The tiny factor of storytelling secret
Storytelling can sometimes feel overwhelming with its myriad techniques. Some are complex and take years of experience to master, while others are straightforward but easy to miss the subtleties that make them impactful. Often, it’s the small, overlooked details that keep a story from making a lasting impression. Today, we’ll explore one such detail—the 4th S in storytelling.
Most impactful stories typically include three main components:
1. Struggle
2. Solution
3. Success
At first glance, these three points seem sufficient to craft a compelling story. However, there is a subtle flaw that can significantly impact the story’s effectiveness.
Struggle:
When we delve too deeply into the struggle, the audience may think, “Everyone goes through struggles. Just get to the point already.”
Solution:
This is where the audience’s interest peaks. Detailing the solution is crucial, and the transition to the next step must be smooth and deliberate.
Success:
While sharing success is meant to inspire and give hope, over-explaining can backfire, making the audience feel you’re bragging, even if that’s not your intention.
On the surface, these three points make for a good speech. But the real magic happens when you add the 4th S—the Switch.
The 4th S: The Switch
The “Switch” is that pivotal moment in your story when you realize you can achieve your goal. Your audience craves to know the moment the light bulb went off for you. What made you believe in yourself? What triggered your determination?
The success of storytelling lies in conveying that moment when you realized you had what it takes to succeed. This moment is often brief—10 seconds or less—but it is incredibly powerful.
Audiences don’t always realize that they’re not interested in the detailed struggles or successes. They leave feeling motivated but sensing something was missing. This missing ingredient is the Switch.
Basic Pattern of a Story
“I was going through a crisis, but I didn’t give up. I was determined. I worked hard. Blah blah blah.”
This is the basic pattern: Struggle – Solution – Success. To elevate your story, find the Switch moment.
Tell your audience what made you determined. Explain why you didn’t give up. Share what made you believe in yourself. Don’t just say you believed in yourself—describe the exact moment that sparked this belief.
Example:
Let’s look at a real example from an International speech contest.
Speech title: WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP – Roel Dsouza
Speech Transcript:
“When things were not going well, I was sitting on the shores in Mangalore. I thought of giving up. While I was heading back, a fisherman stopped me and asked for a 500-rupee note in exchange for five 100-rupee notes. I gave him the 500 rupees and took the change. The notes were crumpled and perhaps stinking to some extent. By the time I realized it, he was gone. But I wasn’t worried because money doesn’t lose its value. That’s when it struck me: even after being destroyed, crumpled, and stinking, if a piece of paper doesn’t lose its value, then why should we let criticism or failure stop us? I was changed by the change.”
These few lines contain the Switch. It wasn’t the struggle or the success but this realization that made the story impactful.
In Your Next Story or Speech
Try to emphasize the Switch moment. Show your audience the exact point where everything changed for you. Witness the magic as your story transforms from good to great.
