FAQ — Allen Bronstein Message Strategist

Question 1

What exactly is a Story Discovery?

Accepted Answer

It's a 90-minute conversation designed to surface a specific memory — the kind that makes a prospect stop and think: that's exactly my problem. Not a workshop. Not a framework. A conversation that uncovers what your messaging has been leaving out. You leave with the edited video of the session itself, plus a written story — both ready to use.

Question 2

Why can't I just use AI to write my About page instead?

Accepted Answer

If you don't know what your story is, AI can't help you.

It only knows what you tell it. The problem isn't writing — AI already writes well. The problem is that when you don't have a clue what to write, there's nothing there to find.

Stories are built on sensual, emotional details. Most founders need help discovering the stories already sitting inside them — they just don't know how to express their own experiences yet.

Extracting a story takes an experienced interviewer. Someone who knows how to draw out the details that make your story come alive.

AI can polish a story. It can't help you discover one that was never articulated in the first place.

Question 3

How should I prepare for a Story Discovery session?

Accepted Answer

I encourage spontaneity. You won't be reading from a script or a written document. But it's OK to make a brief note or two as you're thinking about your experiences — good and bad.

Surprisingly, I've found that your most difficult and trying experiences — the ones full of conflict — make the best stories. The stories about how you've overcome life's obstacles are the ones your clients identify with. I call them trust builders.

My approach couldn't be simpler. Create a relaxed environment, so you feel like you're talking to a friend. Start anywhere. Before you know it, with a few well-placed questions, your story comes rolling out. No need to worry about the order of things — it's my job to weave your thoughts together. People are always surprised at the positive results of a 90-minute discovery session.

Question 4

My story isn't interesting.

Accepted Answer

It's one of the most frequently expressed sentiments I've heard across my career filming video biographies. Usually it's a son, daughter, or relative who wants the subject's memories captured. The subject goes along, so as not to disappoint. But they don't believe they have anything worth saying.

To convince them how valuable it would be, I'd show them a video of someone who felt exactly the same way — and ended up loving the experience, overjoyed with the results.

To relax them, I'd start the interview by asking where they were born and the names of their parents. Then I'd ask: "Tell me something a parent shared with you that changed your life — something you've never told anyone before."

They'll look up and to the left, thinking. Then smile. Sit up. And share some of their most guarded memories.

It almost never fails. Suddenly they get it — their life has been important all along. Nobody had bothered to ask before.

What comes after that first question are some of the most treasured stories I've ever captured.

The question itself changes for every person I sit down with. What stays the same is that I ask the one nobody's thought to ask before. And your answers will change your messaging — and your relationship with your customers.

Question 5

How is this different from copywriting?

Accepted Answer

A copywriter takes what you already have and makes it sound better. I find what you haven't shared with anyone yet — the specific moment, the real story — and discover it into both video and writing. The difference isn't style. It's source material.

Question 6

What do I actually walk away with?

Accepted Answer

The edited video of the session itself — the first time you'll see and hear yourself actually telling it. Plus a written narrative you can use immediately: in your About page, your pitch, your outreach, your LinkedIn summary. Not a list of talking points. A finished story, in your own voice.

Question 7

Who is this for?

Accepted Answer

Founders and executives whose messaging isn't landing the way it should. If prospects go quiet after a strong first meeting, or your About page reads like a résumé, this is for you. The Corporate Retainer and Site Survey are built for companies that need this work done at scale.

Question 8

Why only five clients at a time for the Story Discovery?

Accepted Answer

Because I run every discovery session myself. No associates, no templates. Five clients in a 90-day window is the number that lets me do the work properly.

Question 9

What's a Story Library?

Accepted Answer

A growing collection of finished stories — one per discovery session, each on video and in writing — that your team keeps drawing from. Over a three-month retainer, that's three stories added to an asset you own.

Question 10

What's the difference between the Corporate Retainer and The Site Survey?

Accepted Answer

The Site Survey is a diagnostic. It's where you start if you're not sure what needs excavating — a full day together, preceded by 1–2 weeks of interviews and story mapping, that ends with a diagnosis and roadmap. The Retainer is where the discovery work actually happens, month by month. Many companies do the Survey first.

Question 11

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

The Free 5-Word Message Analysis is the lowest-friction entry point. It takes a few minutes and shows you exactly where your current messaging is losing people. From there, you'll know whether a full discovery makes sense.

Questions people ask before they reach out

Still have a question?