The Power of Story

The Power of Story is one of the most meaningful ways to shift our life upward or downward.

We all tell ourselves certain stories to explain why we can or can’t do something. We can’t change jobs because there’s nothing else we can do or we can’t start a business because we’ve never done it before or we can’t lose weight because we have no time…the stories go on and on.

So whether or not you play mind games with yourself, which many of us do, you can also change these stories. That’s the only reason I’m spending any time on this topic because we can re-wire the stories we tell and what is possible.

We have stories in every area of our life — work, relationships, health and finances. The issue is that when most people tell their stories, they get the facts and story part mixed up.

So let me share a few stories with you that had a positive ending. Just think of all the other inventors, entrepreneurs, and TV hosts who told themselves a different story and missed out on sharing their greatness.

* Thomas Edison tried over two thousand experiments before he invented the light bulb. He could have easily told himself he was a complete loser after 1,999 experiments. I’m grateful he tried one more time!

* Tony Hsieh, CEO of the online retailer Zappos, was told he could not sell shoes online or build a brand around customer service. He did not believe that story, and instead, sold his company to Amazon for $1.2 billion in 2009. He almost lost everything but continued to believe in himself.

* Oprah was fired as a TV reporter because she was told she was unfit for TV. Well, I’m glad she didn’t believe that story and stayed in TV and created the Oprah Show which positively impacted millions of people. And there’s still more to come.

Stories are powerful. Be mindful to use stories to lift yourself forward rather than limit what’s possible.

Take a moment and think about the dreams, goals, and projects you are currently working on. Where could you change your story to get different results in various areas of your life, including your career, relationships, and even your golf game? Often a small shift, can make a huge difference.

Believe in yourself,
Alissa

###

About Alissa

Alissa Finerman is an Executive Coach and Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, speaker and author of Living in YOUR Top 1%. She works with managers, C-suite executives and teams to leverage strengths, shift beliefs and achieve meaningful goals. Alissa has an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. She has worked with Ross Stores, Petco, BNP Paribas, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Brookfield Property Partners, Neutrogena, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Dress for Success. To learn more about coaching with Alissa, please visit her website and follow her on Facebook