This weekend I met someone selling a product who, I would say, brought themselves too much into the equation. (What doesn’t matter). These days we are encouraged to find personal relate-able stories… but can we be so self-referential that we lose sight of the customer?
I didn’t identify with her story. Maybe I’m not a customer for her. But then again, maybe I am and would relate to a different story. I actually liked the product, can use it and did buy something. More because of my friend who was hosting the event.
I believe there is a case for not getting in your own way. I find people who are solving a problem that was previously a big problem for them do sometimes get in their own way. It’s almost as if it fuels their passion – but they aren’t yet detached enough to be objective.
Feedback I often give to people that do this is to try to find stories about other l clients rather than only themselves. I know sometimes you think you can’t because you think you don’t have permission to share other people’s stories. Though you can make it loose and unrecognizable. Then it becomes a universal story people relate to rather than a story that is ego-based about you.
Am I just making the same mistake with this personal story? Lol!