Gordy’s shop was small and crowded, but Gordy himself? A total character.
“What brings you in today?” he asked in a lingering New York accent, even though he’d lived in Wisconsin for 40 years.
I told him I was there to see about selling some old coins from my grandfather’s estate.
Three hours later, my husband and I were still there—laughing, listening, and completely drawn in.
We’d heard:
- Tales of live eels spilling out of a mobster’s car onto the streets of Brooklyn
- A gold exchange in Florida
- A handshake loan deal in a back alley
“Gordy, you should write a book,” I said, handing him my card. “If you decide to write it, call me. I’m a publishing coach. I can help you.”
But here’s the real story.
We’d gone in to sell coins. But Gordy and his son? They sold us—on their warmth, their trustworthiness, and their love of people. They didn’t pitch. They just told stories.
Because that’s the thing:
Stories sell. They connect. They stay with us.
Whether you’re selling a service, a product, or an idea—storytelling makes it real.
It gives people a reason to care.
What’s a car commercial without the image of the wind in your hair and that feeling of freedom as you zoom along the coast?
It’s never just about the features. It’s about the feeling.
So next time you’re writing a post, a page, or a pitch, don’t just explain.
Tell a story.
P.S. Speaking of stories, if you’ve got a manuscript in a draft and now need help shaping it into a book, check out my From Draft to Done editing card deck. It breaks the editing process into bite-sized, dare I say fun, steps. [Get it here]
P.P.S. Want to impress someone with weird facts at your next dinner party? Eels can survive out of water and even slither across land. (You’re welcome.)
(Image by ralph_germany on pixabay)