Stop Confusing These 5 Things with a Story

My grandpa was the kindest person in the world.

One day, I arrived at his house and found out he had a list of chores for me to do. We spent the entire day cleaning his shop, mopping the floors, pulling leaves out of the gutter, and completing countless other tasks around the property. By the time we finished, I was exhausted.

Grandpa believed that everyone should know how to work hard. He often said his ideal world was one where everyone pulled their own weight and knew the value of a dollar.

He also had the funniest jokes. I bet he could have even made the Grinch laugh.

If you pay attention to the conversations happening around you at your next social gathering, you'll notice a lot of the “stories” people tell sound like the paragraph above. While it may contain pieces of a story, it’s missing one key ingredient.

If you want to be a more engaging conversationalist, elicit emotion from your audience, or simply improve your storytelling skills, stop confusing these five things with a true story.

A Description of a Person

“My grandpa was the kindest person in the world."

Describing a person only tells us about the character — it doesn’t show us their dreams, struggles, or growth. There’s no conflict, no transformation, and no moment that reveals change.

A Series of Events

“We spent the entire day cleaning his shop, mopping the floors, pulling leaves out of the gutter…”

This is a list, not a story. There’s no tension, no stakes, no emotional arc. Unless one of these events changes the character in some meaningful way, it’s just a timeline — not a narrative.

An Opinion or Lesson Without a Journey

“Grandpa believed that everyone should know how to work hard.”

That’s a nice sentiment, and most people would agree. But without knowing how he came to believe that, we’re missing the story. The story lies in the journey, not just the conclusion.

A Vision Statement or Belief

“He always described his ideal world as one where everyone pulled their own weight…”

A core belief or philosophy can help frame a story, but it’s not a story on its own. The story is in the moment that made that belief matter — when it was tested, proven, or born.

A Joke or Anecdote Without Stakes

“He also had the funniest jokes. I bet he could have even made the Grinch laugh.”

Jokes can add color and charm to a story, but they’re not stories themselves. As Matthew Dicks put it:

“The goal of a great comedian is to be funny. The goal of a great storyteller is to be remembered.”

Storytelling is an incredible skill — one that builds connection, credibility, and influence. The next time you have a crowd — whether it’s four, forty, or four hundred people — don’t fall into these common storytelling traps.

Real stories reflect meaningful change. It’s really quite simple: identify a moment that changed you in some way, and you have a story.

Fact

People remember stories up to 22 times more than facts alone.

Action

Think of a moment from the last month of your life when something shifted for you - even slightly. Then, write down:

-What happened?

-Who were you before? Who are you now?

-What change occured?

Question

Which of these five storytelling traps do you fall into most often?

Quote

“The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller." - Steve Jobs