Over the last couple of months, I have become addicted to listening to podcasts, audiobooks, and talk radio…more than listening to music. It was so strange to me at first but it feels like I am being more productive. I talk about reading more and improving so when I am driving in the car, sitting at work between clients, or a home cooking, cleaning and relaxing in the sunroom, I am listening to people who already learned something that I want to learn. These people that I am listening to are some creative and innovative people that approach life with so much vim, vigor, and positive energy and they have learned how to live and influence everything in their environment. We have the option to accept everything that happens in our world or push to influence them. We are the ones who write our own stories. What do you want your story to say?

We all love a good story. Whether we hear it in a song, read it in a book, of over-hear a juicy piece of gossip, we wanna know the story. The bigger, juicier, more interesting the story, the more attention is given to it; the more impact it is going to make.

I believe that I have a good story to tell and that is why I am writing this blog. I have a lot of stories to tell and I know that my delivery is raw and authentic as I attempt to relate to, entertain and inspire the readers.  If you can influence others to listen to your story, you can have others on your side that will support you and spread your value to others that may need to hear your story and become inspired by your journey. Influence can get us what we want in life. We can gain friendships and relationships with those that can inspire us and support us in our journey….and we can return the love!

So what is your story? Whatever it is, you should be honest about your experiences. A lot of people try to make their lives look so perfect, especially on social media. Don’t be that girl! Authenticity and transparency wins the race. Yes, it is true that not everyone deserves to hear your whole story. That does not mean you have to sell anyone a dream. Dreams are not bad, but most people can smell the bull a mile away….just saying. Show the people you communicate with that you have substance. Show them that being in relationship with you will add value to their life. That will give you staying power and influence with the ones that are inspired by your honesty. This means you are going to have to do some things in order to have a story, some experiences to talk about. You have to go out there and LIVE! You have to live through some things, savor some of life’s ups and downs. You have to travel, talk to people, be open to learning something new, get out of your comfort zone…..fail. You have to get out there…just get up and do it.

Your story is your perspective, your truth. No one else’s story will be like yours. Your influence on others will depend on your ability to tell your story with honesty and empathy wrapped up in your boldness. I am not going to tell you that I have mastered this at all. I am very reserved because I do not like to talk and share just for the sake of hearing my own voice. I am not attracted to drama and wasting words is not my thing. Some may say I am quiet, others think the total opposite, just depends on the person you ask. Like I said, not everyone has earned the right to hear my stories.

In telling my stories, I have learned this…

• Do not try to tell a story to please others. Making promises you can’t keep is not cool. Don’t waste time telling people what they want to hear. I believe that you show just how powerful you are when you display your honesty about your struggle and the journey to overcoming it.
• You are not perfect; it is okay to be wrong. Everyone’s experience will not end up like yours because we are all different. No one has it all figured out and showing your transparency will gain you some respect even if the experience is not the same for others.
• Be Yourself!! PLEASE. Allowing others to see who you really are can help your influence go a very long way. Attempting to be someone else or like someone else is not going to do you any good. Eventually, the real you is going to come out. Commit to learning more about what you are trying to share or just share what you know, that way those who are listening don’t lose their trust in you.

Everyday I am getting better at telling my story. It may be uncomfortable at times and honestly, I love what I feel afterwards. I am grateful for the freedom to have the experiences and I show my appreciation for it (sometimes after I have a fist full of tears). Celebrate your scars and successes equally. Because of them, you are the winner that you are today….