Aspiring artists study those who have come before, the masters in their profession. Painters study da Vinci, Rembrandt, Picasso, Monet, etc. Musicians study classical composers like Tchaikovsky, Wagner; jazz greats Duke Ellington, Count Basie and the recently departed Dave Brubek.
Storytellers should do no less. It is important to know who the "masters" are in our industry. Go to see them in live performances, or watch online videos. Study how they craft their stories; how they tell them, what makes them unique. Read about them; find out how they started and what they discovered along their rise to the top of their profession.
Picasso did not paint like the Grand Masters that came before him, but rest assured that he studied them closely before he developed his own unique style.
Storytellers would do well to do the same.