…And What that Means for Your Storytelling
Think about your dream customer for a minute. They are probably average, ordinary people, right? They don’t have any incredible skills or superior talents. They are just, well—normal.
That makes sense. We are all, for the most part, normal. Why would they be any different?
They are pretty good at some things, less so at other things. Normal people come with strengths and weaknesses.
How can we write stories that connect with your normal dream customers?
Create characters for your stories who are the same—normal people with their own strengths and weaknesses. But then they do the extraordinary—once they meet you and harness your offer.
Your dream customer needs to see themselves in your stories, through these characters.
How do you create a character your dream customers will identify with?
A character needs a name and other details, but strengths and weaknesses are essential:
- Strengths – what are they good at, what can they do, what are they confident about?
- Weaknesses – what are they bad at, what can’t they do, what are they afraid of?
Strengths and weaknesses change over time as we learn, make an effort, and grow. For example, your dream customers are probably at a place where you were in your past, so their current strengths and weaknesses are probably quite familiar to you. And trust me, your dream customers know all about their weaknesses.
Tip: Think about your own strengths and weaknesses where your dream customers are now.
Physical or Mental?
Strengths and weaknesses can and should be both.
Literal physical strength may be obvious, but other physical strengths could be agility, balance, or running quickly. Being skinny could even be physical strength. I am not judging—there may be an advantage to being thin in a story. Mental strength could be the ability to focus on a task, problem-solving, or having a good memory.
When imagining weakness, skinny might be a disadvantage when there is a confrontation—a bigger person might be more intimidating and safer. Other types of physical weakness might include being clumsy or a physical handicap like blindness. Finally, mental weakness can often be a lack of confidence, caring too much about what others think, or ignorance about something.
The Duality of Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths and weaknesses work together in a character. A character’s needs change throughout their journey, and what initially is helpful might slowly become a liability.
- Strengths – what helps you, but can also be what fails you as you may rely on it too much.
- Weaknesses – what holds you back but then forces you to reexamine to find a better solution.
There are many examples of blind people who develop an incredible sense of hearing, turning their weakness into a formidable strength. The same is true for inventors who were dismissed by insiders because they didn’t know the rote way of doing things but came up with the novel idea that no one else could see.
Tip: Want a clever way to have dream customers connect with your character? Make your character’s weakness at the beginning of your story become a key strength as they use your offer to achieve success.
Why Do You Need Strengths and Weaknesses?
You need to have well-rounded, real characters. Giving your character both strengths and weaknesses allows them to react naturally and authentically in the same ways your dream customers would in the same situation. When your dream customers see themselves in your character, they will be more likely to feel what your character is feeling, connecting with the journey, successes, and personal transformations in the story.
Then your dream customer will connect with your offer, and you will make the sale.
Want to know more about storytelling to create belief in your dream customers?
Join us here at Fire Came Later.
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