What If I Don’t Have an “Interesting” Story to Tell?

A few years back, I was speaking to a friend who is a successful businessman in the lifestyle product industry — the kind of one-dollar shop chains we see everywhere, selling quality household items at value-for-money prices.

When I asked him what his story was, as I introduced the concept of a brand story film, he laughed and said:
“No story. I just want to make a lot of money.”

If this conversation had happened when I was still “young” in the video production or brand storytelling world, I would have come to a full stop. I might have thought, Yeah, that’s true — not everyone has a story to tell.
But after years of experience in my line of work, if this conversation happened today, my response would be different.

I would tell him this:
Yes, you have a story to tell.

Why do you want to make a lot of money?
Suddenly, the conversation becomes personal.

“More money is always better. Freedom. Buying things.”
What do you mean by freedom?
What things do you want to buy — and for whom? Yourself, or someone else?

Now the conversation becomes even more personal.

“Freedom. I want to travel the world whenever I want and enjoy life to the fullest.
I want to buy expensive things for myself and my family — luxury items.”

Let’s take his answers as examples.

He wants freedom. But how did he come to that conclusion?
Is it something he experienced in the past?
Did he once have little or no money to travel?
Did he spend hours watching travel videos on YouTube and realise those experiences felt far beyond his reach?
Or perhaps he once worked a dreadful 9–5 job that drained his freedom, his time and energy.

If he were to answer these questions, we would have a story.

He also wants to buy luxury items for himself and his family. But why?

Is it because he appreciates the craftsmanship and quality?
Is it about the feeling those items give him — a sense of success or achievement?
Or maybe he enjoys gifting others because someone once did the same for him, and that moment stayed with him.

Perhaps he wants the best for his family because, at some point in his life, he realized how important family truly is.
Again, if he were to answer these questions, we would have a story — a personal one, maybe even a life-changing one.

Stories Are Really Just… Experiences and Relatability

Many people think that having a “story” means having some dramatic narrative.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
A more accurate word might be experience.
A founder’s experience video.

Because the path we take to build our brand is filled with experiences — challenges, lessons, motivations, and turning points.
These experiences shape who we are and why we do what we do.

Look at it this way:
There may be many similar products and services in the market today, but they are never truly identical.
Why?

Because every brand is built by someone with a different life, different experiences, and different challenges they have overcome.
That difference — the journey behind the brand — is what makes the story meaningful.

And these are the things we should share, whether on our website or social media pages, so our audience can connect with us, relate to us, and understand us.

So yes, you might feel like you don’t have a story to tell.
But you do have experiences.

You have lessons, motivations, and moments that shaped your journey.
And those experiences are powerful enough to inspire, connect with, and move others.
That is what a brand story video is all about.

Thanks for reading!