Being stuck at home is limiting to say the least but for a WFH individual (since before Covid-19) nothing really changed, except the the noise level in the house! It has me counting my blessings every single night, reprioritizing my life and some soul searching about my life choices. I don’t know how others are doing it but this approach has brought me to some much needed clarity.
We know everyone has a story unique to them and pain and joy are part of life. However, what’s more important is the background – our culture, upbringing, education, experiences, world view and beliefs. Each one of these aspects defines who we are.
The point is, people generally understand online hatred is projection. It’s not a reflection of who they’re attacking for sure. But nowadays everything is about approval, likes and ratings. In this setting telling your story has become crucial if you want your brand to stand out. It’s no wonder, content creation is big business.
Personal Vs. Professional Stories
Until recently I never understood the power of storytelling although I told bits of my story repeatedly for a long time! You see I was a fashion designer and a fashion design teacher so introducing myself and my work went with establishing my credibility. I spoke at seminars, conducted lectures, mentored startups and entrepreneurs. It was always easy to tell my professional story to explain a point. However, I never delved into the personal side. I grew up with the belief that professional and personal lives were two different areas. They were ought to be separate otherwise I’d look unprofessional.
Here’s what I believed as I ran regularly marketed my fashion business online
- No one would be interested in my story.
- People don’t have the time for that – they want to get the product and leave.
- Effort on website clarity and efficiency were more important areas to focus on.
- Would be highly unprofessional if my personal life seeped into my social media content.
Turns out stories sell products more than anything else!
I don’t think I was completely wrong as there’s a fine line between telling relevant stories or TMI. However, nowadays our stories separate us from all others. More openness is expected from companies, more sharing, more transparency and certainly more personal stuff. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a startup or an established brand.
A friend recently told me to share my story for the benefit of others so they could learn from it. What convinced me was perception and attitude. Let me explain. This friend thought most onlookers saw and judged me as a well-off person who had a cushy life and had probably never seen any tough times. They likely assumed how little I knew about the ‘real world’. You see I wear nice clothes, always look put-together, speak well, have travelled the world and look confident. Things second nature to me are rich qualities for some.
In light of the self-reflection and reprioritizing I’ve decided to be more open. I vow to share the stories that are relevant to my message and hopefully inspire others just a little bit. It’s remarkable how our perspectives vary – something part of my mundane life can inspire someone else. Stories are powerful indeed!
