Planting the Seed of Opportunity - The Storyteller's Spotlight Newsletter #17

This lesson is for anyone who needs extra motivation to start something new.

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."

-Chinese Proverb

The proverb is less about trees and more about your mindset. If you want to do something special, do it now. Time will continue to pass, whether you follow your dreams or not.

Why We Wait (but shouldn't)

Ten years ago I would have easily dismissed this quote. I believed there was plenty of time to do everything. But guess what?

Time is invaluable. Snap your finger and it's gone. Just like that. ??

You cannot put a price on time.

We may hit the pause button before taking action for a variety of reasons:

• Fear of failure and facing criticism
• Perfectionism and waiting for perfect conditions
• Lack of time or resources to commit
• Uncertainty about the path forward
• Feeling overwhelmed by the scale of the tasks ahead

The one that resonates most with me is the lack of urgency. Essentially not grasping the bigger picture and why you need to act now.

Throughout life, I have learned that waiting does not always work out. I don't regret the decisions I've made. I do regret not doing them sooner. I have plenty of "I wish I had" moments from my life:

• I wish I studied harder in elementary school to make the transition to middle school easier.
• I wish I ended not-so-great friendships before middle school to avoid toxic situations.
• I wish I started working in high school to get more experience before college.
• I wish I learned storytelling in high school so that I could have leveraged its power.
• I wish I invested in the stock market as a teenager to earn more passive income.

Plant Your Seeds Now

It's time to start your next project, goal, or personal growth plan. Time is like a magical growth potion for your goals.

Think of it like a cool math trick with compounding interest:

??Being 1% better each day might not seem like much at first.

??But, just like saving money, small daily growth adds up big time!

• 1.01^1 day = 1.01 (A tiny start)
• 1.01^30 days = 1.34 (Getting bigger...)
• 1.01^365 days = 37.8 (Whoa, that's huge!)

Tying It All Together with Leadership Storytelling

Leadership storytelling is the most powerful way to plant your seeds and connect with your team or audience at a deeper level.

• Planting Seeds of Ideas: Just like planting a tree, every great story starts with a tiny seed (idea). As a leader, when you share your stories, you plant ideas in the minds of your listeners.
• Growing Together: Trees don't grow overnight, and neither do the skills and unity of your team. Sharing your journey and your "I wish I had..." moments, builds a shared understanding and strengthens your team bond.
• Nurturing the Story: A tree needs water and sunlight to grow. Your story needs authenticity and emotional connection. By being real and relatable through your storytelling, trust and empathy will develop.
• Seeing the Forest for the Trees: Sometimes, it's about the bigger picture. Leadership storytelling isn't just about the story as it is the overarching message.

Until next time, keep your stories alive.

Your fellow tree planter,

David ??

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Ready to kickstart your leadership storytelling journey? Check out my 3 free storytelling guides available on my website:

• Leadership Storytelling 101: Uncover the 5 essential storytelling skills and learn about the top DOs and DONTs for leadership storytelling.
• Leadership Storytelling Themes: Outlines common themes for effective leadership storytelling in the workplace. You'll learn how to characterize?stories that resonate with your audience and inspire action.
• AI-enhanced Leadership Storytelling: Navigate the new era of storytelling in the workplace, with recommendations for leveraging the power of AI with human elements.

Ready to master the art of leadership storytelling to get hired, promoted, and effectively lead others? Visit my website, follow my LinkedIn page, or contact me at [email protected].

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