think of your founder story in the same way. Impeccable delivery doesn’t just mean the words you use, it’s the pacing, the build-up and the finale.
“When I’m telling my story, especially this element: [paste one story element from your ChatGPT chat], I want to deliver it in the best possible way. Act as a storytelling coach and explain how I should deliver each line for maximum impact, including delivery of the climactic moment.”
Leave a lasting impression
Don’t just stop at the punchline. After you’ve shared the juicy details, leave the audience with a compelling conclusion, making your story memorable long after it’s told. This is your final chance to make an impact, so don’t waste it. Use ChatGPT to get ideas of how you convey key information whilst leaving them wanting more.
“I want my story to leave people feeling [describe the emotion or thought you want to evoke] and compelled to [reaction you want them to have, for example share with a friend]. Give me options for a powerful closing statement or scene that achieves this outcome.”
Master the art of storytelling with these 5 powerful ChatGPT prompts
Open strong, be memorable, resonate well, deliver impeccably and leave a lasting impression; five elements of your founder story that will ensure you are remembered.
Don’t simply recount unremarkable events in a monotone voice, deliver your founder story with effortless charm. Make the key moments come alive in a way that is meaningful to you and impactful to others. Enlist ChatGPT’s help in carving your words and sentences into strong openers, rich sentences and perfect punchlines.