Never be Ashamed of Your Story

The photo I have shared where I am wearing a blue jacket was taken when I graduated a 1-year course 21 years ago. After my second diagnosis of breast cancer I had a bi-lateral mastectomy, along with implants. I had been working three jobs at one point, but gave up two of them to gain more hours at the shoe store I had worked for seven years. But my second cancer diagnosis helped me make the decision to give up that job and return to school to gain experience and hopefully become a secretary again. That was the work I enjoyed since leaving High School in England up until I became a stay at home mom. That plan did not work out exactly, but the new plan turned out to be a better idea that I turned into my reality.

I Became a Motivational Speaker

After hearing a motivational speaker during the first few weeks of my course I decided on the spur of the moment to start a business as a motivational speaker. The rest of that story has been told many times, but I am sure you have guessed that goal was successful.

I Was Ashamed of my Story

At first I was ashamed to share my true stories of resilience, determination and many life's challenges when I presented. I thought people would look down on me. Just a couple of years after starting my journey as a motivational speaker a question from a member of the audience prompted me to share that I had gone through a divorce.

When members of the audience took time to speak with me after my presentations it was pretty clear they wanted to know more about me.

Leap of Faith

Once I began to share my stories about the many life's challenges I had been through I knew that not only was I helping the audience in some small, but I was also helping myself heal, slowly, and deal with the past.

When The Audience Laughs

 Not all of my stories are sad. One in particular is about a serious topic; when and why I had to have the breast implants removed just a couple of months after the operation to remove my breast and replace them with implants.

But the funny part of the story is when I had to visit a plastic surgeon who told me I had a very serious infection and the implants had to be removed or I could die. I did cry a little bit, I had been through a lot. He told me not to cry because if I had been watching the Olympics, the women athletes were flat chested! I won't share what I asked him because I save that for my speaking engagements. What I can share is that the audience laughed so much, and laughter is good medicine.

Never be Ashamed to Share Your Story

Whether you are a motivational speaker, or a different type of business sharing our stories and being authentic opens up the trust where our clients are concerned.

Today more than ever consumers want to know who you are, why are you doing what you do, are you interested in just making money or do you care about your clients.