The Power Of Telling Your Story...
Storytelling goes back thousands of years. It helps us connect with others, share knowledge and wisdom, make sense of our past and present and shape our future. We all have stories to to tell...
Happy New Week Everyone,
This week, I’m going to talk about why you should tell your story. Last week, I went to a networking event and met some amazing people. I noticed that the one thing that connects us all is our story; who we are, what we do, and why we do what we do. This is what people buy into and how you can build amazing connections.
The ability to tell your story well can transform your life. It can land you a job in a highly competitive role, it can make you stand out on a first date and be the difference between your business succeeding and failing.
“Telling your story is a universal right. Not sharing it can be a tragedy or worse, a crime against yourself.” Arnaud Collery
A lot of people feel that their story doesn’t matter because they haven’t reached a certain milestone. They might feel like their story is boring, or the thought of sharing their story cringes them out but your story is the most unique thing about you. No one else has the same story as you, and you should use that to fuel your brand, business, and legacy. Your story is why people are going to pay attention to you and it helps people understand why you’re doing what you do. Simon Sinek says “people don’t buy what and how we do things but WHY we do it.” Your story is your superpower.
Sharing your story is an act of vulnerability. It allows you to be seen and vulnerability brings power and change. Although we want to be private and not have our business out there, the truth is that it's already out there but we should be the ones that control the narrative. In this day and age, a quick google search of your name can bring out so much information about you but it's important for you to be in control of what’s being shared about you, make sure it is a story you’re happy with.
Sharing your story is great for learning about yourself. Writing it down or telling it to someone can help you identify key events and think things through again, sometimes with a fresh perspective. When you start to reflect on things in your past, it helps you to grasp the full meaning of something that happened in the past. It's a healing process for yourself and others who relate can find strength through your story.
Sharing your story also helps you with finding out the meaning of your life and purpose. When you dig deeper into what makes you who you are and find the stories that matter to the world, you start to get a better understanding of what you’re here for. Although your life may feel ordinary to you it might seem extraordinary to someone else. Every story shared is a chance to make someone feel less alone.
Here are some tips to help you get started
Start collecting stories- pay attention to funny and important moments in your life that make you who you are today. We all have great stories that can make one person or a hundred connect deeper with you.
Use your emotions for good and take the listener on the same emotional journey you experienced so they can feel and understand things from your perspective.
Use humour - humour in storytelling engages people emotionally and allows them to relate to everything you say. It allows you to become more human and likeable. When you can laugh at your own experiences, it allows people to warm up to you.
There’s no right way to tell your story- it's yours to tell so make sure you tell it in a way that works best for you. I choose to tell mine through writing, my podcast, and speaking in depth with people. No one was born with great storytelling skills, so that means it’s a skill anyone can develop.
Don’t hold back when telling your story, be confident, show the full movie not just the trailer and it will start to create a safe environment for others to share stories with you, connecting you both on a deeper level.