Every great leader eventually runs into the same realization: expertise alone doesn’t set you apart — your story does. We sat down with Will Severns, co-founder of ShareYourStory.com, to explore how books, personal narratives, and authentic storytelling are becoming the next major differentiator for founders, financial advisors, and thought leaders.

Will shared how he and his team have helped more than 200 authors turn lived experiences into powerful narratives that build trust, deepen relationships, and strengthen brands.

Along the way, he unpacked why so many leaders doubt their own story, how to overcome the fear of “self-promotion”, and why authenticity is quickly becoming one of the rarest skills in business.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Story is your strongest competitive advantage.
In industries where everyone looks the same on paper — especially financial services — your personal story becomes the emotional anchor that sets you apart.

Books aren’t about fame — they’re about impact.
Will encourages authors to write for the one person whose life or perspective might change because of their story. That shift removes pressure and unlocks clarity.

AI helps you work faster, but it can’t replace your voice.
AI can outline, brainstorm, and organize, but it can’t replicate empathy, humor, vulnerability, or lived experience. Leaders who rely solely on AI risk losing the very thing readers connect with most.

💡 For Financial Advisors & Founders

Will’s insights map directly to the challenges faced by RIAs, wealth managers, fintech founders, and financial-services executives:

A book deepens trust before you ever meet the prospect.
It allows clients to connect with your values, philosophy, and story... long before you show them a single planning tool or presentation.

Compliance is less intimidating than advisors fear.
Books focused on story, purpose, or the “why” behind your work tend to avoid the regulatory pitfalls that come with investment commentary.

You don’t need to be a celebrity to matter.
“You’re not a somebody or a nobody — you’re an anybody,” Will says. And anybody with a meaningful life experience has a story worth sharing.

📚 Books Mentioned in the Conversation

A handful of titles came up as influential or widely recommended by the hosts and guest:

• Goals — Brian Tracy
• The Baby Whisperer — Tracy Hogg
• The Psychology of Money — Morgan Housel
• How to Spend Money — Morgan Housel
• Sacred Pace — Terry Looper
• Strength to Strength — Arthur Brooks
• Founder Brand — Dave Gerhardt

🧭 Will’s Parting Thought

“Someone you haven’t met yet is counting on you to get better today — and your story might be the thing that helps them.”

Connect with Will

https://shareyourstory.com

Connect with Hosts

Joel Crampton — Fractional CMO for RIAs and wealth managers
LinkedIn
cmoalpha.com

Mandy MacPhee — Fractional CMO for founder-led companies
LinkedIn
illuminationcmo.com