May 16, 2025
Ever wondered how the biggest creators keep you hooked while others lose you within seconds? Well, I’ve studied thousands of their videos and found that their stories follow the same six steps. In this article, I’ll break them down so you can use them to tell insanely good stories.
The best stories start with a clear mission. Not just “here’s a story,” but instead “here’s what I’m trying to do—come along for the ride.”
Matt D’Avella open his story with this line: “I’m going to quit caffeine for 30 days.”
Here’s Brian Tran’s: “My goal: become the most famous person in the metaverse. Because that person right now is definitely Mark Zuckerberg. Not for long, Marky.”
Then Nicholas Christol: “Nine weeks ago, I decided to commit to the hardest physical challenge of my life—running a marathon.”
Boom. Now you’re like, “Wow, I need to know whether he made it.” That’s the magic of a strong mission. It opens a loop. You’ll want to stick around to see what happens next. So when planning your next story, ask yourself:
Say it right away. That’s your hook.
Once you’ve shared your goal, take a step back and give some context. This is where you answer two powerful questions:
Let your audience get to know you and actually care.
Following Nicholas Christol’s powerful opening, he says that he used to hate running, but everything changed when he finished his first half marathon. Since then, he’s been dreaming of running a full one.
This makes us care. We’re not just listening—we’re rooting for him.
Here’s a sentence I love using: “I was the type of person who…” then add a very specific detail.
Instead of “I was anxious,” say:
“I was the type of person who rehearsed saying hi to the cashier before entering the supermarket.”
Instead of “I was disorganized,” say:
“I was the type of person who locked myself out of my apartment five times in one week.”
Those small details make your story real, relatable, human. Tell us who you are and why the goal matters. But don’t stay too long here—there’s one more thing to do to raise the stakes.
You’ve got a big goal, and we know why it matters. Now tell us: how do you plan to get there?
What’s your game plan? What are the steps?
Leon Hendrix shares his plan to cut distractions for 30 days:
No snoozing
Phone away
Meditate
Cold showers
No social media
Eat from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m.
No cheat meals
One hour of podcasts a day
Tell grandma I love her (joking, but sweet)
Workout 3x/week
Wind down at 9:00 p.m.
It’s super specific and a little funny. It makes us think: “Okay, this sounds cool… but will it actually work?”
That’s what you want. Keep the plan simple, clear, specific—and move into the story quickly.
All great stories balance progress and setback. The character moves forward, then hits a problem. Then recovers. Then hits another. This back-and-forth keeps your audience hooked.
In Ryan Trahan’s story about spending 100 days in the metaverse:
He meets Clay (his new best friend)
Then loses touch with Clay and feels lost
Then Clay returns, and they reunite and bond
Then another problem comes up
It goes on: progress, setback, progress, setback. Ideally, those setbacks get bigger as the story unfolds.
So think: what setbacks did you face while chasing your goal?
A physical challenge like an injury, illness, or burnout
An inner struggle like fear or doubt
External setbacks like job loss, money problems, pressure from others
Your job is to show the ups and downs until you hit the turning point.
This is the peak. All the pressure builds to one final moment. Did you reach your goal?
In Nicholas Christol’s story, he describes the start of the marathon with a surge of excitement. The tension builds as the challenge unfolds, and we find ourselves on the edge of our seats. And finally—he crosses the finish line.
This is the moment of transformation.
Describe that change. Let us feel how far you’ve come.
Now, it’s about your audience. Share what you learned. This makes your story meaningful and memorable.
In Matt D’Avella’s story, after 30 days without coffee, he says,
“Would I do it again? Absolutely not. I learned I don’t need coffee. But I really want it. I love it as part of my day and routine. Still, the detox gave me a new appreciation for coffee.”
It’s a short, honest reflection.
Wrap your story by sharing one clear takeaway. Not five—just one. One insight that makes your listeners think differently, act differently, or try something new.
That’s it. Those are the six steps creators use to keep their listeners hooked from start to finish.
But there’s more. There are a lot more juicy storytelling techniques we didn’t cover here.
If you want to dive deeper and discover my three favorite frameworks for expressing ideas with clarity and impact, check out this article.
Enjoy.
P.S. Want to become a stronger communicator?
Here are two ways I can support you:
👉 Want to tell more engaging stories? Join our next Storytelling Workshop.
👉 Want to speak with confidence and clarity? Check out our Communication Skills Training.
Both are fun, practical, and designed to help you grow fast.
Are you ready to transform your storytelling skills?
Discover how your storytelling skills score and uncover useful insights to help you become a charismatic storyteller:
