Life stories: storytelling prompts

A story sticks better than any argument. Here are 30 prompts to tell something that really happened. Keep the order: where and when, what happened, what you did, how it ended.

📖 30 topics · 60 seconds to answer · STAR structure

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How to answer: the STAR structure

  1. Situationwhere and when
  2. Taskwhat had to be done
  3. Actionwhat you did
  4. Resulthow it ended

All 30 topics

  1. The most expensive mistake I've madeSpeak →
  2. How I dealt with a fearSpeak →
  3. A person who influenced meSpeak →
  4. My most awkward moment at workSpeak →
  5. A time I said no and didn't regret itSpeak →
  6. The first money I ever earnedSpeak →
  7. A decision that changed my yearSpeak →
  8. How I learned something from scratchSpeak →
  9. A time someone helped me outSpeak →
  10. The hardest conversation I've hadSpeak →
  11. The time I was late when it really matteredSpeak →
  12. The strangest day of my lifeSpeak →
  13. A time I was wrong about someoneSpeak →
  14. How I got lost in a new citySpeak →
  15. The funniest thing that happened on a tripSpeak →
  16. When the plan fell apartSpeak →
  17. My first day at a new jobSpeak →
  18. How I helped a strangerSpeak →
  19. A time I took a risk and wonSpeak →
  20. A time I took a risk and lostSpeak →
  21. The most unexpected compliment I gotSpeak →
  22. How I changed a stubborn person's mindSpeak →
  23. My first time speaking in publicSpeak →
  24. The moment that changed my opinionSpeak →
  25. How I failed a testSpeak →
  26. My most memorable holidaySpeak →
  27. A time I felt truly embarrassedSpeak →
  28. How I met my best friendSpeak →
  29. The bravest thing I did as a kidSpeak →
  30. How I chose my careerSpeak →

Who this list is for

Topics for short life stories: mistakes, fears, people who influenced you. Stories are the main tool of speakers, creators and salespeople. Telling an anecdote in a minute helps in interviews, in talks and in everyday conversation.

A common mistake

A long setup. You spend forty seconds on where and when it happened and never reach the point. Start closer to the turning point and say the takeaway in one sentence at the end.

Sample answer

The most expensive mistake I've made

My most expensive mistake was signing a supplier contract without reading the return terms. The batch arrived defective, and we couldn’t send it back: the contract only accepted claims within 24 hours. We lost almost a month of profit. Since then I read every contract in full, especially the fine print. That mistake cost a lot, but it taught me more than any course.

Questions about this list

What structure should a story have?

The situation, what went wrong or changed, how it ended, and the takeaway.

What if I can’t think of a good story?

Take any one, even a small one. What matters is the takeaway, not the scale.

Where will these stories help?

In interviews (questions about mistakes and achievements), in talks and in videos for your channel.

How a session works

  1. Spin the wheelYou get a random topic from this list — like a question you didn't prepare for.
  2. Speak for a minuteLammy turns speech into text. The coach counts fillers, pauses and pace and checks your structure.
  3. Second takeGet one task and say it again. Your second take almost always scores higher.

More topic lists

🙂 About you❤️ Relationships✈️ Places & travel💼 Job interview🗂 Meetings🤝 Sales & negotiation🧭 For managers📈 About work💬 Opinion⚖️ Debate: for or against🔀 This or that💡 Explain it simply🔤 One word🌀 Absurd🥂 Toasts & speeches🎬 Blog & video💰 Money & finance

Life stories: storytelling prompts

Practice these topics