Most Founders Think They Are Boring…
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No. You’re not.
Let me tell you why.
I recently met a businessman — a successful one — who runs a chain of stores selling value-for-money household items for everyday use.
He wanted to create videos for his business, but he had no idea what to talk about.
Why?
Because he thought his business was boring.
He thought his story was boring.
He even told me he didn't have a story.
So, we started talking.
And this is more or less how the conversation went.
“I just want to make lots of money. Nothing else.”
Plain and simple.
But I had a feeling there was more to it.
So we talked for a while, and I started asking him a few questions.
“Why do you want to make lots of money?”
“So that I can provide for my family, give them a good life, travel, have freedom.”
Okay. Fair enough.
But then I asked:
“Of all the businesses you could build or ventures you could explore, why this one?”
He explained:
“Oh, because I have the connections to get the products cheaper, so I can sell them cheaper.”
And that's when I thought:
Ah. There it is.
I told him:
“Isn't that actually quite a powerful thing?
You have the ability to source these products at a lower cost, which means you can make everyday household items more affordable for families who may not have a lot to spend.
Yes, you want to make lots of money.
But at the same time, you're also helping people afford things they need and hopefully making their lives a little easier.
There's actually something meaningful happening here.”
And that's the thing about stories.
Sometimes, they're hiding in plain sight.
There’s always more to the story
On the surface, saying “I just want to make lots of money” doesn't sound particularly inspiring.
It sounds blunt.
Maybe even a little boring.
But once you start asking why, you start uncovering the story behind it.
And slowly, he started revealing more about himself.
I eventually found out that he used to be very broke.
And now, by building his business and providing for his family, he wants to make sure they never have to go through what he went through.
Isn't that beautiful?
Isn't that a story?
And, in a way, isn't it relatable?
We've all experienced hardship in some form.
We've all had moments where we told ourselves that we wanted to do better.
To build something better.
To give ourselves or the people we love a better life.
That's what makes his story human.
He wants to provide for his family and give them the financial freedom to live the life they want.
And to me, that says quite a lot about him — not just as a businessman, but as a father and as a person.
And then there's another layer to it.
While he's building a better life for his own family, his business is also helping other families afford the household items they need.
Suddenly, the story isn't just:
“I want to make money.”
There's a whole lot more behind it.
Your story is already there
This is why I always find it interesting when founders tell me:
“I don't have a story.”
You probably do.
You just might be too close to it to see it.
Sometimes you need someone to sit down with you, ask a few questions and keep digging.
Because there's always a story behind what you do.
And there's usually an even better story behind why you do it.
It doesn't have to be dramatic.
It doesn't have to be some incredible rags-to-riches story.
It doesn't even have to sound impressive.
Sometimes, the most ordinary answers reveal the most human stories.
So if you're a founder thinking:
“My business is boring.”
“I'm not interesting.”
“I don't have anything to talk about.”
I'd challenge you to think again.
Your story is probably there.
You just haven't found it yet.
Remember:
No founder's story is boring.
Thanks for reading!
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.