From family gatherings to company holiday parties, people will find themselves in many social situations this time of the year. This can cause many of us extra anxiety and stress. What do I wear? What do I say to strangers or people I don’t really know that well? What will people think of me?

Enter John Livesay, author of Better Selling Through Storytelling, to the Yuletide rescue. One of the best things you can do when you find yourself at a holiday party this season is have a story ready to go when someone says “What do you do?” Nobody wants to hear a boring elevator pitch, but people always lean in to hear a good story. 

Good stories, even short ones, have four key elements: 

Exposition—paint the picture of who, what and where

Problem -describe a situation that has some struggle and even a little drama in it

Solution-give us a clear, concise and compelling way you solve problems

Resolution-what is your life or the people you help life’s like after this story?

When asked “What do you do?” Here is an example of what I say:

“You know how many people struggle to say something that makes them memorable when they are being interviewed for a job or trying to get a new client? Well I help them go from stumbling to soaring through their pitch. In fact, I’m called The Pitch Whisperer and make people unforgettable.”

Then STOP!  Say just enough to intrigue people.

Wait for people to say “That’s interesting, tell me more” or How do you do that or “What is a Pitch Whisperer.”  You see how by painting the picture of who I help and what problem I solve I have started a story?

Most people want to hear how a story ends so you can say your solution/resolution after they ask you a question. In my case, I say, “Companies have me come in to speak at their annuals meetings so they don’t keep coming in second place when they try to win new business. The old way of selling is push information out. The new way is to tell a story that PULLS people in. When that happens you go from forgettable to memorable. Whoever tells the best story is the one people remember and want to hire.”

Can you see how my solution is having people tell stories that make them magnetic?

The resolution is they go from forgettable to memorable and don’t come in second place anymore. More importantly they don’t have to push. Stories pull people in and that makes you magnetic.

So whether you are hosting a party and find yourself as a guest at one, have your story ready to go. 

It could be your story of origin-tell us where you are from and how you became you. 

Tell us a story of what you do in the morning that helps keep you sane or a story of how you deal with getting lost. 

When you tell a story that people can see themselves in, they will lean in. Good stories make you memorable and that fun to be around. When you become a master storyteller, you will go from being anxious and stressed out at a party to being the person that helps other relax and feel accepted.

***

 Yvon Lux is a tastemaker, influencer and editor for her Apple News channel.

Her “blogazine” Yvon Lux celebrates sisterhood and empowers women by focusing on women’s health, travel, food and entrepreneurial news while also sharing the most coveted fashion and beauty trends and stories.

The young female founder has been featured in Thrive Global, Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, Modern Luxury Magazine, and various other media outlets. Connect with her on Instagram and subscribe to her Apple News channel!