May 3, 2025
Most people think of storytelling as this big, complicated thing. But what if I told you that you could get great at storytelling just by answering one simple question in a slightly different way?
Every single day, we ask one question countless times: How are you?
Now, how do most people respond? They say something like, “Good, how are you?” or “Yeah, I’m good. Finally, the sun is out.”
There’s nothing wrong with that—but it’s a missed opportunity.
If you struggle to tell interesting stories, it’s not because you’re bad at it. It’s because you haven’t had enough repetitions.
So what’s the solution?
Any time someone asks you, “How are you?” share a tiny story that shows a little bit more about you as a human.
Let me give you an example. Today a friend asked me, “How are you?” This is how I responded:
“I’m good, but actually this morning I had this little weird moment. I was interviewing this guy for my YouTube channel—this speaker I admire—and before the interview, I was fine. But the moment he popped up on screen, I was like, ‘Oh man, this guy is so good. He speaks much better, much more eloquently than me.’ And immediately, my mind just started going crazy. Anyway—what about you? When was the last time you got a little nervous, and how did you handle it?”
It wasn’t a super polished story. It wasn’t crazy. Just a tiny story. You can also achieve this by keeping this few tips in mind.
Oftentimes, we want to share big moments—like a life-changing car accident or something dramatic. Don’t do that.
Share the small, relatable moments—something that shows a little more about you as a human. For example:
Has anything interesting happened lately?
Have you picked up a new skill worth sharing?
Is there something small that annoys you, but it’s still kind of funny?
Those are the moments you want to share. Really, anything that’s not the weather or traffic.
Sure, there’s a time and place for longer stories—but not here.
If someone asks you, “How are you?” and you start with a five-minute, life-changing story, that’s obviously way too much.
You want to share a 30-second story. Maybe 60 seconds if it’s really that incredible. But keep it short.
This exercise is not only about you sharing a story—it’s also about making the other person comfortable enough to share a story in return.
How do you do that? By asking the right question—one that invites a story back.
For example:
If you talk about a fun trip, ask: “What about you? What’s been your most fun trip this year?”
If you talk about spending the weekend with your family, ask: “What about you? When was the last time you spent time with your family?”
Ask a question that gets a story in return.
If you want to become the best storyteller in the shortest time possible, tell those tiny stories anytime someone asks, “How are you?”
Once you’ve put in a few repetitions, at some point you’ll want to make sure you’re telling more interesting stories too by dodging these common mistakes that kill their impact.
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:
