I’ve been running my Stand Out and Speak intensive with some varied clients lately.
Some are coaches, some are small businesses, some consultants, and I’ve worked with a brick and mortar business too.
They won’t mind me saying that when they came to me for help, they had big dreams to get recognised as credible experts, land paid corporate gigs and TEDx gigs and generate more business, but there was a stumbling block.
They had overlooked a fundamental piece of the puzzle needed in order to feel confident and clear about who they are and what they do.
Even if they had been running their business for years!
If you have an innovative product
You run a consultancy
Or you are an entrepreneur or coach providing a service….
You absolutely cannot skip the most important part of the process:
Defining your core story.
What is your core story?
It’s the edited, most relevant personal and professional journey that got you to where you stand today doing exactly what you do right now (or want to do as part of your next step.)
Why is it important?
Getting clarity on your core story gives you the confidence to own your niche by realising why you are the expert in what you do. It gives you clarity on the people you really want to help and gives you the focus to know how you can help them and what you offer. It’s also really good at busting that imposter!
What can you use it for?
You can use your core story for the about me page on your website, to deliver livestreams, webinars, virtual talks, real life talks or sessions. You can use it to define your headlines and authority statements (I help x do x by x.) It can also be trimmed down into a three minute story which works perfectly when giving podcast interviews, guest expert sessions and intros in talks.
How do I do it?
I have used a tried and tested core story structure for many years that is so simple but works incredibly well. I condensed this structure down from a variation of Joseph Campbell’s (much longer) Hero’s journey into a simple 4 part process:
This structure guides the audience through your journey in a succinct and impactful way. You only focus on the key stories within your story that help communicate to the audience:
- Where this started for you
- What significant moment you faced that was instrumental (whether positive or not)
- What epiphany, realisation or turning point you experienced that changed things for the better.
- What key messages you have to share as a result of your journey
To help you start to build your core story, ask yourself these questions. You can write them down on a big piece of flip chart, notebook, computer or record on voice note.
- ‘What happened to set me off on the path to where I am now?’
- ‘What significant challenge or moment of inspiration did I have that led me here?’
- ‘What was the turning point moment that led me on a new or different path?
- ‘What do I have to say to my audience as a result of my journey that will give them hope and inspire?’
Once you have your core story mapped out, either record it out loud or write it out and get confident with it. Recording on voice note, audio only zoom, video zoom or copy (depending on what you want to use the core story for) is a great way of getting it out of your head and into the real world ready for action (and results.).
Then, set a plan of how you will use your core story to engage, inspire, motivate and generate!
I’d love to know how you get on. Hit reply and let me know.
Need help?
You may benefit from my stand out and speak intensive
I use my AIR system to assess exactly where you are and what you need. Then I take you through the steps above (some before our session, some during, some after.)
The result?
A core story and a plan of exactly how to use it to get yourself out there and start getting results. I have one space left for a signature intensive and one for a mini before the end of the year when the current prices will be going up.
If you live near the Brighton area or are happy to travel we can do this deep work in person too.
If you’d like to know more about what you get in the mini and signature intensives and whether it’s the right fit for you, just contact me or book a call here.
Recent Comments