Black Friday and Stories We Live By
For years, Black Friday wasn’t just a day on the calendar for me, nor was it a day to focus on shopping. It was my busiest time of the year. While most people were wrapping up their Thanksgiving dinners, I was hitting the sales floors, helping to sell Samsung large-screen TVs. It was chaos, energy, and storytelling all rolled into one.
What struck me most during those crazy times wasn’t just the sheer volume of consumers or the race for a doorbuster. It was the stories. Each customer brought their own narrative, often unspoken but always present. They weren’t just buying TVs; they were purchasing experiences—a future filled with family movie nights, cheering for their favorite team, or hosting the ultimate watch party.
These stories weren’t always explicit, but you could sense them in the questions they asked or the excitement in their voices. And when I tuned in to those narratives, it changed everything. Suddenly, I wasn’t just selling a product; I was helping shape someone’s story.
That experience taught me something profound: the stories we tell ourselves and others shape how we see the world and how we act within it.
The Stories We Tell Ourselves
Every one of us carries an internal narrative—a story about who we are, what we need, and where we’re headed. These stories drive our decisions, big and small, often without us realizing it. Sometimes they empower us to take bold action. Other times, they hold us back, trapping us in outdated versions of ourselves.
On Black Friday, consumers often tell themselves “They’ll never get such a great deal” or give themselves reasons why they need that item. Those narratives shape their purchase behavior. We all do this, not just while shopping, but in multiple areas of our lives. In leadership, relationships, or personal growth, the stories we tell ourselves can be the difference between stepping into opportunity and staying stuck in fear.
The Value of Listening to Others’ Stories
Just as our internal narratives shape us, listening to others’ stories helps us understand their world. During Black Friday, listening closely to a consumer’s needs and aspirations wasn’t just about selling a TV; it was about uncovering what really mattered to them—a better family connection, an escape from the everyday, or even a personal reward.
This lesson translates to every area of life. Whether you’re leading a team, coaching a client, or building relationships, the ability to hear and understand others’ stories creates trust, connection, and insight.
Your Story, Your Choice
So, what stories are you telling yourself today? Are they helping you grow or holding you back? And when you listen to others, are you really hearing the deeper stories they’re sharing?
As you step into this post-Black Friday season, take a moment to reflect on the power of stories—yours and theirs. After all, the best stories aren’t just told, they’re lived!
