What a long-haired Aussie taught me about storytelling.

How to find influence in the moments that feel insignificant

Not here to change the world? That’s cool too.

You still get to tell your story.

Wanna know a secret? I used to have a bit of a crush on Aussie comedian Tim Minchin. I mean, who wouldn't? The man's a hilarious, musical genius. And that was before he wrote the songs for Matilda.

Still, I never thought I’d be quoting him in a piece about business storytelling… but here we are.

The speech that changed everything

A few years back, Tim gave a speech to graduates at the University of Western Australia (go watch it here - it’s brilliant!).

In true Minchin style, he turned the entire concept of motivational speaking on its head:

"Be micro-ambitious. Don't chase a dream. Be aware of the next thing in front of you. And be as damn good at it as you can be."

While everyone else was telling these young people to dream big, change the world and follow their passion, Minchin was advocating for something radically different: paying attention to what's right in front of you.

Brilliant life advice for sure, but also, as I’ve recently realised, the missing piece in how we think about business storytelling.

The "I'm not saving the world" story block

Here's what I often hear from the incredible women I work with:

"But I'm not trying to change the world..."

"I don't have a dramatic backstory..."

"My business isn't solving world hunger..."

"I'm just helping people with [insert perfectly valuable service here]..."

They say these things as if they disqualify them from having a story worth telling. As if their work, their insights, their experiences somehow don't matter because they're not attached to a world-saving mission or a tragedy-to-triumph narrative.

And this makes me sad.

Because here's what I've learned after years of helping women write and share their business stories: the most powerful, most connecting, most influential stories often come from the smallest, often everyday, moments. They come from micro-ambitions, not macro-missions.

Why small stories hit harder

Think about the last time someone's story really moved you. Chances are, it wasn't because they told you about their five-year plan to revolutionise an industry. It was probably because they shared a specific moment, a conversation with a client, a realisation during a difficult project, a small decision that felt right even when it was scary.

These micro-moments resonate because they're recognisable. They're human-sized. They don't require us to imagine ourselves as heroines on an epic quest; they invite us to see ourselves in the everyday choices that actually make up most of our lives.

When you focus on micro-ambition in your storytelling, several powerful things happen:

Being real, and true, becomes effortless. You're not trying to inflate your purpose or create drama. You're simply sharing what actually happened and why it mattered to you.

Connection deepens. Your audience doesn't have to relate to saving the world, but they can absolutely relate to wanting to do good work, solve a problem or make someone's day a little easier.

Pressure dissolves. You don't need to have all the answers or a perfect business plan. You just need to be honest about where you are and what you've learned so far.

Action becomes possible. Big dreams can stop you in your tracks; small next steps get you moving.

Ready to find your small story? Here’s how.

1. Focus on the small stuff

Instead of trying to sum up your life's purpose or your business's grand mission, zoom in on specifics:

• The moment you realised a client needed something different than what they asked for

• The conversation that changed how you approach your work

• The small process improvement that made everything easier

• The feedback that surprised you

• The day you decided to trust your instincts instead of following the "rules"

These moments might feel insignificant to you or, worse still, boring, because you lived them, but they're gold for storytelling. They show your thinking, your values, and your expertise in action. Which is exactly what your clients need to see.

2. Name your quiet why

You don't need to have overcome a tragedy or invented a life-saving product to have a meaningful why behind your work. Maybe you just believe:

• People deserve clear communication

• Small businesses should have access to professional-level support

• Everyone deserves to feel confident in their skin

• Workplaces should be more humane

• Art is for everyone

• Beautiful design makes life better

These ‘quiet whys’ are no less powerful than the loud ones. In fact, they're often more relatable because they speak to everyday frustrations and desires we all recognise.

3. Let go of ‘Big; as the bar for worthy

Here's a stomper of an idea. What if your story is worthy simply because it's true? What if the fact that it happened to you, shaped you, taught you something or led you to serve others in a specific way, turns out to actually be enough?

The obsession with big, dramatic, world-changing narratives has created a storytelling hierarchy that doesn't serve anyone. It makes people with perfectly compelling experiences feel inadequate (read: women), and it makes audiences tune out because they can't relate to the manufactured, X-Factor style drama.

When you focus on what's real, true, and right in front of you instead of what's big and impressive, something amazing happens. People lean in instead of checking out.

The compound effect of small stories

Here's what Minchin understood that most career advice misses: micro-ambition isn't about thinking small. It's about recognising that big things are built from lots and lots of small things done well.

The same is true for influence and connection in business. You don't need one perfect story that encapsulates everything you do and why you matter. You need a collection of small, true stories that, over time, paint a picture of who you are and how you work.

Each micro-story adds a brushstroke to the larger portrait, building trust and recognition and moving you from complete stranger to someone your dream clients feel they know so well, they’re happy to spend money with you.

Your next small step

The thing with micro-ambition is that it keeps you moving without adding to the overwhelm. And the beauty of micro-storytelling is that it helps you make sense of where you've been and where you're headed, even when you're not chasing some grand, shiny goal.

So here's your micro-ambitious challenge for this week. Instead of trying to create the perfect elevator pitch or founder story, just notice one small moment from your work that actually meant something to you.

Maybe it was:

• A client email that made you smile

• A problem you solved in an unexpected way

• A boundary you set that felt scary but right

• A compliment that surprised you

• A mistake that taught you something valuable

Write it down. Not for posting or sharing yet – just for you. Notice what it reveals about your values, your approach, your expertise or your growth. And then think about sharing it.

Because that's your story. Right there. Small, true, and absolutely worth telling.

And if you are chasing something big? That's bloody amazing too. You'll still get there one meaningful step, one authentic story and one genuine connection at a time.

What small moment from your work has stayed with you?

Hit reply and tell me about it. I read every response and genuinely love hearing your stories.