A story is about how and why life changes.
My colleague, Jerome Deroy—CEO of Narativ—and I have hosted two live story-sharing events this winter as part of our “Stories That Shaped Us” Narativ series.
Each time, we invited three guests to share a personal story that shaped who they are—and how they’ve applied those experiences in their work. We strongly believe that leadership development, and even simply being a decent human being, doesn’t begin with strategy or metrics—it begins with story.
We weren’t interested in manufactured or artificial narratives. Instead, we wanted our audience to hear authentic stories—ones built from lessons learned, resilience, and even mistakes.
The more stories we heard our guests share, the more apparent it became: these heartfelt moments create space for listening, reflection, and genuine human connection. These are the stories that build trust and engagement.
How to Begin Crafting Your Own Story
I’d like to take this opportunity to share a few ideas on how to create your own meaningful story:
1. Give yourself credit.
Acknowledge that you’re taking the initiative to express yourself and connect in a new way.
2. Let your mind explore.
Give your brain permission to play with your experiences and memories.
3. Ask yourself:
What events shaped me?
Don’t edit or censor your thoughts. If something unexpected comes up, work with it—there’s a reason it surfaced.
4. Re-enter the moment.
Bring the experience to life by placing yourself back in that scene:
- How old were you?
- Where were you?
- What were you doing?
- What did the environment look like?
The more sensory detail you can recall, the better.
5. Capture what happened.
Jot down a few notes about the experience. When you’re done, read them back.
6. Build a simple story arc.
Organize your thoughts into:
- Beginning
- Middle
- End
You don’t have to write everything down—feel it, know it.
7. Tell it out loud.
Share your story in the first person (“I”), as if it’s happening in the moment.
8. Know your ending.
Be clear about where you want the story to land—and why.
Don’t over-explain it. Let it resonate.
A Final Thought
How do you feel?
If you felt nervous at the start—that’s okay. It means you’re human. It means you care.
The key is simple: begin. Try.
And remember—no inner critics allowed.
Tell your story. Then tell it again. Notice what changes as you refine it, add detail, and discover new meaning along the way.
Explore More
“Stories That Shaped Us” Events:
- https://narativ.com/podcasts/leadership-story-talks-live-stories-that-shaped-us/
- https://narativ.com/podcasts/stories-that-shaped-us/
Learn More About My Work:
- https://jryanpartners.com/
- https://jryanpartners.com/communications-relationship-building-programsworkshops/
Podcasts:
If you’d like to learn more about how to use storytelling in your own life or work, feel free to reach out.