Telling Your Stories – Part 2: A Special Series KDS:133

The Kim Doyal Show

Telling Your Stories When Content Becomes Personal: My Journey Through Storytelling I'm thrilled to dive deep into a topic that's close to my heart and crucial for creators, coaches, and course creators everywhere: the power of personal storytelling in content creation. In the world of copy and content, there's a prevailing notion that it's all about the reader, not about us, the creators. But let's face it, that's only half the story. The truth is, we're in the business of connection, of building relationships with our audience through the stories we share, the experiences we recount, and the vulnerabilities we expose. I've always believed in the magnetic pull of Telling Your Stories They're the threads that weave the fabric of our connections, making our audience feel seen, heard, and understood. That's why I've anchored my content creation around a core content value: I want people to feel better for engaging with my content. Whether through learning something new, enjoying a moment of levity, or feeling a heart-to-heart connection, it's about enriching the lives of those who stumble upon my work. Take, for example, my journey through one of life's harshest realities: loss. In 2003, life threw me a curveball that would forever change my trajectory. I was widowed at 32, left to navigate the world as a single mother of two small children (my kids were 6 & 2 when their Dad died). This part of my story, a marker of my resilience and transformation, was something I initially kept close to my chest, mentioned briefly on my About page, yet it was a pivotal chapter in my life. It wasn't until 2017, on the anniversary of my husband's death, that I chose to share this deeply personal story with my audience in an email titled "In Loving Memory and a Personal Message of Hope." The outpouring of responses was overwhelming, a testament to the power of vulnerability in forging deeper connections. This experience taught me a valuable lesson: our stories, no matter how often we've shared them, are always new to someone in our audience. They provide hope and remind us that we're not alone in our struggles. But sharing personal stories is not about airing every detail of our lives; it's about finding the balance between personal and private. It's about sharing those moments that illuminate our humanity, that make us relatable, that show we're more alike than we are different. For instance, a seemingly trivial incident like falling down the stairs while distracted by my phone became a metaphor for the importance of staying present, of paying attention to what's right in front of us. The 'falling-down-the-stairs' story I shared with my audience wasn't just a humorous anecdote; it was a reflection on mindfulness in both life and business. You might be wondering what the whole point of that email was. Sure, there was a pivot and a call to action—though I can't quite recall what it was, whether it was to click through to a podcast, a blog post, or an offer. The real value, however, lies in the fact that we're all human. I don't take myself too seriously, and that aspect of my personality makes me more relatable and approachable. Sharing personal stories and experiences is invaluable because, like many of you, I find myself far more creative when I'm inspired or feel a genuine connection. While keyword-based articles, how-to guides, and case studies certainly have their place in content creation—a place that's not disappearing anytime soon—I believe their presentation will evolve with AI. It's crucial to remember that you are the differentiator in everything you create. Your energy, your voice, your humor, and even your highs and lows are all uniquely yours. Dr. Seuss said it best: "No one is You-er than You." This is precisely why sharing personal stories and experiences is so important. This post, part of a five-part series,