Oh No! I Forgot my Hook!

I made the cardinal sin in storytelling, I forgot to resolve my hook!

If you’re going to use a hook, you must…resolve the hook.

I totally forgot to resolve hook in my first story, the one that set the tone and explained my “why.” Surprisingly, not a single person noticed or asked me about my six-figure medical debt and desperation.

It wasn’t until five hours later that it hit me what I had done.

In my 20-minute speech, I shared multiple stories, all supporting my message, and I delivered it with heart and emotion. I connected with my audience, and it was wonderful to see others sharing their insights and stories with me throughout the conference. Even though I missed a key statement, I didn’t feel embarrassed; I felt honored and encouraged. I wanted more in-person opportunities to share my story, this from a girl who used to keep to herself and focus on selling others’ ideas.

Watch my “I forgot the hook” video

Find Your Voice and Community

When I found myself speaking at Women Getting Visible in Washington, D.C., I was surrounded by beautiful, powerful women. I realized how much I needed that connection. Spending so much time in my office, communicating through Zoom, made me crave real, authentic human interaction. I encourage you to find your community.

If you’re looking for one, I’m part of several groups that I’d love to introduce you to so you can find one that fills you up.

Developing your Stories

Many people think your stories need to involve life-changing events. That’s just not true! Some of the best stories come from everyday situations.

Here are My Top Two Tips for Everyday Story Development:

Share Important Details Only: Focus on the details that matter to your message and your audience. Dates might be significant to you, but they usually don’t resonate with others. For example, I open my origin story with, “As the snow starts to fall, I am so grateful. It’s going to cover up the mess my yard has become.” The snow is an essential part of my narrative; the specifics of the month or temperature aren’t.

We often fill our stories with unnecessary details because we’re uncomfortable discussing what really matters, often due to embarrassment or pain.

Solution: Write everything in your first draft, then keep trimming it down to see what’s truly needed. Say it out loud and see how it makes you feel. Are you connected to it, or does it feel just okay?
Create a Strong, Powerful Close: We often focus on crafting a hook to grab attention, which is crucial, but the close can be even more powerful.

I used to be so uncomfortable with silence. If you are too, pay attention to how you respond. I used to fill the silence with more talking or asking questions. Please don’t ramble at the end! Knowing how to finish on a strong note will cement your message and leave the audience engaged.

Solution: Craft a conclusion that reiterates your main message and resonates with the audience. Keep it short and direct—this isn’t the time for clever metaphors that might confuse them.

My speech’s closing is less than two minutes.

Out of the moment that crashed (it was a car crash) I developed my voice and rebranded my life. All because my “ why” became greater than my fears.

I want all of you to leave here today and try on my 3Cs.

Clarity – Love who you are. Your voice, your story matters.
Courage – to take action so you can step into your greatness
And the Confidence – to be you

As I developed my speech, I wanted to elaborate on that last statement, but I realized it was powerful to just stop there.

So, with that, I’ll stop writing as well.