What’s mundane to you could be novel for others.
Great speakers, thought leaders and executives often use the same stories over and over again. They’re certainly not novel to them, but as a first time listener, the polish, delivery and quality of the story makes it memorable.
There’s a paradox here, because if the people close to you hear the same story over and over, they won’t be impressed. But if you’re making first impressions with a new story every time, you’re unlikely to deliver the quality necessary to amaze.
My guess is that most people swing too far towards constant novelty and could use more repetition. Novel to you doesn’t mean it’s valuable or interesting to others. Something mundane to you could be groundbreaking for someone else.
Know your stories, tell them well. Don’t be afraid to repeat because the greatest hits are the greatest for a reason.