How to Craft Stories Like a Fighter Pilot - Dan Manning

Super Powered: Leadership, Strategy, Decision Making & Peak Performance - Stories & Strategies from World-Class Performers for Executive Success

Ever wondered how to make people take action after hearing your story?

Dan Manning transforms complex ideas into compelling narratives that drive decisions. As a former fighter pilot who negotiated with Russian military and wrote speeches for top Air Force officials, Dan discovered the power of the "Story Pyramid" – a framework that's helped 800+ founders, executives and speakers create stories that get results.

From selling a tech platform with a $50 story to negotiating international conflicts, Dan's approach focuses on one critical element: change. His brutally clear, concise storytelling style eliminates clutter to highlight the exact moment when transformation happens. Learn how vulnerability creates trust and why the shortest path to "yes" starts with understanding what your audience already wants.

Key Talking Points:

• The 7-part "Story Pyramid" structure that makes complex ideas easy to understand and helped one founder secure their biggest investment check ever
• Why finding the precise "moment of change" is crucial – when you've "struck truth" both teller and listener often get tears in their eyes
• How building vulnerability into stories creates 95% trust rates and why it should be "slightly scary but not terrifying"
• The counter-intuitive approach of using "tactical empathy" when negotiating with Russians during military operations in Syria

Links & Resources:

• LinkedIn: Dan Manning
• Website: Build The Story

Recommendations:

• "Storyworthy" by Matthew Dicks
• "Six Second Stories" by B. Rain Bennett
• Mentioned: Paul Zak: Trust, morality - and oxytocin
• Mentioned: Freytag's Pyramid (dramatic structure)

Today's Exercise: The Why Question

This story-trapping technique helps uncover your most impactful personal stories by digging deeper than superficial explanations.

1. Ask yourself "Why do I..." questions about life choices (Where you live, what you do, etc.)
2. Write down your initial answer, but don't stop there
3. Keep asking "why" until you identify the specific moment when a decision was made
4. Look for the emotional catalyst or specific event that drove change
5. Refine this into a short story highlighting the transformation

Strategic Storyteller Newsletter:

The "Why Question" exercise exemplifies how finding your moment of change creates clearer, more impactful communication. For more insights like Dan's approach to editing out everything that doesn't serve your core message, join my free 'Strategic Storyteller' newsletter.

Each week includes practical storytelling frameworks, personal insights, and curated resources from the podcast—all delivered in a 3-minute read.

Subscribe Here