Issue: Case Study — Numbers With Soul
Because digits become magnetic when you pair them with meaning.

If you’ve been following along this week, we’ve talked about why numbers alone don’t build trust, how context transforms digits into dialogue, and how even “low” numbers can create credibility.

But sometimes the best way to understand an idea is to see it in action.

That’s what today is about: a real-world example of what happens when a creator shares their numbers with soul.

First, let’s revisit what happens when numbers get stripped of meaning.

We’ve all seen the revenue screenshot plastered on social media.
We’ve all read the boastful line in an email: “I added 10,000 subscribers in a month.”

It might catch attention. But does it build trust?
Not usually.

Instead, it leaves readers asking:

·       How?

·       At what cost?

·       And what does this mean for me?

That’s the missing piece. Numbers without context are like skeletons. Numbers with soul — framed with story, honesty, and lesson — are alive.

A few years ago, a creator I admire shared this:

“My first launch made $2,000. At the time, I felt embarrassed to say it. But here’s what I learned: I didn’t need a huge audience. I needed to understand the one I already had. Those 12 buyers taught me more about what people wanted than any course or mastermind ever could.”

What made that powerful wasn’t the number.
It was the story + lesson.

·       Story: Embarrassment turned into gratitude.

·       Lesson: Audience insight beats vanity metrics.

That honesty resonated far more than a six-figure brag would have. Why? Because it was believable. It was human. It gave hope to readers still in the early stages.

Another example:

A coach shared that she had a list of just 300 people. Most “marketing math” would say that’s too small to be profitable. But when she launched a group program, 30 people joined. That’s a 10% conversion rate — unheard of in larger lists.

Instead of hiding the “tiny” list size, she celebrated it. She explained how intimacy and trust with a smaller audience led to higher conversions.

Her message?
“Small lists can be mighty.”

And readers loved it. Because suddenly, a “low” number didn’t mean weakness. It meant possibility.

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One of my favorite practices is when creators share annual reports — not just revenue highlights, but the full picture: expenses, failures, and lessons.

Here’s how one did it:

·       Revenue: $75,000

·       Expenses: $28,000

·       Profit: $47,000

·       Lessons: Overinvested in ads, underinvested in community.

Notice what happened here? The number wasn’t inflated. It wasn’t spun. It was delivered with transparency, which built more trust than if they’d said “multiple six figures” and left it vague.

For Lena — who’s skeptical of hype and craves authenticity

From Inbox to Income Avatar Len…

— this kind of transparency is magnetic.

What all these examples show is simple:

1.     They humanize the creator. Readers think: She’s like me.

2.     They shift focus from bragging to teaching. Numbers become lessons, not trophies.

3.     They invite trust. Transparency is rare, which makes it powerful.

Authority doesn’t come from being the loudest voice. It comes from being the most believable one.

You don’t need to wait for a massive milestone to practice this. In fact, it works best with everyday metrics.

Here’s a simple framework for your next “numbers with soul” share:

Step 1 — Share the Number
Be clear and honest. Big, small, high, low — doesn’t matter.

Step 2 — Tell the Story
What happened around it? What emotions did you feel? What surprised you?

Step 3 — Offer the Lesson
What can your reader take away? What’s the bigger picture?

Example:

·       Number: “Five people replied to my last email.”

·       Story: “At first, I thought, only five? But then I realized those five people took time out of their day to connect. That’s worth more than 50 silent clicks.”

·       Lesson: “Sometimes depth matters more than scale. Aim for conversations, not just conversions.”

Now your number isn’t just a metric. It’s a message.

It takes courage to share numbers with soul. It means resisting the urge to polish or inflate. It means choosing vulnerability over vanity.

But here’s the upside:

Your readers will trust you more.
They’ll root for you more.
They’ll stay with you longer.

Because they don’t need you to be perfect. They need you to be real.

This week, try this exercise:

·       Pick one number from your business (sales, sign-ups, unsubscribes, replies).

·       Write down the story behind it.

·       Then ask: what’s the lesson for my audience?

That’s your next email.

And when you send it, notice the replies. You’ll likely hear things like:

·       “Thank you for being real.”

·       “This makes me feel less alone.”

·       “I needed this perspective today.”

That’s the power of numbers with soul.

At the end of the day, numbers are just digits. They mean nothing until you breathe life into them.

So don’t be afraid to share the small ones. Don’t be afraid to share the vulnerable ones. And don’t be afraid to share the lessons that make you more human.

Because numbers don’t build trust.
Stories do.
And when you pair the two? That’s when your numbers have soul.

👉 Call to Action: Reply and share one number from your business — and the story behind it. I’d love to feature a few in an upcoming issue.

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