My Core Belief about Storytelling

Storytelling isn’t about inspiration or waiting for the muse – it’s a craft anyone can master with the right tools and mindset.

A Story You Need to Hear

The outlook I promote parallels the experience of Yoichi Isagi within the hit sports anime/manga Blue Lock. Blue Lock isn’t just an anime about soccer; it’s a radical experiment designed to redefine what it takes to succeed. Frustrated by Japan’s inability to produce world-class strikers, the country launches Blue Lock, a program to forge the ultimate goal scorer. Its mission? Destroy outdated mindsets and replace them with a system prioritizing individuality, decisiveness, and the relentless pursuit of victory.

Blue Lock is a pressure cooker where 300 of Japan’s top high school forwards compete against one another, their dreams hanging by a thread as ranks constantly shift. Only one player will emerge as the top striker capable of leading Japan to the World Cup. For everyone else, failure means the end of their soccer career.

Among these competitors is Isagi Yoichi, a boy with a dream as big as his doubts.

Before Blue Lock, Isagi dreamed of becoming a player who could change games, the kind of hero whose name fans chant in stadiums. But his defining moment came in a high school match when he chose to pass instead of taking the decisive shot. That hesitation cost his team the game—and shattered his chance at national recognition. The failure haunted him, reflecting a deeper issue: his lack of confidence and decisiveness.

Now, at Blue Lock, those flaws are magnified. Ranked 299th out of 300, Isagi faces opponents who surpass him in speed, strength, skill, and self-assurance. In every measurable category, he’s outmatched. If Blue Lock had only been about raw talent, his story would have ended before it began.

But Blue Lock isn’t about talent. It’s about transformation.

Isagi’s journey through Blue Lock is one of survival—not through natural gifts but through relentless adaptation and clarity of focus. Surrounded by players with far greater physical and technical skills, Isagi discovers that his strength lies elsewhere: his ability to read the game and see possibilities others miss.

While others rely on speed or power, Isagi thrives on his vision. He develops an acute awareness of the field, analyzing every movement, predicting plays, and positioning himself to maximize his impact. In a system like Blue Lock, where individuality and decisiveness are paramount, Isagi’s ability to outthink his opponents becomes his most valuable weapon.

But this isn’t something that came naturally to him. It’s something he learned, refined, and mastered through deliberate effort. Blue Lock’s ruthless environment forced him to confront his weaknesses and embrace a growth mindset. He didn’t focus on what he lacked—instead, he leaned into what made him unique, building his strategies around his strengths.

Isagi’s approach is a testament to the idea that success isn’t about innate talent – it’s about crafting and using your abilities with precision. It’s about identifying what sets you apart, honing that edge, and having the confidence to wield it under pressure. In Blue Lock, where hesitation is the difference between survival and elimination, Isagi’s commitment to improvement keeps him in the game. 

But Blue Lock is just a story! It isn’t real life!

While it’s true that Blue Lock is a fictional story, its lessons are grounded in reality. Yoichi Isagi’s journey draws direct inspiration from the career of Filippo Inzaghi, one of football’s most iconic strikers. Known for his ability to interpret space and anticipate plays, Inzaghi became a legend not through overwhelming physical prowess or dazzling technical skills but through his relentless focus on strategy and positioning.

Filippo Inzaghi’s path to success was far from conventional. As a young player, he was often overshadowed by more naturally gifted teammates. He lacked the explosive speed, raw power, and flashy dribbling ability that typically define star forwards. Coaches doubted his potential, and critics frequently dismissed him as “just lucky” when he scored. But luck had little to do with it.

Inzaghi excelled because he developed an unmatched ability to read the game. He studied defenses, anticipated their movements, and positioned himself perfectly to seize opportunities. His timing and spatial awareness instincts made him a constant threat in the box, often finding the net in situations where others wouldn’t even see the chance. By leaning into his unique strengths, Inzaghi carved out a career filled with historic achievements.

Key Achievements of Filippo Inzaghi:

• Scored 313 goals over his professional career.

• Won the UEFA Champions League twice (2003, 2007).

• Became Italy’s second-highest scorer in European club competitions.

• Played a pivotal role in Italy’s 2006 FIFA World Cup victory.

Inzaghi’s legacy as a “fox in the box” demonstrates that success isn’t about having every skill but mastering the ones that matter most to your game. 

Why This Matters to You

At this point, you might wonder, what does a fictional soccer program or a legendary striker have to do with me? The answer is simple: their stories reflect a universal truth about success that applies as much to storytelling as to soccer.

For many aspiring writers, storytelling doesn’t come naturally. You might lack the “talent” to create compelling characters, gripping plots, or immersive worlds. You look at others who seem to effortlessly weave narratives and wonder if you’re just not cut out for it. It’s easy to feel like you’re ranked 299th in your own Blue Lock, outmatched by those with more natural skill or experience.

But here’s the truth: Storytelling, like soccer, isn’t about raw talent but craft. The ability to write robust, resonant stories isn’t something you’re born with.

It’s something you build.

"Craft is the sum total of all means used to draw the audience into deep involvement, to hold that involvement, and ultimately to reward it with a moving and meaningful experience."

Just like Isagi learned to leverage his strengths in a high-stakes environment, you can master storytelling by identifying what makes you unique, honing your skills, and applying them with intention.

That’s where my mission with Story Marc comes in. I’ve built this platform to demystify the storytelling process for those who feel success is out of reach. My goal is to dismantle the myths that hold writers back—like the idea that you must wait for inspiration, rely on natural talent, or stumble upon the perfect idea. Instead, I offer a straightforward, actionable approach that focuses on craft, growth, and deliberate practice.

For those who feel like storytelling doesn’t come naturally, I’m here to tell you this: that’s okay. What matters isn’t where you start – it’s your willingness to grow, learn, and embrace the process. Through frameworks like WriteTech, I aim to give you the tools to succeed no matter where you start.

Like Isagi in Blue Lock, you have everything you need to succeed – you simply need the right system and environment to unlock your potential. My mission is to provide that system and guide you through it.