Quick question: When someone asks what you do, do you rattle off your credentials like a resume?

“I have 15 years of experience…”

“I’ve worked with over 100 clients…”

“I’m certified in…”

Here’s the problem: Nobody cares.

Well, that’s not entirely true.

They want to care.

They just can’t connect with a list of achievements.

That’s why I’m excited about our upcoming Mastermind Book Club meeting featuring David Garfinkel, author of The Persuasion Story Code.​

What Are Origin Stories?

According to Garfinkel, Origin Stories are persuasive narratives that answer the fundamental question: “What qualifies this person to say what they are promising?”

They’re not about impressing people with achievements.

They’re about building confidence that you have the background and experience necessary to solve their specific problems.

Think of it this way: Your credentials open the door. Your Origin Story invites them in.

3 Game-Changing Insights from the Book

1. Stories Beat Lists Every Time
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   Saying “I have 20 years of marketing experience” is forgettable.
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   But telling the story of how you faced a major challenge, developed a unique solution, and achieved breakthrough results?
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   That creates both emotional connection AND credibility.
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   The story format makes your achievements memorable because it provides context and demonstrates real-world application.
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2. Specificity Creates Credibility Vague claims kill trust.
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   Instead of “I’ve helped many companies grow,” try: “I helped a struggling tech startup increase their conversion rate from 2% to 12% in six months by implementing a storytelling framework.”
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   See the difference?
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   Specific numbers, timeframes, and methodologies create believability.
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3. Every Origin Story Needs a “Motivating Moment”
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   This is the pivotal experience that led to your unique expertise.
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   Maybe you hit rock bottom.
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   Maybe you made an unexpected discovery.
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   This moment explains not just what you’ve accomplished, but why you’re uniquely qualified to help others.
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   It transforms credentials into purpose.

A Real-World Transformation

Let me tell you about Jennifer, a financial advisor who read this book three months ago.
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Before: Her website “About” page listed her MBA, 12 years of experience, and various certifications.
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Professional?
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Yes.
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Memorable?
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No.
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Her conversion rate from website visitors to consultation calls was a dismal 1.5%.
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After reading the chapter on Origin Stories, Jennifer completely rewrote it: She told the story of watching her parents lose their retirement savings in 2008 because their advisor put them in high-risk investments they didn’t understand.
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At 23, fresh out of college, she sat at their kitchen table watching her mother cry.
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That moment changed everything.
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She went back to school for her MBA.
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Not to climb a corporate ladder, but to make sure no family would face what hers did.
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She spent 12 years developing a “Plain English Financial Planning” system that helps clients understand exactly where their money goes and why.
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The result?
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Her conversion rate jumped to 8.7% in the first month.
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More importantly, prospects now say things like, “I feel like you really get what I’m worried about.”
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That’s the power of an Origin Story done right.

Join Us for the Deep Dive

At our next Mastermind Book Club meeting, David Garfinkel himself will be walking us through The Persuasion Story Code including the Origin Stories framework and five other types of persuasive narratives.
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You’ll learn how to:
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- Craft your Origin Story so it builds instant credibility
- Use “convincing details and fascinating facts” that make your story believable
- Identify your own “motivating moment” and leverage it for maximum impact
- Apply these principles to your About page, sales conversations, and networking
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Meeting Details: Thursday October 21st at 11:30 AM Pacific/2:30 PM Eastern
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Location: https://epicencore.life/mastermind-book-club/​

This isn’t just another book club meeting.

It’s a masterclass in making people believe in you taught by the expert who literally wrote the code on persuasion.

Ready to transform how you tell your story?

See you there,

Ted