Human Stories - Renee Murphy

Human Stories - Renee Murphy Hi there. I'm Renee Murphy. I'm a Messaging Strategist and the human behind Human Stories. I work with businesses in the Manawatū region.

Based in Manawatū, I help local business owners clarify their messaging so they feel confident in their marketing and attract the right customers. I'm a Brand Coach who helps small businesses attract their ideal humans.

Are you a smart, down-to-earth solopreneur or service provider based in Manawatū?If so, this relaxed interactive Persona...
14/06/2026

Are you a smart, down-to-earth solopreneur or service provider based in Manawatū?

If so, this relaxed interactive Personal Brand workshop is designed for you.

We'll be talking about how to show up, stay authentic, and attract the right clients.

You’ll learn:

- What a personal brand is (and what it’s not)
- Why it matters for business owners
- The steps to defining your personal brand - so you can stand out, stay authentic, and attract the right clients

You’ll walk away with:

- Greater clarity on how you want to be known professionally
- More confidence in how you show up and talk about your business
- A practical framework for building your personal brand intentionally
- Ideas you can immediately apply to your marketing, networking and online presence

You can book using the link below 👇Get in quick - there are only a few spaces left.

One of the things I admire about Vicki Carne is how much she cares about her clients.As a health coach at Ignite Your Sp...
09/06/2026

One of the things I admire about Vicki Carne is how much she cares about her clients.

As a health coach at Ignite Your Sparkle, she supports women in midlife to reduce overwhelm, restore their energy, and rediscover their spark.

She knows how transformative her work is for her clients.
The challenge was making sure her marketing clearly communicated that value to the people who needed it most.

That's the work we tackled together.

We explored her business, her values, the people she serves, and the difference she makes in their lives. From there, we refined her messaging so it connects with the women she’s here to serve.

Seeing business owners gain confidence in how they talk about their work is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

Thank you, Vicki, for trusting me and for these kind words.

If you're doing great work but struggling to explain it in a way that connects with the right people, I’m here to help you find clarity.

Being human will never go out of fashion.This morning I had an in-person meeting with a new client.We're working on a bi...
26/05/2026

Being human will never go out of fashion.

This morning I had an in-person meeting with a new client.

We're working on a big project together. There are multiple stakeholders and lots of moving parts.

It requires me to look at the big picture but also zoom in on the details.

The ability to sit down and talk it through person-to-person was invaluable. A lot of this is about asking the right questions and joining the dots.

That's where "soft skills" - of critical thinking, empathy, strong communication skills, collaboration, and adaptability really come into play.

Yes, AI is an amazing tool, with many uses. And yes, I will use it to assist with this project. But ultimately, AI doesn't have a beating heart. It can't read body language or spot the nuance when someone is speaking. These are human skills.

Technology will evolve, but business will always be about people, relationships, and trust.

Last year, I found myself in a tiny plane, strapped very tightly to a stranger. I'd set myself a challenge – to do a tan...
07/05/2026

Last year, I found myself in a tiny plane, strapped very tightly to a stranger. I'd set myself a challenge – to do a tandem skydive.

As we climbed to 15,000 feet over Taupō, I thought, Oh my gosh… I’m really doing this.

My heart was pumping with adrenaline. My eyes were closed, and I was trying to focus on my breathing.

My husband and boys were watching from the ground - backing out wasn’t an option.

The jumpmaster was calm and completely in control of the process. He gave my shoulders a reassuring squeeze and said, “When we get to the door, I want you to tilt your head back, smile at the camera, and I’ll push us out.”

Suddenly… we were in f r e e f a l l.

I gripped my harness tightly.
My jumpmaster pulled my hands away from the straps and stretched my arms out wide.

It was absolutely exhilarating!

When my feet touched the ground, I couldn’t believe what I’d just done.

I’ll always be grateful to my jumpmaster for guiding me through the process and helping me tick something off my bucket list.

He will never know the impact he had. To him, it was just another day at work.

But to me, it was a defining moment.

Jumping out of that plane was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done, but it gave me a new reference point for what I’m capable of.

Paddy is pretty well-trained and follows basic commands well.One of her quirks is that she picks up leaves in her mouth ...
06/05/2026

Paddy is pretty well-trained and follows basic commands well.

One of her quirks is that she picks up leaves in her mouth and presents them to me proudly. But I don’t want them – because they are covered in slobber.

AI is a bit like Paddy.
It will happily give you content that seems okay, but it's actually a slobbery leaf.

Your job is to decide if the content is right for you, your voice and your brand.

Because every time you hit “post,” you either strengthen your personal brand or you water it down.

If you’re not sure what’s on-brand for you and what isn’t, we should talk.
That’s the kind of work I help my client with.

P.s Paddy is not my dog

It was 7:58 am when the text came through from our neighbour.“Hey guys, your house alarm has just started going off. No ...
29/04/2026

It was 7:58 am when the text came through from our neighbour.
“Hey guys, your house alarm has just started going off. No burglars to be seen, though.”

We were away for the weekend.

My stomach dropped as I realised that, back home, my neighbours’ public holiday sleep-in was being ruined by an incessant piercing sound.

Thankfully, after some harried instructions via text, they were able to dash over and shut it off.

Finally! p e a c e

But it’s not the first time our alarm has malfunctioned when we’ve been out of town, and frankly, it was getting embarrassing.

I put “Get the alarm serviced” at the top of my to-do list.
But who could sort it for me?

There’s a magnet on my fridge that reminds me, Sam Brown from Benson & Co Security is the go-to guy for alarms.

I’d chatted with Sam at a few BA5 networking events, and he’s a good guy.

He’s out there doing the work, making people feel more secure and supporting his young family.

I gave him a call.

He came around, tested the alarm, replaced a sensor and gave me a 12-month guarantee.

Job done.

Or as Sam puts it, “Happy days”.

That’s the power of human connection right here in the Manawatū business community.

Business Chamber

If you’re a solopreneur, people don’t just buy your service.They buy confidence in YOU.Your thinking. Your approach. You...
13/04/2026

If you’re a solopreneur, people don’t just buy your service.
They buy confidence in YOU.
Your thinking. Your approach. Your credibility & reputation.

But your potential customers have busy lives, and if they can’t quickly understand:

- what you’re known for
- why you’re different
- why they can trust you to help them overcome their challenge

…they may choose to work with someone with clearer messaging.

That’s why building a memorable personal brand is so important.

If you’re ready to step up and be seen as the expert you are, my upcoming Personal Brand Clarity Workshop is for you.

We’ll cover:
• what a personal brand really is
• why it matters (especially for solopreneurs)
• how it helps you stand out
• the steps you can take to start shaping yours, straight away.

You’ll leave with clearer thinking, practical direction, and a stronger foundation to build from.

I’d love to see you there on Monday 20th April, 9:30-11am Manawatū Business Chamber.

Registrations close this Thursday – The booking link is in the comments.

P.S – If you can’t make it to this session but you’re keen to come to a future personal branding workshop, drop me a message. I’ll let you know the date for the next one, so you get first dibs.

02/04/2026

My sister and I were on a road trip when we spotted a store with a beautiful window display.

Homewares. Clothing. It was exactly our kind of place.
So we walked in, ready to browse… and probably buy.

But inside, there wasn’t a person in sight.
No “hello.”
No human connection.
Just silence.

We browsed for a minute, then left.
No money spent.

It got me thinking about how businesses show up.

A lot of marketing feels exactly like that shop.
It looks good from the outside.
The branding is polished.
The offer is there.

But when people step inside… there’s no one there to meet them.
No personality.
No warmth.
No sense that the brand actually understands and values them.

So people leave.

If your marketing isn’t making people feel seen, welcomed and understood… your business is like an empty shop with a nice window display.

That means you’re losing customers who are ready to buy.

Who are they buying from instead?

22/03/2026

If you’re a business owner who knows you need to be more visible,
but you’re not quite sure how to talk about what you do in a clear, compelling way…

You’re not alone.

I’m Renee, a brand messaging strategist and the founder of Human Stories.

I'm here to help you clarify your messaging so you feel confident in your marketing and attract the right clients.

And that’s exactly what we’re working through in my personal branding workshop this Thursday.

It’s a small, in-person session where you’ll start defining your personal brand and how to show up with purpose - both online and in person.

Only a few spots left.

If you’ve been second-guessing how to move forward, this is your chance to get unstuck.

Link in the comments.

I promise you…We won’t do any roleplays at my personal branding workshop next Thursday.It’s a relaxed session, in a smal...
19/03/2026

I promise you…

We won’t do any roleplays at my personal branding workshop next Thursday.

It’s a relaxed session, in a small group.

But you will walk away with a clearer sense of how to show up, talk about what you do, and build a personal brand that actually feels like you.

An awesome group of people have already signed up👏

If you’ve been meaning to get more intentional about your personal brand but you're not sure where to start, this workshop is for you.

If you'd like to join us, grab a ticket now - there are only a few left!

Booking link is in the comments 👇

Address

Palmerston North

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+64211052895

Website

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