Yesterday I had an awesome meeting with Hank Kaminsky, a beloved local artist, and ModThink. We talked about all the basics. You know: energy exchange, triads, Pinterest, and accurately representing your own story. 
There are some exciting projects in the works! I wanted to write a bit about one thing I walked away ruminating on. Hank Kaminsky is the kind of person that, once in his presence, you find yourself inspired in all sorts of ways.
He was simply explaining one of his pieces of art to me and I found myself tearing up. I think when any individual has that much compassion and creativity wrapped into their soul, it is nearly impossible to not be drawn in.
Sure, we were talking social media, analytics, amplification, and engagement but something else was being talked about as well.
The power of a story.
The thing about brands, businesses, and even people is that many of us are not telling OUR stories. We are telling the stories of other people, we are lost in their narrative and playing roles of characters we were never meant to be. This is true when a company tries to adopt a certain form of marketing or social media because it is “hip”. This is true when a small business attends this or that fair or conference because that is what other successful people are doing. This is, especially true, when each of us allow others to define us in a plot line we never wrote. Maybe you are playing the villian in someone’s story or the hero. Are those things okay with you? Is that who you want to be? If not- step back, pull out the pen and paper and determine who you want to be. Stop engaging that storyline. This is identity formation and it is the act of establishing YOUR voice and YOUR story. So what that other artists use this format or other companies are a part of that group. So what that the other person is making friends a different way than you. Where is YOUR story going? This is what matters most. I think we often use being distracted with other people’s stories as a way to avoid our own inner turmoil. If we can fixate on how awesome that brand is doing and how we wish we could be like them we have a reason to stay in our mediocre space. If we focus on how outgoing and wonderful that other person is we don’t have to look at our own self loathing and learn to embrace ourselves in graciousness.
Brené Brown makes the most powerful point: “If we own our own story we get to write the ending.” The intersection where we start allowing external forces to dictate our own stories and give up our power is where we lose sight of center and spiral out of control. Jealousy, comparison, fear, and ego driven competition all power the vehicle of ejecting ourselves from our own stories. What if I don’t make the sales I need? What if I don’t have a brand voice, what if I am not worthy as person. No matter where we are in the world or what positions or relationships we occupy we can find ourselves in this battle. When we find ourselves in this battle, I think the best thing we can do is gather people to help us be our best versions of ourselves, stop looking outward, and start looking inward to fine tune (or start writing) our own story.
What is keeping you from writing your own story, from fine tuning your story, or keeping you distracted? What emotions do you experience when you find you’ve embraced a story that doesn’t work for you and have to go back to the drawing board? Do you see this dynamic play out in your personal AND professional life?
Interesting this a subject on your blog. I recently talked frankly with a friend at work. I was tired of feeling like I had to be “on” all of the time. I’m working on the difference between private and public life. I think I hold back because I don’t want to be labeled as Angry Black Woman.
I understand that completely. The roles we adopted as our own aren’t always true to our nature. Also, there is SO much pressure to be “one way” to be… but we don’t work like that. Embrace your multifaceted identity, lady!
This was definitely thought provoking. I often find myself trying to emulate the successful people around me which I think is okay to an extent but I have to be more mindful to make it about me and my goals instead of simply trying to achieve the same success as someone else.
Yes! I think that THAT form of success would be so much more enjoyable.
I love this, plain and simple!
Me too…but it is a hard thing to do sometimes.
I don’t like my story. It’s no fun. I usually end up being “that Robyn chick who always has something bad going on in her life and always seems negative.” I’d much rather live out the lives of others, or get lost in lives of those in a book or movie. I’m okay with that-my own story is boring. But I do love this blog, and the way you make me think about things. I blog-stalk you. = )
Haha! Well stalk away! Have you ever considered that you might have the power to change the storyline? You don’t have to be “the chick who has something bad going on in her life”??