Average founders think their product is the moat. The best founders know it isn't. The story is... Because your product can be copied. Someone with deeper pockets can build the same thing, and probably better. What they can't copy: - Your story - Your insight - Your audience who already trust you... That's where I think the real moat is in 2026 and beyond. I've launched 3 companies and each one was easier than the last. Not necessarily because the products I built got better. In my opinion, it was because of the audience I built. I had people follow along with my story, and they got involved with each new business. When I started Verb, I had nothing. Every client call started cold. BySearchable, founders showed up already sold on what we do. They'd watched hours of my content before we ever spoke. Narrative and storytelling are assets that compound over time. These 6 frameworks are some of the ones I've leaned on to build them: 1️⃣ Hero's Journey A common adventure arc that mirrors every great story. Useful for: Pitch decks, brand messaging, and customer case studies. 2️⃣ The Golden Circle Lead with why you exist rather than what you sell. Useful for: Investor pitches, team alignment and brand positioning. 3️⃣ What, So What, Now What Turn boring facts into a reason to act. What = The fact. So What = Why it matters. Now What = What to do about it. Useful for: All-hands meetings, investor updates and board meetings. 4️⃣ Freytag's Pyramid Narrative arc that shows struggle, breakthrough, and resolution. Useful for: Any content that wants to emphasise emotion. 5️⃣ The Origin Story Framework Every founder has a story. Structure it like this: Before = The problem you faced. Turning Point = The moment everything changed. After = The mission you're now on. Useful for: Intros, investor pitches, and rallying your team. 6️⃣ Pixar's Story Framework Mirrors classic narrative arcs used in every Pixar film. Useful for: Any narrative that needs structure and flow. Ultimately, storytelling is how you turn attention into trust you can monetise. Leverage it for content, marketing, and beyond. It's worth it. ♻️ Repost to help founders in your network scale with stories. Follow me,Chris Donnelly, for more tips on building your business. -- I share useful frameworks like these in more depth in my newsletter, Step by Step. 📌 Join 250k+ founders and operators reading weekly here:https://lnkd.in/eUTCQTWb
The best founders know it isn't. The story is...
Because your product can be copied.
Someone with deeper pockets can build the same thing, and probably better.
What they can't copy:
- Your story
- Your insight
- Your audience who already trust you...
That's where I think the real moat is in 2026 and beyond.
I've launched 3 companies and each one was easier than the last.
Not necessarily because the products I built got better.
In my opinion, it was because of the audience I built.
I had people follow along with my story, and they got involved with each new business.
When I started Verb, I had nothing. Every client call started cold.
By Searchable, founders showed up already sold on what we do.
They'd watched hours of my content before we ever spoke.
Narrative and storytelling are assets that compound over time.
These 6 frameworks are some of the ones I've leaned on to build them:
1️⃣ Hero's Journey
A common adventure arc that mirrors every great story.
Useful for: Pitch decks, brand messaging, and customer case studies.
2️⃣ The Golden Circle
Lead with why you exist rather than what you sell.
Useful for: Investor pitches, team alignment and brand positioning.
3️⃣ What, So What, Now What
Turn boring facts into a reason to act.
What = The fact.
So What = Why it matters.
Now What = What to do about it.
Useful for: All-hands meetings, investor updates and board meetings.
4️⃣ Freytag's Pyramid
Narrative arc that shows struggle, breakthrough, and resolution.
Useful for: Any content that wants to emphasise emotion.
5️⃣ The Origin Story Framework
Every founder has a story.
Structure it like this:
Before = The problem you faced.
Turning Point = The moment everything changed.
After = The mission you're now on.
Useful for: Intros, investor pitches, and rallying your team.
6️⃣ Pixar's Story Framework
Mirrors classic narrative arcs used in every Pixar film.
Useful for: Any narrative that needs structure and flow.
Ultimately, storytelling is how you turn attention into trust you can monetise.
Leverage it for content, marketing, and beyond. It's worth it.
♻️ Repost to help founders in your network scale with stories.
Follow me, Chris Donnelly, for more tips on building your business.
--
I share useful frameworks like these in more depth in my newsletter, Step by Step.
📌 Join 250k+ founders and operators reading weekly here: https://lnkd.in/eUTCQTWb