My decision to leave the land of the gainfully employed and start my own company wasn’t easy. In fact, it left me in a trembling puddle of doubt. I get it, who needs a consistent pay check? Who needs to pay the bills? But arriving on the other side of middle age forced me to come to terms with a few critical things about myself. First, changing identity from the US Paralympic Coach of Wheelchair Tennis was far more difficult than I ever admitted. I missed the team, the events, and the process of striving for excellence. This of course led to my second conclusion, I am at the core of my being a coach. I derive such fulfillment knowing that I am a guide helping people to find their best self. That is, and always will be, my Ultimate Impact.
Thus the birth of Story 19 Consulting, a consultancy for impactful communication. Throughout my life public speaking, storytelling, and building meaningful relationships has fundamentally improved my professional and personal impact. It was so clear in my head that those tenants were the core of Story 19 and my future as a coach. So I began writing my content and curriculum. I hired a web designer for the fresh cool look of Story 19 Consulting. I was on my way to immediate and gargantuan success.
Some may call me naïve, others with a more realistic approach would call me foolish. All would say I lost my way. The first edition of my website listed all the amazing things I was going to do: Personalize Your Voice, Build a Relationship Wheel, etc. etc. I thought it was amazing and couldn’t wait to brag to my trusted network. Cue reality slap in the ego. To a person they all said my website told them nothing about the impact Story 19 was going to have.
To confess that I was guilty of the very thing I am coaching people around is both embarrassing and telling. Each day we are faced with what seems an insurmountable list of emails, phone calls, and tasks. We are inundated with what we are doing to the point where we forget why we are doing it. The “What” that we spend so much time delivering is simply a vehicle to arrive at the “So What” and yet we lose sight of that on a daily basis. While the commodity of time is scarce in our daily life not taking the time to step away from the process and embrace the why could cost you more time than you can afford.
So yes, I have completely redone my website. The first thing you will read is, “Giving Voice to Impactful Communication” which is truly all I want to do. I have channeled my father and his favorite saying, “Short Term Loss Long Term Gain”. I am now taking the time to make sure my So What is always at the forefront so I don’t lose my way. And, I am telling this story . . .
