March 11, 2025
66: The Stories Killing Your Speaking Career (And What to Do Instead)
In this episode, I break down why clichés kill engagement and how to replace them with fresh, unforgettable storytelling that captivates, surprises, and gets you rebooked.
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Most speakers unknowingly sabotage their impact by recycling tired, overused stories, metaphors, and quotes. You might think your favorite story is powerful—but if your audience has heard it a hundred times before, you’re just another forgettable voice in the noise.
In this episode, I break down why clichés kill engagement and how to replace them with fresh, unforgettable storytelling that captivates, surprises, and gets you rebooked.
WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER IN THIS EPISODE:
- Why emotional resonance alone isn’t enough to make a story land (07:40)
- The six hidden risks of using overused stories (including how they shut down your audience’s brain) (10:50)
- The neuroscience of why audiences tune out when they hear a predictable narrative (10:50)
- Seven powerful storytelling strategies to make your speeches stand out (17:28)
- The surprising secret of extraordinary speakers (23:32)
If you want to be a speaker who gets remembered, rebooked, and recommended—it’s time to upgrade your storytelling. Tune in now.
QUOTES
“Speakers who repeat the past are less likely to be rebooked. The moment an audience member says, ‘Oh, I’ve heard this before,’ you’ve lost them.” – Jacqueline Brooker
“For emerging speakers, using overused stories, metaphors, and quotes comes with significant risks that will undermine your credibility, your differentiation, your overall impact, and in actual point of fact, your ability to launch effectively.” – Jacqueline Brooker
“There are no new ideas, but there are a million fresh perspectives. Be the speaker who brings one.” – Jacqueline Brooker
“Extraordinary speakers, the ones in demand, from subject matter experts to movement makers to the purely inspirational, have mastered one thing — the art of storytelling, of story shaping, of using story to transport us to somewhere different.” – Jacqueline Brooker
RESOURCES
To Pixar and Beyond by Lawrence Levy
If you are on a mission to amplify your message to make a more meaningful impact, and you’d love to join a vibrant community of people all harnessing the power of speaking, we’d love you to join us in our private Facebook group. Here you will gain access to exclusive live trainings, free resources and the opportunity to ask Jacqueline anything. It’s all designed to take the speaking game to the next level. We can’t wait to welcome you – Join here : https://www.facebook.com/groups/paidspeakerbreakthrough
WHERE TO FIND JACQUELINE BROOKER
To connect and learn more about creating a Speaker Driven Business connect with Jacqueline on LinkedIn. You can also follow Jacqueline on Instagram or join the private Facebook group
Join the Speak More Collective.