It was some time during high school, career guidance class. I distinctly remember that night at home, going through a long spreadsheet that listed professions.
I guess half of the common professions today didn’t even exist then!
I stopped at Marketing. Dad, what is marketing? Sitting on the other side of the living room, he barely raised his head and, without hesitation, he said ‘it’s the art of convincing people to buy what they don’t need, don’t want and might not even like’.
Wow, sounds powerful Dad, he looked up and just raised his eyes.
It was a powerful message for sure.
From that day it was clear to me that marketing is a BAD thing.
It took me years to learn how to understand, then appreciate and even come to love it.
And it all changed when I discovered the power of stories. And I don’t mean the kind of stories that convince you to buy what you don’t need!!!
I mean authentic story.
Story that tells of genuine struggle that transforms into empowerment.
Story that tells of the human condition and how we can become resilient and compassionate in the face of challenge.
You see when you tell authentic stories, you step into the true value of what you offer. You step into it for you and for your client.
The story does the work.
If the story moves you, you feel the value. Even if it’s not something you want right now, you don’t feel manipulated or ‘sold to’ you simply appreciate the value of the offer.
And as the teller of the story, you remind yourself of what you truly stand for.
The type of marketing IS powerful and it’s also fun and easy.
You see, no one can tell your story better than you. You’ve lived it. You get it. You’ve transformed through it.
And when you can experience the power of your own story, you come to love to tell it.
You get to love marketing!
What are you struggling with in your marketing?
Where do you need a stronger story in your business?
