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I’ve taken to following astrology this year. I picked it up when I needed hope, and it helped direct my energy and thoughts in a useful place. Is it science? Can it be truly clairvoyant? Probably not. A quick Google search on Astrology as a science will reveal that it has no basis in evidence. I’ll tell you what, though: I watch my Great Pyrenees Noli on dog walks, and I know she sees and hears things we aren’t able to, and that’s proof right there that a lot is going on in the planet that we as humans have no perception of. So, at its most skeptical, there is no basis for astrology. At a minimum, the thoughts and energy that come from paying attention to it manifest our greatest desires.
All that to say, I’m on board.
I bring it up today because it was the last full moon of the year on Sunday (the 15th), and according to astrology, it’s a big deal full moon because it happens in Gemini. According to Moon Omens, it
“offers us opportunities to step into the new year with a greater awareness of the power of our minds and of how changes in our mindset, thoughts, beliefs, and communication patterns can shape our entire reality. It is an invitation to establish a more intentional and conscious relationship with our mind and set stage for the changes we aspire to make during 2025.”
Aside from validating my belief in astrology, this raises some great questions for you as you enter 2025.
How will you be more intentional about your personal communication next year? After practicing a story with a partner, a woman in my workshop earlier this month said she felt like she was being boastful in telling her story. An entire conversation about this ensued, and I’ll write more about this in two weeks, but the bottom line is that we have to be advocates for ourselves. If not us, who?
In other words, we all have to get over it. (At the risk of gender stereotyping, I’m referring to us, ladies. I often get that question, and it’s almost always from the women in the group.)
Chani calls the full moon a “shift or an exposing of information that was hidden.”
It’s time to share your message and put your stories into the world. Remember, storytelling is a powerful tool that can inspire, motivate, and connect us all.
If you re-read Moon Omens’ statement about the full moon, let’s enter the new year with a greater awareness of our communication patterns. Take a moment to reflect on how you communicate and how it shapes your reality.
I’ve identified five here, and in true storytelling fashion, I’ve given them archetypes of our favorite fiction characters. Now, it’s your turn to identify which archetype resonates with you the most.
Which one are you?
The Invisible Hero: Batman
Batman works anonymously through the night to save the day. Invisible heroes are often highly productive in isolation, not wanting to toot their horn or take the time to explain what they’ve done. Getting on with things is certainly faster than connecting through a story. There is nothing wrong with that—we all need to be expedient at times, getting into action and making things happen.
The problem is that significant change only happens with a team. Without telling your story, you will be overlooked, irrelevant, and unnoticed.
The Technical Nerd: Dr. Spock
Star Trek’s Dr. Spock is deeply knowledgeable and passionate. He’s a subject matter expert, but people need help understanding his words.
The technical nerd’s deep expertise is an advantage until they have to talk about it. They know so much and tend to flood people with that knowledge. They’re like a stuck record. Everyone avoids them.
Facts and data are important, but they don’t influence change. They might lend credibility to your case, but only if people take the time to make sense of it.
The Misunderstood Leader: Otto
Otto Anderson is a 63-year-old curmudgeon played by Tom Hanks in the film A Man Called Otto. Cynical and grumpy, all Otto’s neighbors fear him, and even despise him. What they don’t know is that he lost his wife six months earlier and is grieving her deeply. He puts up a front to protect himself. However, one neighbor sees something in Otto and goes on a mission to help him. When everyone gets to know the real Otto, the neighborhood dynamic changes for the better, and Otto becomes happier, too.
Sometimes, we act as someone we are not—or as someone we think we should be.
Being misunderstood can lead to many challenges.
The misunderstood leader often ends up in this situation because they’ve kept secrets. They are like vaults, a characteristic that is valuable in close friendships but not in leadership.
The Charmer: Seinfeld’s Kramer
Charismatic and popular, Seinfeld’s Kramer character knows everyone and always has a fun fact or piece of trivia to contribute to the conversation. He’s charming in many ways, but his entertainment value is far higher than his motivation or inspiration value.
We are intrigued and pay attention to these people. They have many interesting stories that capture our attention, and we think, “Wow, I had no idea!”
When you are intriguing, people follow you on social channels, read your emails, and attend your presentations. You are memorable, which is excellent, but they stop short of taking action.
The Change-Maker: Ted Lasso
In one of my favorite TV series (Schitt’s Creek is a close tie), Ted Lasso is brought to the UK to coach a British soccer team, a sport he knows nothing about. What’s awesome about Ted is he doesn’t pretend to be someone he isn’t. While he doesn’t know much about the technical details of the game, he understands how to motivate the team and bring them together. His speeches and actions galvanize the team, lead them to win games—and provide great comedic fodder for delightful TV watching.
When you combine all the elements of a great storyteller, you become a change-maker and a powerful force for good.
Change-makers are influential because they attract the right people. When they speak, they garner attention, and people are ready to drop everything to do what they suggest. Steve Jobs described this well when he said, “The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller.”
The first step is awareness. Which character do you most resonate with? Will you commit to striving for Ted Lasso? (And if you have not seen it, will you commit to watching it?)
This was a long one today, so if you’ve read this far, I want to send a heartfelt thank you for an amazing year and for being part of this community. Have a happy new year, and make it a great story.
And if you’d like my help with that in 2025:
Become a Powerful Presenter – work with me one-on-one to level up your 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 funnel all that knowledge in your head into messages that make you the influential communicator you have always wanted to be. 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 will help you nail it!
My new book, The Power of Story, Connect With Purpose, Unlock Your Influence is now available!
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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