Entrepreneurs are incredibly diverse, but the one thing they all have in common is a story.
Where they came from, why they do what they do, and where they are headed.
Stories have the power to connect, to draw in, to turn the status quo into “A-HA!” Stories convey corporate culture, values, and history. Stories unite and inspire people. They can even be used to teach, influence, and change lives.
There are 3 types of business stories:
Stories we tell ourselves
Stories we tell other people – both inside AND outside of the organization
And “the rest of the story”. (i.e. what is really going on) We know it, but often lack a safe place to share it.
Some days we write the story and other days it feels like the story writes us.
Do you find that feeling is hard to describe to someone who hasn’t been there? A weird combination of exhilaration, fear, optimism, pressure, excitement, gratitude, “stuckness”, overcoming, defiance, nervous, calm, uncertain, lonely, in awe, frustrated, and confident . . . and that’s just between waking up and lunchtime. Yet it is what we do, how we’re wired, and what we enjoy . . . at least we do on most days.
Over the years I’ve heard some familiar stories over and over:
The entrepreneur who works long hours, struggles to progress, and discovers the freedom of being their own boss ain’t so free . . .
There is the operator who experiences tremendous growth and realizes “the dream”. One day that dream turns into a nightmare of being “successfully stuck” working in their business. If they take time off, revenue will take a dive . . .
And then there is the one who has worked their tail off to create a “better mousetrap”, but the world isn’t showing up at their door. They ARE the worlds’ best kept secret . . . and revenue shows it. Doh!
We help entrepreneurs rewrite their story from “engaged operator” to “empowered owner” so that they create a profitable business they’re proud of AND a life of impact and significance. Sound good?
