John Elbing
Creator of the Storybuilding method
Author • Speaker • Brand Strategist.
Tired of being ignored?
Most brands don’t need more noise. They need a story that actually lands. I created Storybuilding to help companies flip their perspective, understand their audience better, and communicate in a way that sticks.
The book is now published — and it’s already helping brands, non-profits, startups and entire teams finally get the clarity they’ve been looking for.
What is Storybuilding?
It’s not storytelling. It’s brand realignment disguised as storytelling.
Storybuilding flips the focus from what you want to say, to what your audience actually needs to hear. It’s a method I developed over years of working with brands that were good — but not good at expressing why they mattered.
The method is now a book, a set of interactive canvases, and a growing community. It’s also a Trojan Horse — one that sneaks deep strategic alignment into your brand without triggering corporate resistance.
The Book: Storybuilding – Your Brand From Their Standpoint
It’s published!
First Edition: April 2025
Available in paperback and ebook
“Don’t just tell your story. Build one your audience already sees themselves in.”
Whether you’re in marketing, sales, product, or pitching your next big idea — Storybuilding will help you connect faster, clarify your value, and create stories that feel like they belong to your audience.
Who it’s for
Storybuilding is for you if you’re:
- An entrepreneur trying to stand out
- A marketer tired of vague positioning
- A sales team that hears “let me think about it” too often
- A non-profit trying to get people to care (and donate)
- An internal leader trying to convince stakeholders
- Or just someone who’s done being ignored
Speaking & Consulting
Yes, I work with organizations.
Yes, I speak at conferences and off-sites.
Yes, I can help your team stop being ignored.
About Me
I’m John Elbing, and I believe good strategy should be usable, not buried in a 200-slide deck. I’m a brand strategist, the creator of Storybuilding, and a guy who gets excited about helping brands actually make sense.
I’ve worked across industries, advised startups and legacy companies, and created a method that works just as well in the boardroom as it does at your kitchen table.
