^{This 3-minute read brought to you by the team at Rogue Pine}

In this issue, you'll learn:

• Start With Story

• Why Stories Matter More Than Spreadsheets

• Good Leaders Lead with the Story

• How to Make Story Part of Your Strategy

• Story isn’t fluff—it’s fuel

Leading with Story, Not Just Numbers

We’ve all seen the charts. The reports. The dashboards.

While numbers explain, they rarely inspire.

Data can show what’s happening, but it can’t show why it matters. 

If you want people to care—your team, your customers, your audience—you need more than a spreadsheet.

Start With Story

Data doesn’t drive action—stories do.

We often believe stats will convince people to care.

 "If they just saw the numbers," we think, "they’d get it."

But research tells a different story.

“We’ve tried the make-them-aware approach... assaulting them with scary research... But it is increasingly obvious that this doesn’t work.”
- Nieman Storyboard

Stanford’s Dr. Jennifer Aaker found that stories are up to 22 times more memorable than facts alone.

Why Stories Matter More Than Spreadsheets

Facts tell. Stories sell.

More importantly, stories stick.

They create emotion. They build connection.

They take raw data and turn it into meaning.

Here’s what a good story can do that numbers can’t:

• Create empathy

• Show context

• Humanize problems

• Offer hope

• Inspire action

Good Leaders Lead with the Story

“A clear leadership story can rally teams and engage customers beyond what spreadsheets alone achieve.”
— Forbes

Think about it:
Would you rather follow a PowerPoint of quarterly goals…
or a founder’s story about why this work matters?

People follow people. They remember moments, not percentages.

How to Make Story Part of Your Strategy

You don’t need to ditch data—you just need to frame it better.

Here’s how to lead with story and make your message matter:

1. Add a face to the facts
Who’s behind the number? Highlight a real customer, employee, or community impacted by the work.

2. Use before-and-after framing
Show the struggle → show the change. That’s a story arc everyone understands.

3. Create meaning, not fear
Scary stats trigger shutdown. Stories of resilience and solutions empower people to act.

“This is storytelling that empowers people... it’s about resilience and empowerment.”
— Nieman Storyboard

4. Make it personal
What brought you to this work? What keeps your team going?

People want to hear you, not just your data.

Story isn’t fluff—it’s fuel

Numbers inform. Stories move.

The brands that win hearts (and business) don’t just show results—they show why those results matter.

The leaders who inspire teams do more than just track progress. ‘

They paint a picture of where they’re going and why it’s worth the effort to journey alongside them.

Ready to turn your data into a message people remember?

We help teams go beyond charts and KPIs, crafting brand stories that resonate, inspire, and convert.

Let’s turn your message into a movement.