Tom Jackobs: Mastering Sales Pitches Through Storytelling

Tom Jackobs is a seasoned public speaker and storytelling coach with a knack for turning personal narratives into impactful sales pitches. In our engaging conversation, we spoke about Tom's unique journey from crashing and burning on stage to mastering the art of ‘selling from the stage’ through storytelling, emphasizing the transformational power of a well-constructed personal narrative. Tom reminisced about his initial struggle with stage sales, sharing a particular instance where a lack of connection and the right content led to a glaring failure in front of 60 potential clients. It was a bitter learning curve that eventually shaped his distinct approach to public speaking and sales. “I didn’t have the right content, I didn’t connect with my audience using a personal story, and I was super awkward in the pitch,” Tom reflects on his past missteps. His methodology is unlike any other. With a background in Theatre, Tom leverages his performance, scriptwriting, and production skills to assist business owners, coaches, and authors in amplifying their revenue using their personal stories. His expertise transcends traditional public speaking coaching, tapping into the essence of authentic storytelling to foster a genuine connection with the audience. Tom elaborated on the process he employs, which commences with honing an individual's Impact Story. He stressed the significance of structuring this story in a way that captivates the audience, seamlessly intertwines teaching moments, and culminates in pitches that don’t feel like pitches. The aim is to turn these narratives into a Hollywood blockbuster, a thrilling journey that holds the audience's attention while subtly leading them to a desired action. “You find a story which will have a real impact, utilize a proven method to structure it to captivate your audience, create your teaching moments, create your pitches which don’t seem like pitches, use your voice and your body to create a performance, and create your speaker kit to book more opportunities,” Tom outlines his meticulous process. What sets Tom apart is his lived experience, once being in the shoes of individuals striving to sell their products but lacking the know-how. His amalgamation of real-world sales experience, performance acumen from theatre, and a structured approach to storytelling births a unique coaching system. It’s about creating an impact, evoking emotions, and directing those emotions towards a meaningful action—making a purchase. Our discourse extended to practical examples where Tom’s storytelling framework significantly bolstered a client’s business. The case of Fatima, a fitness entrepreneur, was particularly noteworthy. Her dramatic life story, when curated and presented effectively, doubled her business within a year—a testament to the profound impact storytelling can have on sales and audience engagement. We wrapped up our conversation with an invitation for a complimentary call with Tom, offering a chance to explore a collaborative journey towards mastering the art of storytelling in sales. It's not just about selling a product; it's about selling a narrative that resonates, engages, and ultimately, convinces.