Find Your Voice, Take A Risk And Tell Your Story

I know.  It can be scary.

The most prolific writers, public speakers, authors, coaches, and avid bloggers will encourage you and urge you to think about the importance of story in your life.

So take in a deep breath, go out on a limb, and tell your story.

Unmasking what’s behind the development of your programs, products, and services is the most compelling piece of marketing strategy you own.

Nothing is more powerful or empowering than chiseling away at the exterior to reveal the human spirit within.

“We are not human beings on a spiritual journey.  We are spiritual beings on a human journey. “

~ Stephen R. Covey

The moment I crossed over that scary imaginary line and decided to stop keeping my story to myself, I felt a huge weight lifted from my shoulders.  Not to sound cliché, but the process was very therapeutic.  I realized it was really what I needed to do all along.  I needed a shift in my thinking.  I needed to stop fighting the reluctance and find the gumption and the guts to just do it.

Courage is a strange animal and an even stranger phenomenon.

Once you embrace a tad bit of courage, the more courageous you’ll become.

Telling your story will move you directly down a path to “finding your voice”.  It will literally cement you in to a whole new way of thinking, engaging, and living your life (and working your business!)

What’s the significance of story in your life?

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  • I couldn’t agree with you more, Patricia, and you most definitely have mastered the art of conversational writing on your blog!

    Have you ever gone to someone’s “about me” page and found a blank page staring back at you? Or, better yet, a message that reads “Coming soon” or “Stay tuned” or “Under construction”? Those always make me giggle. 🙂

    Thank you for your visit today!

  • Karla, thanks for knocking on my door today and for the invitation to take a seat on your Facebook roster. Happy to accept.

    And any time my blog posts have a nice beat and can be set to music, I say … crank up the volume and let’s have a good time!

    Can’t wait to read your “Gigolo” post. 🙂

  • Hi Melanie

    I believe most of us want to communicate with a “real” person and sharing things about ourselves will help with connecting with one another in cyberspace.

    It’s one reason why the About Me page is so important. When I go to a new blog I like to know who I am talking with. Not just some gravatar but a person 😉

    Enjoy writing conversationally on my blog so that I can engage my readers. They seem to appreciate that approach and I know the blogs I visit and enjoy all have personality injected into them.

    Patricia Perth Australia

  • Hi Melanie, your article is empowering! I encourage people to follow your advice and let their personalities shine through in their articles. Your article makes me sing Katy Perry’s Firework, it has that vibe : )

  • Paul! You’re a sweetheart for dropping by.

    I commend you — 100 articles in 100 days. I’ll be sending positive writing vibes your way. Best of success to you with the challenge. And thanks for introducing my readership to Joseph Campbell — I can already envision people heading for their search bars to check him out! Come back anytime and lay some more great resources and fascinating people on us, would ya?

    Johnny B. Truant’s mom and I are really good friends. 🙂

    You Shine … big time! Lovin’ your newsletter.

  • Melanie

    Story is everything. Seriously, the whole of human experience can be encapsulated in a story. I’m a BIG fan of Jospeh Campbell’s paradigm of the Hero’s Journey – it’s such a multi-faceted tool that can be used in so many different and productive ways.

    At the moment I’m on Day 6 of a write 100 Articles in 100 Days challenge – and I’ve got stashed some Hero’s Journey topics in my Idea Bank. So I’ll be writing about the Hero’s Journey and how you can use it for your business at some stage pretty soon.

    Just so you know – I’m sure you do, but just in case – Johny B Truant has already released a course of some sort on Storyselling. So that term has got some established ‘branding’ with him.

    Catch you later.

  • Jennifer and Cindy — appreciate the visit and thanks for your comments! And, yes (without hesitation), your confidence will soar once you begin to tell your story. 🙂

  • Hi Melanie,

    Great post. I am a great believe in sharing stories. It takes a lot of courage to share but once it is done, the confidence soars and before you know it, you don’t remember the fear in the first place.

    Cindy

  • I love this! I am inspired!

  • You’re absolutely right about the “bonus”, Janine — and it’s a big one! You never know who you may be able to help by simply telling your story.

    Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

  • Fantastic post Melanie! I totally agree with this. In my opinion, and from those of others, the minute my writing and blogging improves was when I let go of my reservations and fears and everything I was holding back – and just let it all out. It has also been a quite liberating experience, with the bonus that you never know who you will help by simply sharing your story.

  • I hear ya, Alyssa! — Telling your story is like taking a long, hard look in the mirror and maybe … just maybe … not liking everything staring back at you. Congrats on getting some story-writing coaching. I’ll be all ears when you’re ready to spill the beans! 🙂

    You hit the nail on the head, Martha! — Same for me. I instantly magnetize toward entrepreneurs who tell their stories. As I alluded in my post, I’m most interested in the human spirit behind the biz.

    If this post gave you the slightest spark of inspiration, Janette — I’m thrilled! And, naturally, you’ve piqued my curiosity. I’ll be waiting for you to take me back 20 years (oh, don’t worry – I was around back then) and share your experience through story. I can tell you one thing for certain — telling your story will open up a whole new world for you … and I’m not exaggerating.

    Exceptionally proud to know you, Melissa — it had to be literal hell telling your story. You have courage beyond your perception of what you believe to be courageous. Crossing over that line, I believe, started the healing process for you … and for many others!

  • I’m exploring this now as I’m in a writing mastermind group with Jo Ann Fore, she’s coaching me to “write my story”, which for me means to delve into some difficult things but they are REAL and what people really need to hear.

  • Who doesn’t like hearing people’s stories?? That’s how they become “real” people to us. When I look at the people I have followed for years online, it’s the storytellers. The ones who throw in the bad with the good. I’m not quite there on some of my blogs yet, but striving 🙂

  • I think you wrote this article just for me! I have been thinking about being more open with sharing experiences from my life. I would love to write a book about a life-changing experience that happened almost 20 years ago. “I needed to stop fighting the reluctance and find the gumption and the guts to just do it.”
    Thank you for the inspiration!

  • When I made it a point to share my story about my eating disorder and weight, it was a pivotal moment in my life. It was a huge risk to step outside of my little box and tell my story. But, by telling my story, my reach has gone far beyond my blogs.

    By telling your story, you never know who you might end up helping.

    Great post Melanie 🙂

  • Fantastic to hear! And thanks for your kindness. I came a long way. Let’s just say that I LOVED writing academic research papers :).

  • Quote away, Leanne — I’d be honored! 🙂

    I would have NEVER pegged you for the “academic” style. So allow me to say whatever changes you’ve made, you’ve done a darn good job. I always find your writing very relaxed and, yet, I can feel that “intellectual” side of you coming through.

    In other words …

    Your posts are pleasurable to read, filled with information that has value to me, and you don’t come across on the page as a college professor. Consistently good stuff! 🙂

  • Excellent topic and post, Melanie. I’ve been learning a lot over the last year or so (and hearing in multiple different contexts) about the power of story. In my writing journey online for the past 5 years or so, I’ve grown from a kind of intellectual and academic style to a much more readable, real, personal style where I certainly found my voice. However, I still have a challenge with the story aspect. I agree that it’s absolutely necessary and that it’s what really resonates with people at a deep level. It’s also way more fun. But it’s definitely an area of growth for me.

    I’m going to quote you, by the way. I love what you said about unmasking.

  • Thanks for your comment, Lynn, and I was actually going to title this post “Storyselling”. 🙂 Might just save that one for another post.

    I think almost everyone wants to get to know the person behind the business and what makes you tick — people need to know you’re just like them and who doesn’t enjoy a good story?!

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  • What a great topic Melanie. It is true, we need to take the risk, tell our story and be confident in who we are. It is scary, but each step, each statement and each time to tell your story – the confidence grows.