If you care enough to tell a story that matters, you’ve already won half the battle. It’s not about slick production or a massive budget. It’s about that genuine, human connection that happens when you share something you truly believe in. People can sense that authenticity from a mile away, and they’ll lean in to listen.
Share Image Quote:Table of Contents
Meaning
At its heart, this quote is a simple, powerful formula: Authentic passion plus a story that serves an audience equals their rapt attention.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out a hundred times. We get so caught up in algorithms and ad spend that we forget the fundamental transaction. People don’t buy your product; they buy the story you tell about your product, the story they tell themselves about their world. But here’s the kicker—it only works if you genuinely, deeply care. If you’re just faking it, they’ll know. Your story has to matter to you first. Then, and only then, will it have a chance to matter to them. It cuts through the noise. Every single time.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Skill (416) |
| Topics | empathy (143), engagement (17), purpose (186) |
| Literary Style | direct (414), inspirational (54) |
| Emotion / Mood | hopeful (357) |
| Overall Quote Score | 83 (302) |
Origin & Factcheck
This is straight from Seth Godin’s 2005 book, All Marketers Are Liars. He’s based in the US, and this idea is the central thesis of his work. You sometimes see the sentiment echoed elsewhere, but this is the original, definitive phrasing from the master himself.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Seth Godin (100) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | All Marketers Are Liars: The Power of Telling Authentic Stories in a Low-Trust World (57) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Seth Godin writes and teaches about marketing, leadership, and creative work. After earning an MBA from Stanford, he founded Yoyodyne, sold it to Yahoo!, and later launched ventures like Squidoo and the altMBA. He has authored bestsellers such as Permission Marketing, Purple Cow, Tribes, Linchpin, and This Is Marketing. He posts daily at seths.blog and speaks globally about making work that matters. If you’re starting with the Seth Godin book list, expect insights on trust, storytelling, and shipping creative projects that change culture.
| Official Website | Facebook | X
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | If you care enough to tell a story that matters, people will listen |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2005; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781591841009; Last edition: Portfolio Penguin 2012; Number of pages: 240. |
| Where is it? | Epilogue, page 236, 2012 edition |