The Unseen Branding Power of Sharing Your Story.

Two days after meeting a wonderfully kind new friend at a mastermind, I was struck by his observation of me.

His insight: Why are you not sharing more of your story?

I thought I was.

No, not really, he said while shaking his head. You are dancing around your most important asset.

(This is not the dancing with the stars kinda dancing. It's more like a slight shimmy while driving when no one is watching.)

He went on to say that I’m skimming the surface, skimming over my experience, talents, ups and downs, crises, and achievements that could be of service to someone else.

He referenced the story I had shared earlier in the day about filming an integration on the Martha Stewart Show with the Honey Baked Ham brand. Martha went off the agreed integration script.

Instead of recognizing the brand’s honey-baked glaze, she shared her own delicious homemade glaze recipe and left out the part that the brand paid for.

This landed like a ton of bricks for my client.

We cut to a commercial break. And hell broke loose.

The client jumped up from the second row in the studio audience and charged at Martha. This was the day I learned the studio security guards packed heat. It was a wild 30-second ‘is this really happening’ experience that had me jumping in as a physical buffer between the enraged client and Martha!

I immediately thought I was getting fired.

I learned that honesty and transparency are crucial in a crisis and that you can find a solution to any mistake.

Martha was quick to ask what she needed to do (an attribute that she didn't get enough credit for).

Asking what was most important to them and their business was the beginning of discovering solutions that would be material and ease the burn of what they perceived was not just a failed TV integration but a crisis for their business.

On the other side, we had a deeper, stronger relationship with the brand.

The show aired live in NYC, but we could edit it out for the LA feed if we got to it quickly. Martha also agreed to tape a custom segment for their national conference that could appear on in-store TVs. There were several more things that we quickly took action to make amends.

In my career, I’ve worked inside and among crises a lot. I tend to keep a strong part of my brand quiet.

My new friend said that while your experience and stories may not be a big deal to you, what if they were to someone wanting to learn how to work through a crisis—or wanted to prevent a crisis from happening?

(Do people really want to hear my Martha Stewart + Honey Baked Ham + 🔫 story?)

This feedback wasn’t the first time I had heard it.

I’d never want to be seen as pounding my chest.

Dropping names.

Not being humble.

My seeming humility is deep insecurity with imposter syndrome and a bit of success intolerance.

I’m an insecure overachiever. Are you in this club with me?

I want to get over myself.

To help others rewrite their success and create joy, ease, and impact.

My experience is what sets me apart.

I’ve taken in his comments, and I’m doing the work.

Reading back on my writing, I see I’ve fallen into teaching.

Being instructive. Research supports that people learn, and transformation occurs through stories.

I see that the stories of my life are far more of an effective teacher for producing insight, inspiration, and transformation.

To reach my highest potential and help others reach theirs, I want to raise my standards for my writing and living by sharing my experiences—the good, the bad, and the ugly—no matter how uncomfortable I feel. When I feel that uncomfortable feeling, I’m using it as a North Star.

I love this quote: We are mirrors for everyone around us.

I appreciated my new friend allowing me to see myself and a deeper possibility through his mirror.

How are you telling stories to have more impact and influence on your teams, leaders, and clients?

People buy from those they know, like, and trust. Telling stories about yourself and your work is how they get to know you and trust you, and it is how you can lead and influence with more impact.

I’ve read that you have less than 8 seconds to make an impression. To hold their interest, going beyond name, rank, and LinkedIn profile is the difference between making the impression you want or not.

This week, showcase the brand of YOU through authentic stories that reflect growth and new understanding. Know that your stories are important if they help others grow with new understanding.

I’d love to hear a story or two. Shoot me back an email!