Why I tell stories

Depending on how long you’ve been getting my emails (some of you have been here since the very beginning, which is amazing) [Rich Life Insiders Banner](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-863qn9gW7Y8-PT6lZ3nCW3yzX7426chh4W6_LWZm2W5LsxW3Xrgh336v28GW55Z-5r8-WVd3W590Pkj7rnpFWW8FbtGj8GRfP4VYNKX_6tXC9SW4tlMHH4_LDfnW3GGt6N275FDJW2pj9qj2LZ6-dW34tJwM4bXy14W68pjLH8LYRvkW14CC3H6tbW7QVTR1TB2BrsNNW23vtLp13X7mpW653vjN5VWCltW3K-7r_249y2QW2CB7dG56GtJxW6QrfvC9bKHlgW83X6KM8n7mDNVrp8R41P6zGnW4gMPGH4V4dSvW7xkL8g3SZsG3W9jr_3p7RQ6tRVxkcH73W3jbxW3xk4RJ4pHkF-dlFhqW04) {NAME}, Depending on how long you’ve been getting my emails (some of you have been here since the very beginning, which is amazing), maybe you’ve noticed I share a lot about my personal life. I talk about where I travel and what I eat. [Ramit and wife with their parents in Italy] For the first part of our honeymoon, my wife and I invited our parents to Italy with us. This is our Rich Life. I share my personal [Money Dials](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-8q3qn9gW8wLKSR6lZ3l1W5lT3c93bdpsPW89Lmpp86mH04W59hkTD8hTPQHW6m0Hz77FP8YvW7K-TQK2dbbclW3SNpTF1LgGtGW1xyQrb3NRbddN7RnFfmb30jJN3NJ4WjM5v4FN1hYsJWqWThRW7TwzjP8km2TZMspjqfj84-HW2WCZX94yMrX0V7SXcJ3YXMN8W8MjdJ0734gW-W2-dSwM4LBnWdM-Qp4Ywc5dxW3L7b1R302SYZW2g5B1R2PC73wW1ntFVR1l64mPN8HdmbgTRTHrW1qmcjn4Q_59GW5z_25L9c2jgkW1zVKky4s9mK-VY4bZd7m0rBjW5jPjyJ6qQmNQW8GyybQ7c-YDKW1nK4sb52ws-1f6FJZWx04) (mainly luxury experiences, great food, and convenience) and how I turn up these dials to create my Rich Life: [Ramit in Cucinelli Italy] Visiting the headquarters of my favorite clothing brand, Cucinelli, in Italy I talk about my family, my past, and the process of building I Will Teach You to Be Rich: [Launch party for Ramit's Netflix show] My family at the launch party for [my Netflix show](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-863qn9gW7Y8-PT6lZ3nbW2HzNRw7Mm3lmW979P3P57kcqVVlC_vT5lgZVTW1-vnBL5PrvgKW5CvcVz3FF16RW98vrm55n7xl4W4McHk33s7LG7W5HrdhK6KKV1tW7qlCZt3066XsW7kJbS61C1Yc3W16MXyl1MS9xJN52WvCmjPVXpW3vkvNL621D-cN1gBcyFrHk03V84lB87bkB9JW7l8s3l84fXX9W7NjNbT2qG36CW8xVPJk5qcsY0W6zq6q239NR8-VyXCMY6K6TnKN2f1g0Sdj1rPW3NqQLq3yBcBJW5MQrMw2t-_S0W9dw6dW38kmn5W6PlgdD5CLGNKW2nJrzk5ht4y8dqRtd-04) So why do I share so many personal stories? Am I just obsessed with myself?? (Cue the 7 replies I’ll get to this email telling me that yes, I AM obsessed with myself. To which I might ask: Aren’t we all?) I share stories because stories are the best tool for human connection. We pass cultural traditions and family memories through stories. We want to hear about other people’s experiences so we can better understand our own. We even create stories about our own lives to make sense of them. I often ask my podcast guests, “What story are you telling yourself right now?” [Podcast_Fernando and Anushk](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-8q3qn9gW8wLKSR6lZ3lMW2nhrK18ylS8QN8HvgcF_Vv_qW8W_lLm1dZ-6hW6lyWCR81QxbtW24r-rs6r1RKhW92RBDS4zgdYdW90JCSb42V0CQW4m5dht3zZbxSW5TQ4Gl3F9ZJKW511WPy4QNFyxW45Z78D6rk5wdW8Khm5G4c0HLkW6sfkH98SS1wPW328_mF2x-n6xN5bZG7kzLTWxW5G-HL73QssyRW23zQc-4bs1gbW6TLccf1jcXrqW2qNKHD5kF0x6W8g6K9J4jdrnFVy-YLm2MdmnYW470K_j5s34z4W13P2fs3cKFzrW7spMJy7VvZl8W1ZXNbG5xFD9yVtT86T5f85HDW8ZW7ds3xxn-sN2qNCRcjzJwmdCzXmb04) [My podcast guests Fernando and Anushka](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-8q3qn9gW8wLKSR6lZ3q0W79qKHT2pd-YBN70s56gBJgrxW3QHY066Fq2G_W1KvM4R2Ll89mW4H6gS68jbl7-W1DHJdg7rRpMmW8pS82Z25jP17W3SKV0K4lmmYBN2-T1KKVDXXGW503cMV9cX9nZW2tz9802JqJjjW6TzvNT1hJb6nW4lf6Y55St019W7WVkYs3mr1vyW4BFHX46BKd23W5ZWJgx5N25dtW3N8F8N56pMt7W9kfZdh9lZ_XTW3jJT2t4WlLWBW5hz__D6TSvH_N4gCG5bKdj9dW5rw-jV7Bwh99W83xnSM9lq5RQW1zZRlT8P185JVKKMX_1GxJJFW9bvjnX4NMpWyW3LbmSP7lML53W4xfjc481M8bLf5sxjqx04) unraveled a story that Fernando was telling himself — which was harming his relationship, his finances, and his future. How stories work in your brain Fascinatingly, [research has found](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-7x5nXHsW6N1X8z6lZ3pFVn0wGg7j8fMlW2Lw4qq9fgz-jW3CrSTm7gt72JW8n9CRM6r4mhWW1S-QQF58QHT9W3QnQxB4-ZPZ9W5dX4GK8llCZ-W6Bvw3w4zh--ZW7BcTz2316hy-W90dGSB4H2T8cW8qwZDQ2_0NCDW5z3PM-3lyBTtW1dntBC54dvVqW40C66X1QmnvVW5ySS8X1bt16kW70L8y393zv1hW4qFV926xd5_gW9g2s-Z2qGcj1W3qq2X64dQ2FsW4xb-1g2h9JbxVyzlT251lQMrN2wG1SV8FslyW7nVgyj2CyjmKW6CrF1k139h4hVlCdBY923mQjW6c4Vm83pZSFmW8JymDg9dCsPCW6rw4bn5Zn2x7W3DhNSB2w8fBNW8R79V42gM02gW77vqCm2-TFLFW4gzwm22ZqlSkW98DLXw6NnBQvW2BdsNt3FcFKqW7h4jw47yrpkVW5KXLlC1vV6NKW7DZ8Z77mt7_0W2c0n0x5dKj-Pf2XtVR-04) that just listening to a story causes your brain waves to sync up with the storyteller’s. And when you read a story, parts of your brain that have to do with “deciphering or imagining a person’s motives and perspective” are activated. (In plain English? Your empathy gets activated.) Your writing literally has the power to light up someone else’s brain! That’s incredible. - Stories are the reason you can’t forget that Instagram post begging you to adopt Tilly, the 3-legged mutt found roaming the interstate at 3am - Stories are the reason you have to scroll past someone’s 15-page blog about their childhood to get to their recipe for shepherd’s pie - Stories are the reason stand-up comedy is a [nearly billion-dollar industry](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-6Y5nXHsW5BWr2F6lZ3mjVT-37-6_DwCWW9jRL4b2-65tZW3-QGvz17YqKVN95291gBrxLYVklszY7wGR7LW257HQp3kjPlnW26l4nf3rH_gFW6GGJSY1-kkn5W3Jj8PH5NfwsJW7X5JDM88FqkKW56bmbZ7pWV4xW5mvq5V2g-bR4VWLW2g2bN4x7W7zC3V191wfQtW2-HZx85_m2mVW8SZ1_M3VXf3_W3SgjKN2yfgPvW5-0KjN16Kxx-W4VXdzj8MTY8QV31Ym27g7Vf2W9d1DMP5T0xjrW5v90Fb13-vh-W3JhVGV7RqcS0W6W8Knm4gSTDjN5tDYw24kpmLW79rxGK4yxdSgW5Kb8Nh8W1NB_W2VDxKj7NlwMtW5PSR_p3PfHySVyGBMf1F1-nFV1dB535l6BT6W7_QBYw2hBP6kW4-D9B86Hd-n-W8SVTCT9lmYz6f2zrcx404) - Stories are the reason you buy from your favorite brands and support your favorite artists And once you understand how stories work, you can use the power of storytelling to become a more effective communicator — in your life, at work, and even in your relationships. [Ramit eating pizza] The story of this pizza is that it was delicious. You can use stories to sell without sleaze Storytelling is one of the foundational principles of copywriting: a freedom skill I think everyone should have. Without getting interested in copywriting and its underlying psychology, I wouldn’t have been able to grow I Will Teach You to Be Rich past the doorway of my Stanford dorm room. Top copywriters know the persuasive power of story, and they harness that power in service of sales. Because when you connect through storytelling, you can sell whatever you’re selling… …without resorting to gross marketing tactics like exaggerated claims or straight-up making someone feel bad for not buying. How do you learn to be a better storyteller? If you’ve noticed that people tend to zone out and start scrolling their phone midway through your stories, you might think of yourself as a bad storyteller. The good news here is that stories are formulaic! In fact, a popular theory suggests that [there are just 7 “story archetypes”](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-6F5nXHsW50kH_H6lZ3m1W8HMjJn512ry8W2lQpjm4v0-cBN6w06nxYRk22W7v_pd84msBG9Vb0rny3qDChjW7Wt61_8rPZGvW9hFNdz8FNlvZW2FfDVq2Drm9tW347B276txzc4W6vkZtd7c9FldW2bJ_Qg7kTPx7W8Qtp0z6tp7jvW4kKMlr47t6DNN4NH-mcmhkwfW75lyJV32Z3MSVwl_BX83gXh1N26VLfqzBS17W3vsmK71N8-pKW62S5WZ6DPj_tW1d8R597knbDHW4z_mZ01l0DRTW2hwPf02yX3NHW70Y5P04f0jwHW8FdLdk2mr6BLW91hNJ36HFBqCW1KX-kc4fMP7mW39SGvP2vf3SYVr6_gg5lQLv6W4BPKtV3R08_FW1yb93p8G2_yYW8WcNXl4HwRc8W8m2R746RLsCrf6fQfZl04) that cover every single story in the world. Humans are attracted to these same story structures. This means you can [learn to be a good storyteller](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-8q3qn9gW8wLKSR6lZ3msVzf70c2wCXJXW4rMzRg1Gfx3QN3McLbbzbrGLW1ktsWJ5V6BzBW4zVmNb1JxfKyW92FmxJ6yQ8w9W4j18fq1Rlz-XW8BwdcB7ZsF3LW3NYPyM7vKcq1N4ddx7dVdYYSW7n9_v099BRz8F9ld4jcQ5pyW4B96J67tB8FNW77JdlD8tHlHvN17kZmWFsXq3W2xgjMf8d6Tr2W8BPd5-30Q1dfW3nLXx94mbn27V-zLG270JBTBW6rtS5S78gRL5W5mRjrz7XLQcsW1Ksfk51gWz0ZW5yrppk6KjYnPW1sq4nq4ShcXrW4z8qZs8jMpr0W7bj_BW2kx56xW2zCY4y5MxC4qW18ddMy1L4kRDf5Lfdwq04) even if you aren’t naturally gifted. [Ramit talking on mic] Like any other skill, great storytelling takes practice. On Wednesday, I’ll send you a copywriting tip that will help you move from storytelling to selling. Bonus: It’ll also keep people from zoning out while you’re talking. [Ramit Sethi Signature] P.S. I can already hear you: “But Ramit, ChatGPT has made copywriters obsolete.” Incorrect. I STILL write my own copy, and hire top copywriters on the regular. Why? Because the story-based selling that works best is rooted in customer research, authenticity, and creating your own point of view. It’s just not something AI can replicate. (Though I’m happy to revisit this topic once my “Black Mirror” clone body is up and running.) [Programs →](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-8q3qn9gW8wLKSR6lZ3nJW2lqSDN4PH6xPW12k1QW7hQvbWN4sY5Gnf4b8KW1qM30L1mqPv4W1wRVgh7bYwL6W7xclSX2Yr7G-W6hKzKy7PgG5RW6XN6hQ8YCPC2W8Nr2S37Hm2LbW582PK24rGspfVK9h0Y64syD-W7_S7Rj7tr4VsW7yL09p8RTMKLW8f5j5Q1pChg_W8cQvTd522jg9W1WhDln65JLMTW9gqtjR5VMhVZW95P2cB2cR5mZW2t8-7h3Xs5YRW77JJ0k4-S2-gW1321013VlX5YVcKfSG6HcjctW7Xw7yq7SWcLgN7mktrlNf7F-W5Rk9kZ8jPM_FW8CM0-W7xmfYHW6xlyh71s8dPSVBSwPX7391GSf5CWdV604) [Podcast →](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-863qn9gW7Y8-PT6lZ3kFVHLDNs22wQLqW8YJlfC5nKXXWW8jY-HJ676SgWVxLc3944CnzNW2CZY4y3bz4P2W3H3llw3mjVTgW5BP-0D2svY6MW17Lcxh7W9NYfW27cYQY1nh0K5W4zpmPr48pYkLW2qSwm_23WDZkW7s32zm1DY22TN977YKNJ7B7cW7YnC5G24597zW3p7LbV8CM92sW37KxFX8jvRSrW7gNbd07jCCpSW3370Sf7Kh198N4sM2PPgk85JW1rXPTh8s9zjlVQQ1-R4HYtjdW3fkYDs8pKTC3W8t8JW-5w4rDMW5Bb8Qs3fgM_1W5vVMM-1DNv28W1ZR4nF2BRrqFdmQxNY04) [Netflix Show →](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-863qn9gW7Y8-PT6lZ3pjW6X89c_37XqfQW4S_2J71mx-K3W52rTdZ9dJwhvW1L5r1y6pjG9bW8BWRhZ2LrdXTW6cPlz73Xsbr3W3xJN-38MdjKqMSB-H-CDBP9VCVnJ01h0CmjW3TPSQW1tYcx-N7dbzmdk1V_nW5KhRsk7GmzsSW1J_G4J4GJfJ9W8x8GQ867Lhz8W4nKdfC4SzfkhW1DGLQD120GsnV8Rvpc4784GKW6fdnRs1YKHtTW4yHlBB3vM9PpW3fwRLK8RNHXTW86kKjk2FydQVN2zzrvGtl7fzW2s8nSf8vsRKzW5l7mSQ3q2KTCW4t_1MX6whsFXW4br9rn2SZ7nNf63ypBv04) [Books →](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-863qn9gW7Y8-PT6lZ3l6W2sWzWM1pd5s1W4Sy1hV25lz5RW6kcc327n7c1cN35NHCjQc86lW4-lgkY80_GD1W8TwctK6pRkc6W1nrxsj6Pnf5DW6cXnJR5yyLt9W35lF9b5pFYQgW89LwgR61bLkWW3sZSbF5TSlJGVNxfnc6qZyyNW1HskPD6VKX2rW2m8_PZ1SbpvWW24-V_27NJFDTW3Rt2rF2_KxCDW4VPWcM852M7MW51Mqkf6W2H9kW9bY_B27Vl4wZVkrZr33tmqYQW4CS81p8yQC5wW2V_ybw4sF3HbMYQnL24v9qbW5Nh_rl7BVynRW6T8cGM5yFwsjW68S6sj6w4ctmf4fj4vH04) [Website →](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-863qn9gW7Y8-PT6lZ3lSW3j-lJ37bs4jLV7Vg051PMlPQW3lSW2P3m8c9dW5vC9Kh31jYQyW4Wjkr14VdGYyW18Zbsb7dmWf0W6Ntdfc6GyrmZW1h4B-h8gFbSsN3RP_3b1hNySW2cmX2n3gvTcPW6wDRPB8jqprCM83h44Cc_3xW9bQJkF6GkQrLW4rb8m51z_WkwW6xwYcj846q73W4-Mc6n6z_lPHVjQKr99m1HryV1RLsz1zyt6DW2tvlJN9904PTW40k6Ty6BZ6f-W3tSRWt2L2R0yW2p-0Jw4_K4MJN3GMcgShdYHZW1m3G-S6Cjc_YW5lWXSm15MxZ9N1Nctzp4Mm5ld9SfW404) [Instagram](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-7R3qn9gW7lCdLW6lZ3ngW5r55Gm4Bxd1_VZktS98HvR89VXLQg87fwCZ7W5kKbbj31CvTBW7FcNxK8XDndxW4jyfPW2-k2W1M7bp1ZyZvJSN945prYrngp-W6CwBLS90MCcgW6jRqCk2ThSHKW611f87757nnQW6mwBzK4jV63zW1gz4VF3X6pYpW4kzHh-8Z-wG4W16l4gg75BQYCW3BbzWl2m1JWQW8x551z5Qg66DW5sWGpZ15rzXbN5ptd0ZZt4bRN8g2sdN100NsW5CPwNw3Hc77qVMvHLC664m_ZW3jXz_t1fb5gqW7C28HT48glGrf8Nbs-M04) [LinkedIn](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-863qn9gW7Y8-PT6lZ3pGW1vGkSn1hn23gW8gS84B6mjlD4W1hnkvL1pByLdVCZmYn2fd4L3W8P_GcW7f80SvW6NPJQt77RqClVxh1c23XcChtV9Dxrw8kv5Z7W8Tz_Pz6V5mJdW23wPWW8R9qX_W4rvHcH6nBBNqW7PynKy12t7nSW15J0fT6c8p0JW62w9ss71r5VcW6pWxXz8tHDPlW52Yvqw7sYk_BW14qqpT14ZrYCW77gPbY8ShW4mW7N_JKx5TH-bxW7RLkCx8YfH_WW4Z-L3x8sdXQ9W7zLQyH724ztbW38FHVg6yhd0YW2w8_t45VFD24W1KfGpp4wX3SFW2zwxzz6cknYhf7Ybc-d04) [Twitter](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-7R3qn9gW7lCdLW6lZ3pzW8qnwby7rTVW7W58dq3z4PNL3zW6yFZtL89Zm3XVK0ly97yjVcxW2HMgRw7GdSFjW57cDdJ6Dlg_yW60W5mg98yNrvW7n5W-98DL3CFW9cvFW93-VDj5W1qQb4_6sS2VyW2Bng3Z7vH6PHW198wb_5T9VbxW14S_8821-sC5W8kw6Pv3tPn19W3xjqGg1DwfTwW8tb3456YhhGJW3NQS6c4ysxwqW83MTBk7WFbFKW4PjLwk7zv19hW9bl_L-124t8tVRrm_B3PyRZCW4h9lyT58m-DsW4Sv8zW7HQTZGW29BHVb92QLrtf6JnVQF04) [YouTube](113/d586LZ04/VVNf4t1F4HnxW90RZxK5rpFT_W5_BCzp5gqVwGN3Bm-863qn9gW7Y8-PT6lZ3n_W4KMGGp4ZTV65W2Jc1Qv4qXRpGW5nS6xP282RZ3W7xvN4S1jdpGBW25HQrZ8zwM1pW3ZMvTB73pb0pW7q6nyZ5MfyFmW8RmlYD8hHD9jVNtGb71t_1rTW6Bg2B48-zGhsW8twSNj52CMbfW92S62H8g92LmN25fgdB4TNzqV_S_T84Qhfw_W3Lr3p18qClHmW8-G3FJ8J4qHtW2KNSHL6qPbBWW7krLrY883jqmW6TW7Hg1-V1LnV6bWfk8BqFcPW3rBMPL3d8Sd9W7qt7pQ7Sf6LkW5xYP-49lvSmtW9gknyf5bgy7VW8vkMz35_XZWJW7878Q_7tKkplf46N1ZF04) Was this forwarded to you? 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