Listen to the blog here.
Since the start of the year, I’ve been writing the content for my new website and it has been bending my brain. Telling my story through my practice is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Believe me, the irony is not lost on me, since I am in the business of storytelling, and I am definitely feeling the pressure to nail it.
That’s why I’m writing about it today. I get it now. My dear readers and clients, you come to me saying you want to do a better job telling your story, and the process of telling my own has really put me in your shoes. (not to be confused with the cobbler’s shoes, which is the metaphor we are working from today. Because my own story has suffered from a lack of attention as I help you with yours.)
What is it about this process that breaks our brains? One reason: we can’t see it from our perspective. Like the goldfish inside the fishbowl, we are so in it, we can’t see it. Stephen Hawking said, we are limited by our own beliefs and knowledge.
I recall Marc Maron interviewing Jamie Lee Curtis, and he asked her what it is like to grow up with famous parents. She can’t objectively answer that question because it’s all she knows. What do you mean, ‘what was it like?’ It was the way it was.
And that’s why telling our story is so hard. We are who we are – where do we even begin to know our story?
We’re going to need some things: People, prompts, and perspectives.
Our story doesn’t exist without people; otherwise, we’re like Adam before he met Eve, walking around in the garden without anything happening. A story needs something to happen, and it needs characters.
Prompts – Good, thought-provoking questions draw out the good story. When I embarked on this website project, I knew it was about much more than just getting a new website. I chose Lori because I knew she would help me shape the story. (I’m pretty excited how it’s shaping up – I think you’ll get to see it in mid-March!)
Perspectives – Specifically, outside perspective. The other day, my friend and colleague Hannah Brown posted a review of my book. Nothing compares to seeing yourself reflected in others’ eyes. Pay attention to how others experience you and what they say about you. It’s been said that your “brand*” is what people say about you when you’re not in the room. *I don’t love the word brand because it sounds like you’re manufacturing your personality, and my hope for you is that we are being organic.
Finally, a few thoughts on the actual telling.
Write from the heart, not the head
What do I mean by that? Stop overthinking. Stop trying to be like someone else. Don’t scour your documents for previous versions, your snippets saved in various locations on your hard drive and in all those notes and scraps of paper around your office. Sit down, close your eyes, think about what you want to convey, and start typing (or writing) without judgment. Keep going. No editing. Write from your heart, what you know and feel. Then go back and shape it. Show up as you are, not as you think you should.
Offer invitations, not instructions
No one wants to be told what to do. Do you? Buy this. Hurry, before it’s too late. Do this. Instead, solve problems. Be of service and invite a conversation for more.
And now my invitation to you:
You are invited to join Rebecca Sutherns and me to Pause in Provence, September 2026, to reimagine your next chapter and think about your story. We have a stunning villa reserved, a small group of amazing women with incredible life experiences from around the world already signed up, and ONE room left for you. Contact me, and we can talk about it.
If, instead, you prefer to stay at home and do this work together, I take on a small handful of clients on a one-to-one basis and would love to give you the people, prompts, and perspectives you need to tell your story and step into your next chapter. Let’s talk.
When you’re ready, here are a few ways I can help you and your team:
Need to get better at telling your story? (Or the story you tell yourself!) I can work with you one-to-one or with your team to help you prepare for your next presentation, pitch, or even navigate your next big change.
Looking for an engaging speaker? I deliver inspiring keynotes that help people connect to their stories and each other to better engage their teams, customers, and communities.
See a video showcasing my work here and if you need help with one of the items below, let’s schedule a time to talk.
Need something else you think I can help with? I’d love to connect.
Stay in touch.
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