Advice is everywhere. There’s no shortage of blog posts, podcasts, and TikToks promising “the ultimate guide” to success. They all tell you what you should do:
- Start waking up at 5 a.m.
- Post every day on social media
- Be consistent
But here’s the thing — that’s not what most of us actually need. We don’t want to be told what to do. We want to know how you did it.
It’s one thing to say,
“Build your network to grow your business.”
But it’s way more helpful when someone shares,
“I sent 50 cold emails a day for three months, and here’s the template that got the best response.”
That’s actionable. That’s relatable. And most importantly, it’s real.
The Power of Specificity
Years ago, when I was trying to grow my blog, I read countless articles about “building an audience.” They all had the same generic advice:
- Write consistently.
- Engage with your readers.
- Share on social media.
Sure, that made sense — but it didn’t help me figure out what to actually do.
Then, I stumbled upon a creator who broke down exactly how they grew from zero to 10,000 readers. They shared screenshots of their analytics, detailed the guest posts they wrote, and even listed the mistakes they made along the way.
Suddenly, it clicked. I didn’t just have vague instructions; I had a roadmap.
Sharing Your Story Helps Others
When you tell your story — the wins, the failures, the weird little hacks that worked for you — you’re giving people something to grab onto. They can see themselves in your journey.
A friend of mine wanted to break into freelance writing. Instead of just telling her, “Pitch your ideas to editors,” I walked her through how I landed my first paid gig. I showed her my initial pitch emails, the follow-ups, and how I handled rejections. That’s what gave her the confidence to hit send on her own pitches.
How You Can Do It Too
If you’re sharing advice — whether in an article, a conversation, or a social media post — ask yourself: Am I just telling people what to do, or am I showing them how I did it?
Be specific. Be honest. Include the messy parts.
Instead of saying, “Start a podcast,” share how you recorded your first episode in a closet with a $20 microphone. Instead of “Grow your email list,” explain how you wrote a lead magnet that actually converted — as I did in this story.
Because when people hear how you did it, they’re not just getting advice — they’re getting proof that it’s possible.
Don’t Forget the Emotional Side
Sharing your experience isn’t just about tactics — it’s about the mindset, too. Talk about how you stayed motivated when things weren’t working. Did you have moments of doubt? How did you push through?
People connect with emotions as much as they do with strategies. If you were scared to put yourself out there but did it anyway, that’s a story worth telling.
The Ripple Effect
When you share how you did something, you empower others to take action. You’re not just giving them advice — you’re giving them permission to try, fail, and succeed on their own terms.
So the next time you give advice to someone, resist the urge to just hand them a list of tips. Instead, say, “Here’s how I did it.”
Because that’s the kind of story that makes a difference.
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