John Capecci is a communication trainer and the co-author, with Tim Cage, of “Living Proof: Telling Your Story to Make a Difference.”

I met one of my best friends, Tim Cage, in graduate school, where we were enrolled in a course about the power of stories. Little did we know at the time that, more than 20 years later, we would end up in careers that allowed us to witness that power nearly every day.

Tim and I work as communication trainers, which means we help people become effective speakers, whether they’re giving a talk or being interviewed by the media. Often, those people are committed to a particular kind of volunteering: the volunteering of their personal stories. They’ve made the decision to tell their stories publicly and help raise awareness, change minds, educate, mobilize or give voice. They use their stories to advocate for causes local and global—from creating safer schools to reducing the incidence of heart disease, from encouraging arts funding to ending homelessness. They volunteer their stories because they believe that by doing so, they can help others and make a difference.

By linking the messages of their cause (“Too many kids are going hungry”) to their lived experiences (“Let me tell you what this young boy told me…”) they know they have the power to inspire or persuade others in ways that a brochure, a PowerPoint, even a compelling video cannot. They know it’s the face-to-face story from one person to another that may ultimately make a difference. Tim and I are constantly impressed by these volunteers’ dedication and the good work they are doing in the world. We’re proud to be part of their support team.

Make a Difference Day (October 27) is a good time to reflect on what stories each of us has to support the issues and causes important to us. That story may be a major life experience or it may be a small everyday occurrence. What matters is that it is your story and that it is true. Try these five “triggers” to see what stories they uncover:

1. Why I Do This. Tell someone a story from your experience that helps explain why you’re committed to your cause.
2. Link to a Message. Think of a key message you want someone to understand about your cause. What story from your life shows the importance of that message?
3. Name the Change. Stories are often about change: “I was like that, now I’m like this.” “I used to think that, now I think this.” What’s your story of change?
4. Recover Details. Give yourself quiet time alone to think about one moment in your experience. Concentrate on your senses: what you saw, heard, felt, smelled, even tasted. These may be important details to help draw your listeners in.
5. Listen. Who are the storytellers around you? Listen intently to them and ask, “What are they doing to engage me in their stories?”

Advocate for the people and causes important to you, employing the single most powerful tool only you have—your personal story. Your story can make a difference.