In 2013, I told a story at a synagogue benefit — just a night of laughter and tears, the kind of storytelling I’d been doing for years.

After the show, a man named Boris Levin walked up to me while I was drinking fruit punch and said,

“I run a company, and I want you to teach me what you just did — so I can do business better.”

I laughed.

I told him, “I don’t know how to help a businessperson. I just stand on stages and make people feel things.”

He said, “Oh, you can help me.”

I doubted him, but I said yes anyway. 

I always say yes. A yes can eventually become a no, but why close a door before stepping inside and looking around?

Ten minutes into our first meeting, I understood exactly what he meant.

Boris was the CEO of Mott Corporation, a high-precision engineering company here in Connecticut. His company made filters and flow-control devices — the kind of products you never see but are in everything from airplanes to heart monitors. 

And Boris was right. What his company needed wasn’t more technical explanations. It needed emotional connection.

The Morning That Changed His Leadership

A few weeks later, Boris told me a story about a Saturday morning that changed how he thought about leadership.

He woke up at 5:00 AM to a noise in his house — which was strange because his two young sons never got up that early. At first, he thought burglar. Then he thought animal — a skunk, a raccoon, maybe even a bear wandering through their Connecticut woods.

He woke his wife, handed her the phone, and told her to be ready to call 911. 

Then he crept down the hallway. 

He saw that his son’s bedroom door was slightly open.

He pushed it open and froze.

No bear. No burglar.

Just his eight-year-old son, standing proudly in the middle of the room — fully dressed in his Little League uniform.

Practice wasn’t until 2:00 PM. Not a game. A practice. The first of the season. Nine hours from now. 

“What are you doing?” Boris asked.

 “I can’t wait to play baseball again,” his son said.

Turning Emotion Into Engagement

That week, Boris told that story at his company’s all-hands meeting.

He told them about thinking there was a bear in his house, about the fear, the surprise, and then the joy. And then he said:

“I think we should all be as excited about our work as my son is about baseball — myself included.”

Then he gave everyone a challenge.

Spend the next month finding ways to rekindle that excitement in your own role.

And if you need help, he said, I’m here to help.

Over the next month, employees started finding small, creative ways to make their work more engaging — reorganizing spaces, improving processes, sharing wins. 

At the end of the month, Boris threw a celebration. People shared what they’d done. His son even came to the party — in his Little League uniform.

The Measurable Difference

What happened next was remarkable.

Morale went up. Absenteeism went down. Managers started using stories to kick off meetings and frame new initiatives. Instead of reciting metrics, they talked about people — customers, coworkers, even their own families.

Boris told me later,

“That one story changed the way I lead. It reminded everyone why we show up — not just what we do.”

And that’s the impact storytelling can have on a business.
It builds belief. It creates alignment. It reminds people that behind every product, every email, every quarterly target — there are humans.

The Real Business Strategy

Storytelling isn’t just a soft skill. It’s a strategic one.

Boris didn’t change his marketing plan or his operations workflow. He changed the conversation.

He used one authentic, personal story to spark ownership, creativity, and connection across an entire organization.

That’s what great leaders do.

They don’t just communicate — they connect.
And connection drives everything else.

So if you want to improve culture, retention, and results — don’t start with another spreadsheet.

Start with a story.

Unlock the Storytelling Skills Every Business Needs

If your work requires persuasion — selling ideas, leading teams, running meetings, pitching clients — storytelling is your competitive edge.

Get the free guide: Storytelling Tips for Business and learn how to use stories to win trust faster and influence more effectively.

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