SOFE
The Storytelling for Entrepreneurs Newsletter
Every week, learn how to create & tell stories that get results and make your brand unforgettable
From Collecting Insects to 445 Million Users: The Pinterest Story
5-minute read | Read this newsletter online
As a kid, Ben Silbermann was obsessed with collecting—stamps, insects, anything he could pin, sort, and organize. What he didn’t realize then was that his childhood hobby would later inspire the creation of Pinterest, a platform that turned visual co...
by Lyn Graft —
Feb 25, 2025
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entrepreneurs
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storytelling
storytelling for entrepreneurs
When Running Out of Dog Food Leads to a $100M Idea
5-minute read | Read this newsletter online
Ever leave for dinner when you realize you need to feed the dog before you leave and discover you are out of dog food? That’s exactly what happened to Leah Busque one night when she and her husband were about to catch a cab for dinner.
That dilemma t...
by Lyn Graft —
Feb 18, 2025
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dropbox
entrepreneurs
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storytelling for entrepreneurs
How Authenticity Helped Scott Harrison Raise $860M for Clean Water
5-minute read | Read this newsletter online
Scott Harrison is one of the most authentic storytellers you’ll ever meet—his ability to connect on an emotional level is unmatched. It’s one of the key reasons his raw, unfiltered approach has helped over 19 million people get access to clean water....
by Lyn Graft —
Feb 11, 2025
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storytelling for entrepreneurs
The Busted Eardrum That Built a $100M Business
5-minute read | Read this newsletter online
This week, we dive into the ear-aching story of Cyrus Massoumi, the founder of ZocDoc, who turned a 4-days of painful frustration into a platform that reshaped healthcare access for millions. Discover how Cyrus pitched his idea to skeptical doctors, ...
by Kyn Graft —
Feb 04, 2025
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dropbox
entrepreneurs
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storytelling
storytelling for entrepreneurs
Cheese vs. Trap: What Every Founder Needs to Know About Story Goals
5-minute read | Read this newsletter online
As founders, we need things. Lots of things. Unfortunately, when you bluntly ask for them, you’re unlikely to get them. That’s where stories come in. In today’s issue, we’ll dive into how your business needs differ from story goals—and how this relat...
by Lyn Graft —
Jan 28, 2025
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butler bag
dropbox
entrepreneurs
sofe
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storytelling for entrepreneurs
The Forgotten Flash Drive That Built a $2B Empire: The Dropbox Story
5-minute read | Read this newsletter online
Back in the 2000’s, I was filming innovative entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley for a presidential campaign. It just so happened that one of the founders I was interviewing was Drew Houston, founder of Dropbox.
I don’t ‘fanboy’ over people often, but I ...
by lyn graft —
Jan 21, 2025
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dropbox
entrepreneurs
sofe
storytelling
storytelling for entrepreneurs
T-Shirts and Duffle Bags: How Failures Led to the Internet’s First Superpower
6+minute read | Read this newsletter online
Sometimes, you just need to get out of the house and attend that networking event—you never know who you’ll meet, what you’ll learn, or what fire might be lit. Thank goodness I decided to go see some guy with a duffle bag full of T-shirts tell his li...
by lyn graft —
Jan 14, 2025
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entrepreneurs
marc seriff
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storytelling
storytelling for entrepreneurs
Turning Obstacles Into Game-Changing Opportunities
5+minute read | Read this newsletter online
One of my favorite books is “The Obstacle Is the Way” by Ryan Holiday. It features a quote from the Roman general Marcus Aurelius that has stuck with me: “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” This statem...
by Lyn Graft —
Jan 07, 2025
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entrepreneurs
jolt
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storytelling for entrepreneurs
The Aha Moment That Launched a 10 Million-Dollar Brand
5+minute read | Read this newsletter online
Ever experienced that lightbulb moment for a brilliant product, only to see it on store shelves years later, kicking yourself for not pursuing the idea?
In this issue, we'll explore how Jen Groover acted on her 'aha moment' and turned her dishwasher...
by lyn graft —
Dec 31, 2024
butler bag
entrepreneurs
jen groover
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storytelling
storytelling for entrepreneurs
Give the Gift that Keeps on Giving: Your Story
5-minute read | Read this newsletter online
Last week, I had the opportunity to film and interview Tony Robbins as part of a health and wellness project I’m working on, capturing his personal health journey. While filming, I kept thinking about how much I wanted to share Tony’s wellness story...
by Lyn Graft —
Dec 24, 2024
entrepreneurs
howard schulz
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story as a gift
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tony robbins
How a $4,500 Video Turned Into a Billion-Dollar Success Story
5-minute read | Read this newsletter online
Michael Dubin took a crazy idea, a simple everyday product, and combined it with a $4,500 DIY video and sharp storytelling to enter an industry he knew nothing about—and take on billion-dollar market leaders. And built a billion-dollar business.
In ...
by Lyn Graft —
Dec 17, 2024
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Your First Line = Your Story’s Lifeline, Here’s How to Nail It.
5-minute read | Read this newsletter online
The beginning is make-or-break. Whether it’s the opening scene of a Netflix series, the first pages of a book, or the first notes of a song on your morning commute, those initial moments determine what holds our interest.
The same principle applies ...
by Lyn Graft —
Dec 10, 2024
entrepreneurs
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founder story
life is good
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