Ready to Talk Storytelling?

I think it is pretty clear if you have been following along with me that I believe “storytelling” to be one of the most powerful and compelling ways to connect with your audience. It is where you establish the seeds of trust in a way that you are viewed as a go-to authority, the number one stop on the way to whatever journey the client is ready to embark on.

So when I was cruising through my daily learnings today, I came across this blip of information that deserves to be FAR more than a blip.

Your content is 22 times more likely to be remembered If you incorporate storytelling.

Can we just have a moment of “WOW” here? Think about that. It isn’t just a pie in the sky theory, it is an approach that works. And I say “approach” and not “tactic” because if you are going to utilize storytelling in your marketing, it MUST truly be something you are on board with. It involves sharing yourself, your hero journeys (you and your clients), your stumbles, your wins, your whys, the transparency of what has brought you to where you are and how that can serve your clients. Audiences want to connect in a human to human way, and storytelling allows that.

Our brains are literally WIRED to remember the stories we are told.

Where does "storytelling" fit in your marketing?

• Stories have the power to slow the speed of your reader and soak in what you are sharing.

• They shape the way an audience sees you, and can encourage trust and commonality with your niche market.

• Stories move people into taking action as your walk with them by engaging them in your own journey.

It is at this point, you may be wondering how do we begin? Where do we begin? Telling stories sounds simple, but there is still a structure in making it successful, useful and grounded in your truth.

There are 4 elements to consider:

1. The goal of the story (why are you telling it?)

2. Get readers attention (develop a “hook” to your story to pull them in)

3. Engage (why should they care?)

4. Enable (is it a memorable story that others would want to share?)

I will be sharing in this week’s Newsletter a super helpful exercise to move people through the development of their own stories and dive a bit deeper into how to make story work for you.

If you would like to be included, join my email list and be on the lookout! Let’s put story into practice and make your gifts and talents memorable for others.

The journey continues...

Personal Branding: When Your "Why" Finds YOU

It seems we are closing in on another week, and with that, I am reflecting on another week of awareness, learning, listening and successfully creating avenues that help my tribe (aka clients) feel supported in the clarity and confidence of their brand journey.

Yes, I called my clients my "tribe". You know why? Because this week I realized that sometimes, the people that need you MOST will find you instead of pushing to find them. And in this instance, I am realizing that it is not I who has determined my "target clientele"...but the tribe of clients that found me. Sometimes, despite the rulebook, your target market breaks the rules and works in reverse.

It is the clients that are truly the hero of my story. I have always had an "idea" of who I'd like to help, but in the past month it has been very clear who my people are, my tribe.

And this is them...

• Healers/Spiritual Guides

• Life Coaches/Spiritual Coaches/Business & Career Coaches (well all the coaches truly...)

• Artists/Creatives

• In short, the Nuturers of Humanity

These are the people that have gravitated to me, and I in turn gravitated to wanting to support...no, needing to support...desperately.

And there is a secret behind my why.

This woman to right, staring back at you? Meet my mother. Paula. I lost her in 2010 to cancer. She was my best friend, my world, my everything. And she was a psychic and a healer. And she was GIFTED...unbelievably gifted. She believed in the idea of sacrificing all she was, through and through for the bettering of those that needed her. 100% self-sacrificing. Kind. Heart-centered (before it was a trendy term) and relentless in giving every ounce of herself over to the healing of others. I would watch her collapse at the end of the day, exhausted in the comfort she had reached another sad soul, and connected them with hope. Me, being a Capricorn, always believed there had to be a slight line in the sand. That to preserve yourself, your energy, your gifts...you had to know how to separate from the exhaustion of giving too much and working so hard at the business of being, yes just being.

She didn't agree...LOL.

And it wasn't until THIS week when I reflected on who my client base is evolving into that the lightbulb went off. I never was able to "save" my mom from offering too much and too often. And although "save" is a strong word, I realize my calling in supporting people in their personal brand...isn't really about just holding workshops and writing words for them. It is about alleviating some of the weight that comes with what they do. Lifting the heaviness of your "brand business" off of you so your gifts can shine, be seen, be felt and heard.

My mother existed before social media and branded websites took off, but the things I am doing for my clients, they are the things I would have done for HER. I would have done this so that she could manage the line between herself and herself as how she was known (and loved) for her gifts.

Some may say this contrasts what I have said before and continue to say, but it doesn't. You MUST still be the beating heart of your personal brand. But there are ways to manage that, to respect the subtle line that exists. You do not have to live in overwhelm as my mom did...you can do what you love, help who you need to help, but know that there is someone there to guide you through a structure, a plan, a session to keep YOU empowered, clear and free of the buzzing in your mind that distracts you from what you are here to do.

That was my awareness this week, and this is my story. My client circle found ME.

Forever my tribe of healers, coaches, artists, creatives, and the nurturers of humanity.

Thank you for finding me and reminding me where my gifts serve best.

Peace, love, and a little bit of rock n' roll my friends.

PS If this tribe is you in any way, then know that I'm here to listen to your struggles and challenges and offer feedback. Simply book some time on my calendar for a (free, of course) Discovery Call and let's talk about how to keep you clear on your path.

Pulling Focus: The 'Most Important Task' Method

Today has been a day where keeping focus has been a CHALLENGE.

I found myself switching browser tabs, checking my phone 30 times, staring at my email Inbox and wondering why today has been "slow". The irony is...I have LOADS of project work to keep me moving and busy, plus a new client proposal. Today has in fact, NOT been slow, despite what my brain keeps trying to tell me.

I managed to get one project draft completed (yay!), but two hours later I am just NOW formulating this blog post and pushing myself to share it via social. Safe to say...this is not my normal pace of work.

So what gives?

Some days our heart and mind take over. The state of our world, of humanity, all of it...weighing on my otherwise optimistic and productive brain. But these are the moments I think "hey, maybe I am not the only one?". And that's when I set myself into action knowing I can support others with resources and words of wisdom.

I found this AMAZING article on ways train yourself to stay focused and wanted to summarize some of the biggest takeaways for me - which includes a pretty kick ass method for staying on task. I will implement some of this new knowledge tomorrow in the event my heart and mind feel lost again (though I'm hopeful). And in the meantime, it doesn't hurt to absorb the knowledge and share it with all of you.

The Method for Focus*

It’s fairly simple:

1. Pick an MIT (Most Important Task). First thing in the morning, before you get on your phone or online, think about what you NEED TO DO (not would like to do...which I am guilty of!). What would make the biggest difference in your work today? What projects are on your plate? If you have several, just randomly choose one for now. You can get to the others later. Don’t waste your time in indecision, the point is to practice with one task. This one task you choose for today is your one Most Important Task (MIT).

2. Do a 15-minute focus session. As soon as you start working for the day, clear all your browser tabs, phone apps, etc and anything you don’t need for your MIT for today. Start a timer for 15 minutes.

3. Make Your Choice. For those 15 minutes, you can NOT switch to anything else (no checking email, messages, social media, doing other work tasks, cleaning your desk, etc.). There are two choice here...and only two (I love this by the way!). A) You should only work on your MIT, or...get ready... B) sit there and do nothing. Those are your only options. You will have an urge to switch, do not do it!

4. Report to an accountability partner. If you don't already have one, finding an accountability partner is a HUGE help! And if that isn't an option, join a group that does weekly video check-ins where you get to share your challenges, successes and project visions. I belong to the Rise Above Noise "Rise Together" Membership Group and it has worked wonders (rolling enrollment). There is also a great public Facebook Group you can join too.

That’s it! I'll be giving this 15-minute focus session approach a try to see if I can tame my brain when things feel a little too topsy turvy. It is wonderful to feel like we are always on our game, but the reality is...we are human. It's important to present the truth and admit when we need a little help. And THIS seems to be a great way to get the head back in the game of productivity!

*Thanks to Leo Babauta for sharing this method!