Try GOLD - Free
TELL YOUR STORY THE RIGHT WAY
Entrepreneur
|Startups Fall - Winter 2021
It isn’t about sharing all your great accomplishments. It’s about being relatable with your failures.

When you tell your story, you may be leaving out the best part.
I see this happen all the time.
Entrepreneurs share their story online or onstage, or tell it to customers, investors, or people like me—and they wonder why it isn’t resonating. The result isn’t just a bruised ego; it is a financial liability! People connect with a story a lot more than they do with a brand or a product. If you can’t tell your story right, you’ll have a harder time gaining business, attention, fans, and exposure.
How do you do it right, and what’s the part everyone misses? It’s time to discuss the greatest story ever told: It’s called the hero’s journey.
Every great movie you’ve watched, and every great novel you’ve read, and probably every great tale you’ve ever heard all follow the same simple three-part structure:
1 Our hero sets out to do something.
2 Our hero experiences a setback.
3 Our hero overcomes.
That’s it. Simple, elegant, compelling. But when entrepreneurs tell their story, I often hear this instead:
1 I set out to do something.
This story is from the Startups Fall - Winter 2021 edition of Entrepreneur.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Entrepreneur

Entrepreneur US
Your 5 New Favorite Things
With Emmy Award-winning tech expert Mario Armstrong's top finds, your 9-to-5 will have more joys and fewer frustrations-and your downtime will benefit too.
2 mins
September - October 2025

Entrepreneur US
AUTOMATE YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE
Want to drive more business with less work—but still keep it personal? We asked a digital marketing expert who specializes in hyperlocal businesses for his top recommendations.
2 mins
September - October 2025

Entrepreneur US
OUR BEST-EVER PROMOTION
Want to draw new customers to your business? Take inspiration from these shops on our list, who share their greatest attention-getting ideas.
3 mins
September - October 2025

Entrepreneur US
DEALING WITH ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY
Many small businesses are feeling the impact of tariffs and other policy changes. Here's how they're managing.
2 mins
September - October 2025

Entrepreneur US
'There's No Days Off'
What does it take to compete at the highest level? Billionaire Mark Cuban and NFL star Micah Parsons have the answers.
5 mins
September - October 2025

Entrepreneur US
My Biggest Change as a Leader
Mindset shifts are hard, but they can be the key to success. We asked six business leaders how they began to look at things differently.
2 mins
September - October 2025

Entrepreneur US
WHAT TOP PERFORMERS HAVE IN COMMON
Every franchise has a top-performing franchisee who drives the most business. These people tend to share two key qualities: a willingness to do the dirty work, and a purpose far bigger than profit.
10 mins
September - October 2025

Entrepreneur US
HOW TO BUY A LOCAL BUSINESS
Want in on the mom-and-pop-shop life? It's easier (and more profitable) than you might think.
4 mins
September - October 2025

Entrepreneur US
I SOLD MY SMALL BUSINESS. NOW WHAT?
Building a local business is hard. But saying goodbye isn't easy either. Here's what I learned—and what every small business owner should know.
5 mins
September - October 2025

Entrepreneur US
She Owns a $12 Million Staffing Franchise
After watching her mother run businesses in Indonesia, Josephine Suryono knew she'd one day do the same-just on a different continent.
2 mins
September - October 2025
Translate
Change font size