It's already in you


Whether it's an investor pitch or a software product, narrative transforms randomness into harmony.
It’s the difference between random facts and a clear, engaging experience.

So, how do you develop a sense of narrative?

Start by understanding what happens when something grabs your attention:

  • Multiple brain regions are activated, simulating actions and emotions.
  • Dopamine is released, driving engagement and focus.
  • Mirror neurons fire, making us "experience" the story.
  • The amygdala and hippocampus are engaged in memory creation.
  • Oxytocin is released, fostering trust and empathy.


The point of all this brain science? We’re wired for narrative—it switches on every part of us when done right.

Why does this matter?

Because you can’t develop a sense of narrative if you think it’s something external or separate from you.
Unlike physics or programming, you don’t need to study for this. It’s already in you.

Developing a sense of narrative is learning to PAY ATTENTION to your emotional response and learning to TRUST it.

If something grabs you, it’ll likely grab others, too.

Yours,
Sagi

What makes people see value in a thing?

I explore this question in my short, partly visual emails, crafted through my lens as a pitch designer in deep-tech. Join me for insights on effective communication, marketing, design, psychology, and the philosophy of value.

Read more from What makes people see value in a thing?
A sketch of an archer aiming at a target

I start every new funding round project by asking, 'Who is our target persona?' The first answer is always vague: 'A VC.'Push a little, and I’ll get: 'A US-based VC specializing in healthcare.'"No, no," I insist. "I need a specific name and position." Once I get it, I pull their profile photo and attach it to everything we create—a constant reminder to evaluate things 'through their eyes.' Founders are usually slightly apprehensive about that. I get it. The funding round is an extreme form of...

Man with question marks

A few good questions came up this week in my practice and in response to a previous newsletter: Q: Should I pitch the same way to a top tier VC as to a 'friendly' investor? A: Trying to pitch differently to different audiences stretches you thin. 'Managing versions' in your head makes you self-conscious and less present in the moment. A good rule of thumb: aim to be the same person outside and inside any meeting room. The real question is: WHO IS that person? What do they want? What is their...

This is what you think you see This is what you actually see Our high-resolution vision is limited to a small central area of our visual field (~26 degrees), yet we don’t notice it. Why? Because our eyes are constantly moving, making whatever we focus on seem sharp. It tricks us into believing our entire field of vision is high-res, even though most of it is blurry. That bias occurs in our thinking as well Because we are able to think rationally in the areas we chose to focus lots of our...