So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller… Powering Through Problems

I’m working with CEO “Tom” on his origin story. He says he hasn’t thought about the details of it for years, and he’s getting a little teary-eyed at the thought. 

When it comes time to share it publicly, Tom declares it’s a non-starter. (Read: What will his employees think of him?)

To ease his fears, I tell him, “What if one person is changed by hearing your story? Is it worth it now?” 

After contemplating that scenario carefully, he agrees. And {spoiler alert!} not only does his personal story resonate like crazy throughout his organization, he gets such good feedback from it that he starts sharing it with his prospects too.

Many times it’s us who get in our own way and block ourselves due to fear of being judged. And all the while, we prevent what could be a beautiful experience on the other side. If we share the stories that matter deeply to us instead, it just may help someone hear it who needs it the most in that exact moment. Not to mention, the vulnerability of sharing our true, personal story allows others to like and trust us faster.

So in this latest installment of the “So You Think You Want to Become a Storyteller” series, I focus on powering through problems as related to storytelling. You’ll hear about my philosophy on perfection, how to condense your stories down, and how a story arsenal prepares you for different storytelling opportunities and scenarios. I also answer questions like:

How do you fix any tendency to ramble in your storytelling? What dictates the length of your story? What do you do when you’ve prepared your story but when it’s time to tell it, your mind goes blank?

• What you should strive for in lieu of perfection in your stories
• How to know which story details to keep and which ones to cut
• Why you always want to start with a story

As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I’ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn’t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That’s why I’m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people’s lives.

Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You’ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teaching my clients to do the same.

If you think business owners can’t tell stories or don’t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There’s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.

Now it’s your turn... If you’re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you’ve come to the right place.