Hey Reader
Welcome to the second edition of The Wednesday Story Reset.
Here’s what you can expect every Wednesday at 7:00 AM :
• One story you can reuse - and exactly where you can use it
• One Practical Insight - tools, techniques, and concepts to improve your storytelling & public speaking
• One deeper shift - something about mindset, beliefs, and building a stronger voice
• And occasionally, updates about what I’m building and what’s coming next
Simple. Useful. Real.
Let’s begin
1. One Story You Can Reuse
The Grandma Who Ran for ₹5000
In 2014, a small town in Maharashtra was hosting its annual marathon. Runners had come prepared — proper shoes, athletic wear, weeks of training, and excitement in the air.
But at the starting line stood someone unexpected.
A 60-year-old woman in a worn-out saree, her sandals nearly broken, quietly waits for the race to begin. Some people laughed. Some questioned why she was even allowed to participate.
Then the race started.
And to everyone’s surprise, she ran faster than the trained runners faster than the youngsters and crossed the finish line first.
When people gathered around her and asked how she managed to win at her age, she shared the truth.
Her husband was seriously ill.
The doctor had asked for ₹5000 for an MRI scan.
She didn’t have the money. She had tried asking for help, but no one came forward.
Then she read in the newspaper that the marathon’s prize money was ₹5000, exactly what she needed.
She didn’t run for fitness. She didn’t run for a medal.
She ran because that race meant her husband’s treatment.
And when your reason is that strong, your body finds strength your mind never trained for.
This story beautifully reflects a principle I often repeat:
Confidence is rarely born from preparation alone.
It grows when purpose becomes stronger than fear.
Where You Can Reuse This Story
This story works beautifully when you want to:
• Opening a talk or workshop
• Selling transformation (coaching/programs/community)
• Corporate talks/leadership sessions
• Content creation (reels/posts/newsletter series)
• Share a LinkedIn post about purpose
2. One Insight: The Power of Pause & Slowing Down
One of the biggest speaking mistakes professionals make is not a lack of knowledge.
It’s speed.
When we feel nervous, we rush.
When we want to sound smart, we rush.
When we fear silence, we rush.
But here’s the truth:
Authority lives in the pause.
A well-placed pause:
• Signals confidence
• Gives your words weight
• Lets ideas land emotionally
• Makes you sound more composed and credible
Try this simple rule:
The One-Beat Pause Rule
After every key sentence, silently count “one” before continuing.
For example:
Say your line.
Pause.
Let people absorb it.
Then move ahead.
You’ll feel slower.
Your audience will feel clarity.
Slowing down doesn’t weaken your message.
It amplifies it.
3. One Stronger Voice Shift
In life, we all live with three stories.
The first story is the one people tell us.
What teachers, bosses, family, or society say about who we are.
The second story is the one we tell other people.
Our introductions, our posts, our public identity.
But the most powerful one is the third.
The third story is the one we tell ourselves.
“I’m not ready yet.”
“I’m not confident enough.”
“I don’t have strong stories.”
“I’m not a natural speaker.”
This silent narrative shapes our decisions more than anything else.
Because the way you speak to yourself determines:
- What you attempt
- What you avoid
- What you believe is possible
If you improve the third story, the other two begin to change automatically.
When your inner story shifts from
“I hope I don’t mess this up”
to
“I have something valuable to share”
Your voice follows.
Your presence follows.
Your life starts to follow.
Want to consult with me on Your Storytelling & Communication Journey
I love to help people who want to excel in Public Speaking at various levels. If you want to know how can we help you, please schedule a no-obligation discovery call here
Please book the above call only if you are willing to show up.
Do reach out if you have any further questions.
You can also read this newsletter here
Until next time,
Thanks and regards
Haritosh Srivastav
Founder & Master Coach
Confident Storytelling Hub
Keep Learning, Keep Growing And
Keep Going Out of Your Comfort Zone.
