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“If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace you are living in the present.”
― Lao Tzu
My favorite holiday is just days away, and to make it even better, we have more snow than usual, so I have found my happy place doing all the things from snowshoeing with the reluctant Great Pyrenees (who much prefers to watch over the “property” from a prone position) to getting those quads back in shape on the groomers at the ski resort and relearning how to balance on a skinny nordic ski.
As we head into Thanksgiving week and officially the final sprint to the end of the year, I have two announcements and one story.
Announcement #1, my next book!
After one rewrite and several months of feet-dragging, I’m finally releasing my book, The Power of Story: Connect With Purpose, Unlock Your Influence.
This is not another guide on how to tell stories—it’s a roadmap to becoming a more influential communicator. Whether growing your career, leading a team, or engaging a community, this book will help you uncover the stories that make you unforgettable and where people go out of their way to choose you.
Of course, we all know storytelling has been around as long as humans have walked this planet. And yet, this skill feels incredibly timely given how difficult it is to navigate topics with coworkers, friend groups, and even the family you’ll be sharing a Thanksgiving table with, in just a few days. It was almost as if I had a grand plan for the timing of this book! But of course, I did not.)
Announcement #2 I can help you nail your next presentation
But hang on one second, because the book is included in Powerful Presenters, my mentoring program to teach better presentation skills so you can get better in your meetings, talks, and pitches. The best leaders are extraordinary storytellers who bring their depth of knowledge and ideas to life with clarity and confidence. Storytelling (and being a better presenter) is a skill that needs to be unlocked, not learned. You have it in you; you need a guide and sounding board. Let’s talk and make this happen for you in 2025. I will help you to funnel all that knowledge in your head into messages that make you the influential communicator you have always wanted to be. Comment below or schedule a 30-minute chat to learn more and see if we are a fit. You do not have to prepare for that big opportunity on your own I want to help you nail it!
A story.
Growing up, Thanksgiving was always a big deal for us. Our entire family would converge upon our house with numbers typically exceeding 20. I loved the excitement of getting ready (not so much the part about combing the fringe on the dining room rugs, which, yes, was my assignment), but everything else was fun. The fine table setting, all the people, running around the house with cousins, the launch of the celebratory season. It set an expectation. Shall we say a story was established in my head of what Thanksgiving is, and as times change and loved ones leave us, new ones enter the family, and new babies are born, what used to be is no longer.
I was reflecting on this when I remembered the Lao Tzu quote at the top of the blog. I thought it might be helpful if you have a story about what this holiday should look like.
It should look exactly like it looks this year. That’s the whole idea. It’s ok to create new stories.
Sometimes I catch myself searching for echoes of those childhood Thanksgivings but perhaps the beauty lies not in replicating the past, but in allowing each year to write its own chapter. And living with the anticipation of what comes next!
Enjoy your week and if you are in the U.S., enjoy the day whatever it looks like.
Take care out there.
SOME WAYS I MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU AND YOUR TEAM:
LEAD YOUR WAY: This mentoring/coaching program is designed to help you step into your leadership and show up as your best self so you can communicate to connect and amplify your impact.
COMMUNICATE TO CONNECT: In my storytelling workshops, I teach leaders of all capabilities how to engage authentically with their teams, community, and stakeholders to create meaningful connections that build trust, increase team engagement and lead to better fundraising and revenue generation.
Did you have something else in mind? Let’s talk and see how I might be able to help. Contact me and we’ll schedule a chat.
Stay in touch.
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