Share Your Story and Be the Solution

You’ve probably heard me say this phrase often enough, but what do I mean by it? Here’s what I know. I believe that we all have a story to tell, that begins with where you want to go with your professional career and ends with you arriving at that destination. What happens in between depends on how you share your story with the world. And this also translates into how you are a solution to others' needs.

Think of it like this. If you were asked to describe yourself as the lead in your professional story, you’d start by creating a thoughtful outline for your narrative. This can be culled from a series of 10 questions:

1. Who are you?
2. What’s your experience?
3. What have you achieved?
4. What’s your impact?
5. What’s your value?
6. What’s your dream?
7. What’s your gift?
8. What’s your personal brand?
9. What promise lies within?
10. What solution do you provide?

These may sound similar to those questions asked in interviews. While that is true, these are also questions that you should ponder and respond thoughtfully to on a routine basis.

And here’s why. These questions will help you prepare for career advancement, a job transition, updating your personally branded career portfolio, a successful annual review, designing a winning promotion proposal, snagging that executive seat, retaining your stock and stockholders, revisiting your career purpose and much more.

As you can see, deep introspection on your story thus far and drafting the next chapter is never a waste of time. Yet it is one of those activities that is often left until the night before you need to deliver it. Now that is such a waste.  

Start sharing today!

By routinely working on and sharing your story, you will find your confidence bolstered. You’ll see others take interest in you in new ways and bring opportunities to your doorstep.

Don’t let your story collect dust on a shelf. Pull it down, review it and keep it fine tuned out there on LinkedIn and other platforms designed for avid readers. But most importantly, you should be very versed in your pitch. For there are a lot of interested parties who want to see you succeed. They also are looking for solutions to help them, and their organizations, grow. Be that solution. It’s just a matter of knowing who you are and believing you matter. Because you do. So, get ready to step into your next chapter.