Ep 03: Step #1 Your Personal Story - Ordinary moments, extraordinary impact

What if the part of your story you’re hiding is the part that connects most? 

In this episode of The Business of Stories, Susan Payton shares a personal moment watching her daughter run the London Marathon, and how it revealed something powerful about storytelling in business.

It’s a reminder that the moments which move people most aren’t always the loudest or most dramatic - and that the right story, told well, can spark connection in ways you’d never expect.

Susan reflects on why your own experiences, even the quiet or messy ones, are worth sharing. She also answers a thoughtful listener question about what to do with the parts of your story that feel too personal to put out there.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your story is too ordinary (or too much) this one’s for you.

Here are the highlights:

• The surprising truth about the London Marathon and what it can teach us about storytelling.

• The three biggest myths about sharing your story - and why none of them need to hold you back.

• How to start your story so it grabs attention and keeps people engaged.

• How to share your story without oversharing, and keep it simple, relatable and powerful.

• How to use your story as fuel for your mission, even if you’re not ready to share every detail.

• Why even the most ordinary moments in your life can be the stories that connect most deeply with your audience.

• Listener Q&A: How to avoid oversharing and use your stories as fuel for your mission

• And a practical action step on sharing a defining moment story

If you have a question you would love Susan to answer on the show, please email it (in writing) to [email protected]

👉 Come and join my free 5-day challenge here and see how simple I make it for you to captivate dream clients with compelling stories! We kick off on Monday 6th October 2025.

Download a free copy of The Business of Stories here

Grab The Storyteller’s Starter Pack here

Check out Storytelling Mastery here

About your host Susan Payton:

When Susan told her ‘ordinary’ story to 1,500 business owners back in 2015, the response from people who resonated with it and felt connected to her as a result of hearing it, blew her away!

In fact, that moment completely changed her business - and her life.

Susan has since worked with entrepreneurs all over the world, written the international bestselling book, The Business of Stories, hosted the podcast of the same name, and become a leading authority on how to use storytelling to stand out in your industry.

Thousands have used her simple framework to share their message with impact, attract ideal clients and grow their business.

Susan has also spoken on stages from Brighton to Barcelona, guested on panels and podcasts and run numerous masterclasses, guest expert sessions and workshops, both online and in person.

In a world where it’s getting harder and harder to be heard above the noise, Susan is passionate about showing business owners how to clearly articulate their value and speak to the right people, at the right time, with a simple message and a great story.

See my bio here 

And my speaker page here

Connect with Susan:

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanpaytonuk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanPaytonUK/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessofstories/

Produced by Winter Audio.