We get so drawn to success stories because they speak to our heart, our hope, and the broader view of the human experience. At their heart, these stories are archetypal narratives of hardship and perseverance — a timeless story that fulfils some innate need for hope, inspiration, and human connection.
Why We Love Success Stories
Emotion
Success stories generate very strong feelings (like joy, respect, relief, etc.) These triggers bond the audience to the hero of the story. Hearing about someone who beat the odds and accomplished what they set out to do activates something deep in us —a primal sense of connectedness. This ability to evoke an emotional response is what keeps those stories with us long after we hear them.
Relatability and Aspiration
We love stories of winning and achievements because we see ourselves in the struggles of others. These narratives reflect our own tribulations and dreams. Be it a story of a young entrepreneur starting from ground zero to create a successful business or an athlete who came back from an injury to win a gold medal, it allows all of us to feel like we can be great as well.
Underdog Effect
Who doesn’t love a good underdog story? It is human nature to cheer for the underdog that is facing insurmountable odds because their victory is more substantive. The underdog effect appeals to our innate sense of justice and fairness as we root for the individuals who do more than what is expected of them.
How Storytelling Can Bring Amplifying Impact
Success stories become memorable because of the storytelling vehicle. A good story does inform, but it also immerses its audience emotionally. Using techniques such as descriptive imagery, personal stories, and suspenseful pacing, storytellers can add energy to their plots.
This is precisely why brands use storytelling in advertising, so they can connect with consumers on an emotional level. Campaigns such as Nike’s “Just Do It” are less about selling products and more about selling grit and perseverance. This emotional appeal is precisely why such campaigns are successful: They tap into our fascination with narratives of beat-the-odds triumphs.
Overcoming Impossible Odds: A Story Everyone Can Relate To
Now, the theme of overcoming adversity is timeless because it is part of life. Overcoming the odds, whether it be through fighting a personal affliction like sickness or facing a societal stigma such as prejudice, is a testament to coping and resolve — two attributes we revere and hope to replicate.
This theme also conveys hope during difficult times. When we doubt ourselves or fail, hearing success stories reminds us that obstacles are temporary and that we need to keep going and we will eventually make it.
‘Beating the Dealer’ Concept by Edward Thorp
This psychology is perfectly exemplified by the phrase “beating the dealer,” which entered mass consciousness with Edward Thorp’s revolutionary book on the game of blackjack. The story of Thorp is more than a story of card game mastery; it’s really a story of fighting and besting conventional wisdom with an unbeatable system.
It has everything you would want in a success story: brains, risk at the right moment, and persistence to carry through—so it resonates along a few lines. His triumph over casinos stands as a testament to overcoming great odds, a mantra that has inspired numerous individuals to believe that with enough effort, anything is possible.
