The Art of Storytelling: How I Developed My Superpower

Storytelling is more than a skill; it’s a way to connect with people on a deeper level. Whether you are a brand, a business, or charismatic leader, your ability to tell stories is pivotal in connecting with your audience. Over the years, I’ve learned to tell stories across different platforms—whether through written words, melodies, or visual narratives. My goal is to demonstrate how I can be an asset to your business by bringing both creativity and strategy to the table. With the drive and skillset to elevate the brands you work with, I can help craft meaningful stories that resonate and inspire. This is my journey, from connecting people through conversations to crafting songs and producing videos that inspire.

Table of Contents

1. Meet people, ask questions, be curious

2. Learning to Inspire Through Musical Storytelling

3. Transform business objectives into visual stories

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Part One: Meet People, Ask Questions, Be Curious

In 2017, I set out on a mission to bridge the gaps between people from different walks of life. Through casual, open conversations, I found that everyone has a unique story to tell. My blog, 'The People’s Person,' became a platform to showcase these stories, highlighting the shared humanity we all possess.

Though my website, peoples-person.com, is no longer active, many of those stories still live on Instagram.

While I wasn’t the best writer at the time, meeting people, learning to ask the right questions, and staying curious were the first steps in my journey as a storyteller.

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Part 2: Learning to Inspire Through Musical Storytelling

In 2023, I took my storytelling into a new realm—music. Combining my passion for people with my love for creativity, I began offering personalized, custom songs based on the stories people told me through a form on my website www.kolbesmith.com.

Here is how the intake process worked.

1. People at my shows, or who find me on social media, click on a link to request a custom song.

2. The form asks for some information including: name, number, social handles, and phone number.

3. It then prompts the responder to give details of their story, and then allows them to opt out of the song being posted on social media.

4. The request shows up in my inbox and I respond within the week.

Writing a personalized song can be difficult, especially when the details of the story given to me are sparse. This is why I created a songwriting method that helps me get into a state of "flow" (if you don't know what that is, here is a resource).

It all starts with something called a "Brain Dump". I'll use an actual custom song request as an example, and show you how I transform a simple story into a song.

The song I will be covering is called "Can't Break This Home" and it was written for a family whose home burnt down in October of 2023.

Brain dump process

1. Write down main theme and characters

   
   

2. Break down the story into components

   
   

3.  Write everything that comes to mind when reading the parts of the story (dump)

1. Write other themes that portray symbolism

After the brain dump is finished, I look to other music for inspiration. There are thousands of playlists on Spotify that cover many different themes. Of course I don't just copy the song, I simply use it to get my musical writing process started. The theme of this song was hope and resilience, so I searched for playlists filled with songs about hope and resilience.

This is music specific, but different chord progressions, tones, and tempos portray different emotions. My years of experience in writing music has taught me how to identify which of these will best portray the theme I am trying to share.

In marketing, we talk about the idea of encoding a message. How will I take my thoughts and ideas and share them in a way that people will resonate with. The theme of this song, "Hope and Resilience", needs to be portrayed in both the story and music in a way that makes sense.

Ok, enough talking about the music side. How do I actually write the song?

After writing the guitar part of the song, just a simplified series of chords, I use a simple story telling framework to write the lyrics.

Opening Verse:

1. Set the scene. Who are the characters? What is the setting before the main antagonist or event occurs? What does it look like, smell like, feel like?

1. Introduce the conflict: Who, What, When, Where, Why?

Chorus:

1. Build upon the theme: answers the question of, "Yes, this terrible thing happened, but here is what we want to focus on".

Second Verse:

1. Introduce ways they work through their troubles: Remember the goal is to inspire. Resolution comes through trial and error.
   

Outro:

1. Explain their progress and show them a possible, better future: Life is hard, and subtle progress is hard to see as the person living it. This resolution comes with the idea that their is hope

The development of this framework has helped me write many different songs, but that's just the beginning. During my internship with a painting company called Heritage Painting, I realized this storytelling framework is transferrable to other storytelling mediums...

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Part 3: Transforming Business Objectives Into Visual Stories

In 2024, I expanded my storytelling skills into video during my internship with Heritage Painting. Here, I learned that telling a business story follows many of the same principles as crafting a song. It starts with understanding the companies brand and product, the objective of each form of content, and the audience.

I directed and produced multiple videos, including project consultant intros, service breakdowns, and a YouTube ad. The process mirrored my songwriting method, from initial brainstorming to final execution.

Here’s what I learned:

• Understanding the Brand’s Story: Like a custom song, a video must capture the essence of the brand and its audience.

• Pre-Production & Strategy: Much like planning a song structure, video production requires storyboarding, organizing, and scheduling with the end goal in mind.

• Cinematography & Editing: I honed my skills in cinematography, lighting, and sound design—using the same storytelling principles I applied in music to create impactful visuals.

  
  

Understanding Audience Preferences

During my time at Heritage Painting, I learned that understanding the audience's primary concerns and addressing them directly in content was key to successful storytelling. For example, the primary concerns of our commercial customers were:

• Fast and Transparent Estimates: Many customers compare estimates before making a decision. In our commercial video, I emphasized that our estimates are comprehensive, detailed, and have a typical turnaround of just three days.

  
  

• Great Communication: Commercial clients often need to make fast decisions. Our content highlighted that each client has a dedicated project consultant to streamline communication.

  
  

• Insured, Safe, and Law-Abiding Practices: In commercial painting, being insured and adhering to legal and safety standards is critical. I showcased our company’s fully insured status, documented workers, and strict safety protocols in the video.

  
  

I gathered these insights by interviewing our commercial project consultant, drawing on the skills I developed during my time running The People’s Person blog. Knowing how to ask the right questions was crucial. Once I had a clear understanding of the audience’s needs, the creation process flowed naturally.

Commercial Service Video

Whether it's a song or a corporate video, I approach every project with the same passion for telling meaningful stories that connect with people and serve a purpose.

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Conclusion: The Ongoing Journey of Storytelling

My journey as a storyteller has taken me from simple conversations with strangers, to crafting personalized songs, and finally, to producing videos that align with business goals. Each experience has deepened my understanding of how stories connect people—whether it’s inspiring hope through music or creating impactful visuals for brands.

But the story doesn’t stop here. I’m committed to refining my craft, learning alongside other passionate creators, and continuing to tell stories that matter.

Whether you're looking for someone to elevate the brands you work with or bring fresh ideas to the table, I’m ready to learn and grow along side you!