You’ve got a responsibility to your audience, so don’t take it lightly. Crafting your perfect message is not as easy as it sounds, so take matters seriously when it comes to nurturing your prospects, clients, patients or customers.
Your real genius comes from the things you hide from others. You know, those skeletons in your closet you are either ashamed of, angered by, embarrassed by or even hate that it happened to you. Some people are embarrassed by the fact that their parents were not very good at showing them love. Others have a distinct fear of heights after falling off a high surface as a child. It could be anything.
As a child I was not a very happy person. I was ridiculed because of my size, and therefore it made me feel inadequate. Had it not been for the love of my family and the strength of character within, I may not have turned out to be the success I am today. Life is sometimes cruel, and it takes a very specific posture to withstand the scrutiny and embarrassment of exposing one’s frailties. But, it is the only way toward healing one’s self, and healing for others.
Perhaps things happened to you that was certainly not your fault, but you are ashamed of the circumstances regardless. Like a friend of mine that was sexually assaulted by members of her family at the age of nine. She was sexually abused by her father, her uncle, and her older brother from the age of nine until fifteen. She never told a soul. Once she tried to explain it to her mother but was rebuffed as “making up hurtful stories.” That one attempt at reaching for help shut her down emotionally for decades.
Now, twenty-five years later, Carrie (not her real name) is an advocate for sexual trauma as it relates to women. Carrie is a photo-journalist by trade, but her mission is to expose the hurt, lies, deceit and pain through imagery and story of survivors of their plight. Carrie’s making a huge difference in the lives of these victims by sharing their story and exposing (literally) them as survivors who have healed.
Your story is your genius, so don’t hide it away. Tell the world, and others can resonate with your message. Whether it is about selling widgets, painting automobiles, trading baseball cards, or whatever it is you have a passion for, find out what it is in you that makes the message powerful.
People go about their lives with hurt and pain buried deep out of fear, shame, regret or hurtfulness. We are all susceptible to troubles, and all have some need within us to let it out. Find your perfect message and share it with the world.
You’ll be helping others who share your burden and can be helped by knowing they are not alone.
Here’s two questions for you: Are you sharing your genius with the world? Or, is your Secret buried deep inside you holding you back? Only you can answer the first, but I KNOW the answer to the second. YES, not sharing your story is keeping you from sharing your gifts with humanity.
We’re here to help others through our natural passion, our talents, our gifts. If you are too shy, scared, angry, ashamed, or just plain afraid, you’re limiting yourself and the world by not finding the gifts that make you who you are.
Take me for example. It took me until I was 50 years old to recognize my real gifts, and share my story with anyone. Not doing so kept me from helping others, it limited my own capabilities, desires, dreams and offerings. It wasn’t until I took an introspective coaching session for me to unlock my true genius and begin to live the life that was intended for me. Now I share my story in nearly everything I do so that others like me can find their gifts because they know they are not alone.
That’s the way this thing works, this hidden gift inside you just waiting to get out. You have to share your story so that others can be inspired and grow. That’s our responsibility to the Universe, God, or whatever you hold in your heart to be larger than yourself. We’re cheating ourselves and everyone else by NOT sharing it to inspire, ignite, embolden, motivate those that are being held back by their secret.
We all have one within us and getting it out and shared is how we grow beyond our self-limiting beliefs. Deciding which details to include and how it should be framed can be difficult to fathom on our own, so I have included some tips that might help you unlock your genius being held captive inside you.
These suggestions will help you resonate with your ideal audience like magic. Those that can relate to you will, and those that simply tune out are NOT yours to help. Don’t concern yourself with them. They are seeking the messenger that they need to unlock their gifts. In time hopefully they will be fortunate to resonate with the one they were meant to.
Tips On How To Weave Real-Life Examples Into Your Messaging
Know up front that I know crafting the perfect message is not easy. I work on my messaging each and every day. It takes time, effort, and inspiration to unlock the perfect words to make your point profound and meaningful.
However, it is important for you to create messaging that sets you up as the unique being you really are. Defining your gifts from within bits and pieces of your unique story can be shared for the benefit of others. We do this in two different steps.
Before we begin, understand the correlation between what you have learned from your story and how your gift can help others, and deliver that story and message in such a way that it flows naturally from you when you speak, write, or are on camera. You won’t need a script because it is you sharing what is in your heart.
Your our unique message delivered properly will cause those meant to be with you to seek you out, stalk you (figuratively, that is) online, and gladly put money into your hands. It creates a situation where you get to decide with whom you will work, not having to chase the next client or patient any longer.
It is my pleasure to share with you all that I have learned from my various coaches over the years that have created the success I enjoy today. I can say without question that the millions I have made over many years came and went each time I failed to live up to my potential, lost focus and simply got stupid by becoming self-centered.
Tip One – Connect Your Personal Story to Your Messages So Others Will Resonate With You
When preparing to present or share with others, consider weaving in parts of your personal story using examples so that your audience can picture you experiencing what you did. Tie it to your message in such a way that those that are receiving your message will actually be beside you in your narrative.
Start with your story, at least one of the pertinent parts that speak to your audience. By doing so, your greatest gifts will unfold from it. Like I learned that I could be who I was meant to be by letting go of the anger and self-loathing I held on to because of my violent childhood. I transformed from a roller-coaster ride of emotions to that of a positive, caring individual that knows he can change the world by helping others overcome their own challenges, by never, ever giving up.
When I am on stage speaking I begin by sharing my story in the present tense. “I’m five years old, and I am not a happy boy. I am deciding to run away from home because it is not a happy place.”
Then I move on to the ups and downs of my life, always with the shadow of self-loathing and anger. Even my tremendous successes had their costs, which ultimately caused me to celebrate my 50th birthday living in my car in the winter in Detroit.
By sharing my opening story in this way, people can visualize me standing in the living room or kitchen or bedroom in near tears trying to make a tough decision. Everyone was five years old once, and some did not have happy childhoods, so they will naturally resonate with the opening of my story. Then I move on and share the ups and down of my life, and what transformed me from who I was to who I am today, and what gifts I have to share.
In every one of my books I speak about my grandparents and how they saved me from a very turbulent childhood. Their love and respect shaped me in ways I am still learning. The more I age the more I am amazed how much of an impact for good in my life.
Work on your story often, make it as personal as possible. Believe me, others will resonate. Those that do not take your message to heart are really seeking the messenger they need most. Don’t worry, everyone has gifts and they must learn how to share them in their own way. Just know that you are blessed by learning these secrets.
Tip Two – Use your personal transformation as your example for others to emulate
As you reflect on your journey toward transformation, think about how each step relates to the gifts you have to share. How can they help others as they do you? There are lots of ways to tell the story of your triumphs and travails, your ups and downs and what led you to become the person you are before us today.
The more you dive deep into your journey the more you will come closer to your amazing truth. Doing so will make your personal story more relevant, motivating and engaging.
Because no one is exactly like you, your message is unique and original. Sharing your personal experiences draws upon others thoughts of how they are or were experiencing what you have, and are seeking to learn more. Let them resonate with you. They are your true audience. When your message touches someone’s heart you are are making a “Know, Like, Trust, and Respect” connection with them, and they will seek you out.
Tip Three – Your Vulnerability is Your Core Strength
Showing your vulnerability and sharing with your audiences how you overcame whatever brings you the most pain, shame, anger, distrust, loss, or embarrassment in you life. Doing that and sharing your unique solution with the world will bring about a catharsis in those receiving your message.
Those who relate to your message of contemptuousness and disdain and how you were able to transform yourself into your greater self will become inspired to wish to begin to do the same. You aren’t sharing your message, you are offering encouragement through your messaging.
When they relate to your story they might think, “Hey, I can relate. She’s talking to me, that’s my story. I want to overcome my challenges and experience my own transformation.”
Through the effective use of vulnerability, your story will resonate because of the raw emotions held within it. Your true audience will be inspired and they will be drawn to you like steel to a magnet.
Tip Four – Your Story Evolves With You
As you grow in your business, your story evolves too. Don’t allow it to become stale and static. Your personal transformation continues day after day, month and year after year. Your story and your messaging should as well. You’ll reach new levels of success, so your story must be relevant to your growing and maturing audience as well.
As your message grows and changes, different types of audiences will resonate with you, and that’s a good thing. With a message that is dynamic and relevant, your transformations will automatically generate more power and dynamism.
Tip Five – Don’t Avoid Emotion, It is True Power
Do not think for a moment that becoming emotional while sharing your story and message is a bad thing. It’s part of who you are, and that you are human. Those who keep their emotions bottled up are only hurting themselves. Cry if you need to, laugh and become angry if it helps you get your message out in a compelling way.
I happen to have a full spectrum of emotions. Believe it or not I tear up every time I hear the National Anthem, become irate at those that are intentionally inconsiderate, and can laugh at some of the dumbest jokes. I consider it a blessing to be able to express how I feel. I love people and try to let them know I am thinking of them, love them and wish them happiness. Probably not enough but I’m working on it.
Expressing your emotions as you reveal your travails and disappointments, failures and successes is so powerful others can feel it as if it were their own feelings on display. It’s humbling, and good for the soul.
In Conclusion
Crafting your messaging that draws upon your personal experiences will only help your audience connect with you and what they have experienced that resonates.
Don’t shy away from the negatives in your life. Share how you overcame these obstacles and challenges. Your audience members will become inspired and want to learn more how they can experience their own transformations. You’ll be doing them a great service, even if they are reluctant to reach out. Some people are just not ready for a transformation.
You are fully capable of digging your story from the recesses of your mind. Take the time and use your mind to uncover what has been locked away. Identify what you have learned from the good and not so good things that have happened to you and you’ll uncover your gifts, your genius, your truth. That way, you can share it with the world for all to benefit, especially you.
