Imagine That.
Story is the chief means of looking into the future — of predicting, planning, explaining. The essence of story: context enriched by emotion.
Story exists where high concept and high touch intersect.
~ Daniel Pink
by Angela Atkinson 2019
Suspend disbelief for a moment.
You’re a writer.
The act of writing is a sublime act for you. Even in the most mundane moments of editing and reconciling split infinitives, you still feel like you’re soaring high above the earth . . . you’re doing something important . . . you’re doing what you were meant to do.
You LOVE the freedom storytelling gives you. You get to make up characters, map out plotlines, decide if your story has a happy ending, or a tragic one.
You get to decide what happens and when it happens.
You're the author . . . of your own story.
Stories are born inside of you.
They emerge from within, birthed from the womb of imagination and reared with love, attention, and nurturance.
You might devote a thought or two to what the audience would prefer to read, but you don’t let those thoughts distract you from the task at hand – listening to the story inside you that’s wanting to be told.
You immediately let those thoughts of writing “for” others drift away.
Because you know that if you take your focus, your attention, your DEVOTION away from cultivating and safeguarding the creativity coming from within, you’ll turn into a market-obsessed pulp fiction writer, churning out formulaic drivel that may turn a profit (okay, maybe that’s extreme) . . .
But the question remains — what does it cost our creativity, our soul, when when we shape our story for the masses, for quick money, or for “likes” on social media?
You made a decision early on, that you were going to write your story from the inside out.
You are going to trust the process.
Your words, your gifts, your works are destined to arrive at the doorstep of the people who most need to receive them.
THE PRINCIPLES OF STORYTELLING
It’s no different for your business.
The Protagonist? You.
Sub-characters? Your market. Your business partner. Your mentors.
The plot? Your plan, your vision, your intentions for your business . . . set in motion.
The ending? That, too, is yours to decide.
These are the questions for you, as the creator of your business, the author of your enterprise, the steward of your gifts, to decide.
How much devotion, attention, and love are you giving in order to bring forth and give voice to your creative expression.
We speak a lot around here of writing a “new story.” A re-thinking of how we do business. We believe that we are only limited by our imagination of what is possible.
And when we tell a story, it becomes real.
You don’t have to follow the script – write your own.
So . . . let's get going!
Write YOUR story.
The Main Character is . . .
You!
Who are you now but also who do you want to be at the end of the story?
As in every hero’s journey tale, the voyager is changed by her travails.
How will you be changed as a business owner? What will you come to know?
What is hard or scary now that will become easy by “The End”?
Most importantly, how will you feel? What does it feel like to watch orders of your product roll in? To have to put on a wait list clients who want your services? To be so in demand for your talks that you have to turn some down?
To know that you’re doing your small part in helping others and the planet?
Sub-Characters.
You can’t do it alone . . . and you don’t want to.
Imagine a partner or staff who are so aligned, you can finish each other’s sentences.
Imagine clients who are doing amazing things in the world, are a joy to work with and are thrilled to pay you!
Maybe you have a brilliant mentor who offers gentle guidance and is there when you need her. These are the characters in your story and you get to choose!
As the author, you get to conjure these beings out of your imagination – don’t hold back from being as detailed as you dare to be!
The Plot.
What’s the plot? Your plotline of your business can be simple….or complex.
Filled with action sequences….or long stretches of calm and serenity.
Will you experience lots of travel?
Or will you work from a quiet studio in your backyard.
Do you want the pacing slow?
Or fast?
Is your business like a short story, or an epic novel?
Plot out the future timeline for your business – and envision when you’ll be experiencing peaks of growth and evolution.
Also, when there will be periods of reflection and rest.
Let your story unfold – organically, shaped by vision and intention. This is the framework for your business story.
Theme.
Tell me . . . . what do you care about? What is sacred to you?
What are the no-holds-barred principles and values that you stake your reputation on?
What’s your key message that you want to say to your people?
What do you want them to take away, how do you want to leave them feeling?
Perhaps you’re in the business of dream fulfillment by finding beautiful homes for people as their realtor?
Will you be offering a path to transcendence and hope through your spiritual teaching?
Will you be planting trees to help the planet, tending the souls of our children, designing gorgeous clothes so that people can feel glorious in their skins?
Your “theme” combines your vision and aspirations with your values – it’s the “what” and the “how”. Impeccability is the alignment in your business between word and deed. Get clear on your “theme” and your path is laid out for you.
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift . . .
and the rational mind is a faithful servant.
~ Albert Einstein
These critical components of a story are no different when applied to your calling, your business, your art.
What makes a great story?
When all elements are in sync, working together, aligned and moving the same direction.
Start weaving this story into your messaging, your digital marketing, your website. Choose images and words that reflect these ‘future-selves’ of you and your business. Dare to be arrogant, full of yourself, brimming with self-confidence (even if you don’t feel it inside. Especially if you don’t feel it inside).
This isn’t just a ‘wishcraft’ exercise, but a process that works in setting you up to start living from a place of where you want to be — rather than where you are.
“Acting as if” you already have this successful business, prosperity pouring in, amazing clients knocking on your door – it’s been shown over and over that this kind of visualization works, whether you’re smacking that golf ball or delivering the speech of a lifetime or parenting a child.
The imagination is the most powerful, underutilized faculty that we have.
Dare to imagine your story.
