Send us a text

In business, we often assume that people will choose what’s rational, efficient, or clearly beneficial. But if that were always true, every superior product would succeed, every sensible policy would be adopted, and every data-backed argument would win the day. Reality shows us otherwise.

Why? Because humans don’t make decisions like machines. We’re influenced by perceptions of status, scarcity, belonging, and curiosity. The way something is framed often matters more than its functional benefits.

Think about it:
* Why do limited editions sell out faster, even when the standard product is identical?
* Why does a higher price sometimes increase demand instead of reducing it?
* Why do brands that feel exclusive generate loyalty far beyond their logical value?
Today's story is about this lesson for leaders, marketers, and entrepreneurs - logic is necessary, but it’s rarely sufficient. To move people, you need to understand their psychology.

So the next time your idea, product, or message isn’t landing—don’t just push harder with reason. Step back and ask: How can I reframe this in a way that taps into human desire? That’s where the real magic often lies.

If you liked this story, then here is a similar one I read in Rory Sutherland's book Alchemy: 
When Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey wanted to modernise Turkish society in the early 20th century, one of the challenges was discouraging the use of the veil. Atatürk understood that direct bans or coercion would only create resistance. Instead, he applied psychology.
Rather than outlawing the veil, he made it mandatory for prostitutes to wear it. Overnight, what had been considered a marker of modesty and respectability became associated with something disreputable. Respectable women, not wanting to be mistaken for prostitutes, abandoned the veil voluntarily.
Another classic example of the fact that people are moved less by logic and more by psychology.

For more #storiesatwork do subscribe to our YouTube channel which has two playlists - 
#StoryBank https://bit.ly/WStoryB and 
#LeaderSpeak https://bit.ly/WLeaderS
You can also join our WhatsApp group to get copies of our videos. https://bit.ly/SW_WA_11

Our website has a video version of this story. https://storyworks.in/storybanks/

Follow me on LinkedIn -->linkedin.com/in/i-am-ic

Send us a text

In business, the questions we ask are often more powerful than the data we collect.

Most leaders ask: “What do the facts tell me?”
Great leaders also ask: “What if the opposite were true?”

That simple shift—entertaining a hypothetical you don’t necessarily believe—forces you to look at the same information through a different lens.

It’s a playful mindset, but far from frivolous.
Because it’s in those “what if” moments that blind spots are revealed, risks are uncovered, and sometimes, opportunities are discovered.

👉 The next time you’re sure of your conclusion, pause and flip it:
If I were wrong, what signs would prove it?

That single question might help you see what others completely miss.

For more #storiesatwork do subscribe to our YouTube channel which has two playlists - 
#StoryBank https://bit.ly/WStoryB and 
#LeaderSpeak https://bit.ly/WLeaderS
You can also join our WhatsApp group to get copies of our videos. https://bit.ly/SW_WA_11

Our website has a video version of this story. https://storyworks.in/storybanks/

Follow me on LinkedIn -->linkedin.com/in/i-am-ic

Send us a text

Sometimes, the shortest distance between doubt and conviction is not another slide deck with tons of data, analysis and logic — it’s the right metaphor.

We’ve all sat through presentations packed with data, logic, and charts — only to walk away without being convinced.

Why? Because while facts inform, they don’t always move people.

What truly shifts mindsets is when complex ideas are made simple, human, and relatable. That’s where metaphors come in.

A well-chosen metaphor takes something abstract and makes it concrete. Then you can understand it — and more importantly, act on it.

Leaders who master the art of metaphor gain an unfair advantage. They cut through complexity. They dissolve resistance. They rally people to take action, not because the spreadsheet says so, but because the metaphor makes the risk, or the opportunity, undeniable.

In this week’s story, I’ll share how two leaders, in very different times of crisis, leaned on metaphors to win support for actions that otherwise seemed unthinkable.

For more #storiesatwork do subscribe to our YouTube channel which has two playlists - 
#StoryBank https://bit.ly/WStoryB and 
#LeaderSpeak https://bit.ly/WLeaderS
You can also join our WhatsApp group to get copies of our videos. https://bit.ly/SW_WA_11

Our website has a video version of this story. https://storyworks.in/storybanks/

Follow me on LinkedIn -->linkedin.com/in/i-am-ic

Send us a text

In business, perfection is often overrated.

Some of the most powerful breakthroughs don’t emerge from flawless plans or carefully controlled environments. They come from moments that look like accidents… the kind of situations most of us might dismiss as “mistakes.”

The difference lies in how we respond.
👉 Do we discard the unexpected because it doesn’t fit our plan?
👉 Or do we pause, pay attention, and ask: “What might be hiding here?”

Leaders and innovators set themselves apart not by avoiding imperfections, but by noticing possibilities where others see problems.

So the next time something doesn’t go according to plan, remember: what seems like a flaw might actually be the seed of your next big breakthrough. 🌱

For more #storiesatwork do subscribe to our YouTube channel which has two playlists - 
#StoryBank https://bit.ly/WStoryB and 
#LeaderSpeak https://bit.ly/WLeaderS
You can also join our WhatsApp group to get copies of our videos. https://bit.ly/SW_WA_11

Our website has a video version of this story. https://storyworks.in/storybanks/

Follow me on LinkedIn -->linkedin.com/in/i-am-ic

Send us a text

In business, the biggest risks often don’t come from what we see… but from what we assume.

Today’s story is about how numbers, dashboards, and reports tell us a lot—but they don’t tell us everything. Many costly mistakes happen not because of bad data, but because of blind spots in the way we interpret the world.

That’s where a shift in mindset helps: thinking less like a data analyst and more like an anthropologist.
👉 Watching what people actually do (not just what they say).
👉 Noticing the rituals, habits, and “unspoken rules” that shape behaviour.
👉 Questioning the assumptions hidden in everyday language.

Leaders who can step back, observe, and challenge these invisible assumptions are the ones who prevent risks, unlock insights, and spot opportunities their competitors miss.

Where in your work have you seen assumptions create blind spots?
 

For more #storiesatwork do subscribe to our YouTube channel which has two playlists - 
#StoryBank https://bit.ly/WStoryB and 
#LeaderSpeak https://bit.ly/WLeaderS
You can also join our WhatsApp group to get copies of our videos. https://bit.ly/SW_WA_11
To sign up for the Founding Fuel daily newsletter use this link https://foundingfuel.com/subscribe/newsletter?email=

Our website has a video version of this story. https://storyworks.in/storybanks/

Follow me on LinkedIn -->linkedin.com/in/i-am-ic

Send us a text

The weekly story for our StoryBank is back. Today's story is about when “better” quietly turns into “too much.”

In business, it’s tempting to think:
* If fast is good, faster must be better.
* If growth is good, more growth must be better.
* If we delight customers today, we must delight them even more tomorrow.

But there’s a point where improvement stops adding value and starts draining energy.Where the marginal gain for the customer is tiny… but the cost to the team is huge.

The tricky part? That point is rarely obvious—until you’ve already crossed it.
I recently came across a real-life example from a company that learned this lesson the hard way. The story begins with a small, innocent improvement… and ends with burnout, guilt, and an unexpected realisation about what customers truly value.

I’ll leave you with this question:
Where in your business could “enough” already be plenty?

For more #storiesatwork do subscribe to our YouTube channel which has two playlists - 
#StoryBank https://bit.ly/WStoryB and 
#LeaderSpeak https://bit.ly/WLeaderS
You can also join our WhatsApp group to get copies of our videos. https://bit.ly/SW_WA_11
To sign up for the Founding Fuel daily newsletter use this link https://foundingfuel.com/subscribe/newsletter?email=

Our website has a video version of this story. https://storyworks.in/storybanks/

Follow me on LinkedIn -->linkedin.com/in/i-am-ic

Send us a text

Ever had that feeling—“I just know how to do this, I can’t explain it”?That’s instinct. It’s powerful. But here’s the thing—instinct doesn’t scale.
So many of us—whether we’re in sales, training, strategy, or design—rely on gut feel.

It works... for us. But what about the rest of the team? What happens when we’re not in the room?
That’s why the real power lies not just in knowing what to do—but in building a system others can follow.A simple framework. A way to teach, repeat, and improve.

This weekend, I’m sharing a story that captures this lesson perfectly. It’s about a life-and-death moment, an unexpected question, and a woman who saw the invisible—then gave it structure.
And that structure went on to save millions of lives.

It’s a reminder I keep coming back to:If something works and it’s all in your head, it’s time to pull it out.Turn it into a system.Because frameworks don’t kill creativity. They multiply your impact.


For more #storiesatwork do subscribe to our YouTube channel which has two playlists - 
#StoryBank https://bit.ly/WStoryB and 
#LeaderSpeak https://bit.ly/WLeaderS
You can also join our WhatsApp group to get copies of our videos. https://bit.ly/SW_WA_11

Our website has a video version of this story. https://storyworks.in/storybanks/

Follow me on LinkedIn -->linkedin.com/in/i-am-ic

Send us a text

Not all breakthroughs begin with a whiteboard. Sometimes, they begin with something that feels like a mistake.

An inconvenience. A “Huh, that’s odd…” But here’s the catch—most of us are too busy to notice.

True innovation doesn’t always knock. It whispers. And only the curious hear it.

This week I share a story about how staying curious in the face of something unexpected led to an invention that reshaped the way the world eats.

The lesson?

Don’t ignore the anomaly. It might be your next breakthrough.


For more #storiesatwork do subscribe to our YouTube channel which has two playlists - 
#StoryBank https://bit.ly/WStoryB and 
#LeaderSpeak https://bit.ly/WLeaderS
You can also join our WhatsApp group to get copies of our videos. https://bit.ly/SW_WA_11

Our website has a video version of this story. https://storyworks.in/storybanks/

Follow me on LinkedIn -->linkedin.com/in/i-am-ic

Send us a text

Today’s story from a famous sporting rivalry carries many messages. Here are two:-  
1. In business, we lean heavily on numbers — performance metrics, dashboards, ROI. But what if the numbers are only half the story?
2. The real competitive edge may not come from superior data or analysis but from the questions you ask, the details you notice, and the patterns only the human eye can see.

Listen on and let me know what are the other messages you take away.



For more #storiesatwork do subscribe to our YouTube channel which has two playlists - 
#StoryBank https://bit.ly/WStoryB and 
#LeaderSpeak https://bit.ly/WLeaderS
You can also join our WhatsApp group to get copies of our videos. https://bit.ly/SW_WA_11

Our website has a video version of this story. https://storyworks.in/storybanks/

Follow me on LinkedIn -->linkedin.com/in/i-am-ic

Send us a text

Innovation doesn’t always come from chasing new ideas. Sometimes, it comes from revisiting what you’ve already solved—and asking, what’s the inverse? What are we not seeing?

We shouldn’t just celebrate success. Interrogating it may lead to more innovations.Look at the obvious and ask counterintuitive questions. Create space for curiosity—even when the problem seems "done."Here is a story of how the Global Positioning System (GPS) was born out of a similar exercise when a leader didn’t just congratulate the team on an innovative solution but paused and asked “Can we flip this?”


For more #storiesatwork do subscribe to our YouTube channel which has two playlists - 
#StoryBank https://bit.ly/WStoryB and 
#LeaderSpeak https://bit.ly/WLeaderS
You can also join our WhatsApp group to get copies of our videos. https://bit.ly/SW_WA_11

Our website has a video version of this story. https://storyworks.in/storybanks/

Follow me on LinkedIn -->linkedin.com/in/i-am-ic