Storyation

All my life I have heard people complain when others have won in situations where they had wanted to win. One sibling was accepted into the band while the other one wasn't. One sibling earned a college degree while the other one didn't. One created wealth while the other didn't. Were you one who felt left behind?

The fact is there have been many times in my life when I did not "win" or "achieve" a specific goal. I could have cried about it and accepted that "I'm just not good enough." The truth is in my heart I knew I was "good enough" and that fact spurred me forward to figure out how to "win" the next time around - which I did on many occasion.

One example is that I lost a concerto audition in college. If selected, I would get to play a flute concerto on the spring orchestra concert. Not only did I lose the audition but I lost to someone three years younger than me!! I was devastated.

I made up my mind that I would absolutely win the next time - First, I was completely committed to the goal and assured that I would by doing the following:

1. I chose a flute piece I knew audiences like - Poem for Flute by
Griffes.
2. I bought a recording of the principle flutist with the Cincinnati
Symphony play the piece - (model success - no guessing about
whether I might misinterpret the music in any way.)
3. I played the recording every moment I was home over and over
including when I went to sleep at night - hoping it would magically
go in to my subconscious and become a part of my being.
4. I played along with the recording with the recording louder than
me.
5. I memorized the piece which was not required.
6. I found a piano accompanist whom I knew was accomplished
enough to pull off the level of perfection and expression I knew
was needed.
7. At the audition I played from memory and dressed like a
professional executive type person.
8. I played for all the top professors in the music department and
made not one slip of a note or beat.
9. You could have heard a pin drop in the room, the judges were
so engaged in the music.
10. They congratulated me and told me not only did I win but I
blew them away with my extreme performance.

I felt amazed at myself. I felt honored by people I had held in such high esteem for so many years.

I learned a lot from that experience:
1. I learned what it took to succeed against stiff competition.
2. I learned that deep commitment and action taken with the utmost
precise discipline assures the results desired.
3. It takes perserverance.
4. I discovered my potential.
4. NEVER give up.

Proving this fact to myself many times over has created a passion for wanting to share the secret of what it takes to win with other talented people who are underachieving while yearning to achieve. I love getting to the core of what is really underneath the underachieving.

Sometimes even though we know what it takes it helps to have structure provided to us by a mentor. This can help keep us focused when so many other things in life can pull us away from our commitment.

If you are an entrepreneur who has "tried" before and are ready to give it the shot that really makes the difference, let's get together and get you surging forward toward your goals. Stop coasting and begin with the easy step which is Contact Me Now and "Assure Your Success!"

Excited about YOUR future!

Juanita Bellavance
http://www.assureyoursuccess.com

Posted in What's At The Core (Of Your Business)? by Juanita Bellavance on Jul 19 2007

What is the Core Story of your business?

The core is the tale you tell consistently about why your business exists - from the perspective of your customer, not yourself.

Not, "I started this business in 2005 because I love playing golf and ..."

Remember the "radio station" everyone's tuned into? Maybe we should say the podcast channel these days, but it's WIIFM - What's In It For Me.

Your core story shared the problem you're solving.

Can you share your passion as part of it? SURE you can! But also share the problem you're solving...the pain you're addressing...the reason this is a business and not a hobby.

If I just said I created Storyation because of my own love of mythology, that would be totally me-centric and not useful. But if I say that I noticed people in business missing the biggest and most profitable driving force in their company and turned my love of stories into a business, that's more like it.

You will have a "short version" of your core story. Imagine Larry King is interviewing you and you have 15 seconds to speak your businesss. That's the short form.

You will also have a "long form" that you may use in print and in person when you have more time. This longer version should still speak to WIIFM.

So now it's your turn! Share your business core story - at least the short form.

Ronda Del Boccio, the story Lady of www.Storyation.com

Posted in What's At The Core (Of Your Business)? by TheStoryLady on Jul 16 2007

This video shows a man in a whirlpool bath -- but there is a point -- a METAPHOR -- that you must see to help you understand what your business is all about.

http://glenndietzel.tv/2007/07/11/in-our-office-whirlpool-bath-i-had-this-visitordont-tell-fiona-as-she-would-freak/

Posted in The Power of a Metaphor by TheStoryLady on Jul 11 2007

Read this short article and then write about something (as a reply) that is a metaphor in your own life.

The Interview Dress

I have a pretty berry-colored dress that I used to love. I wore it to any event when I needed to look and feel my best. I wore it often to job interviews and began to think of it as “my interview dress.” I always knew exactly which dress I had in mind when I said this. I have not worn it in at least two years, maybe three.

Recently, I was going through my dress clothes to decide what I was bringing to a conference. I touched saw my interview dress that I used to love so much and was filled with the feeling of my own life, working for other people, measuring my success by whether or not I was hired. My stomach felt sick, and I knew I will never wear it again. In fact, I have already placed it in a box to donate to the local women’s shelter.

Why? Because the dress that used to represent my best now is a metaphor for being an employee. YUCK! That is no longer a part of my life, and good riddance! But before it leaves my house, I will make a Storyation VIEWSletter™ about it. (Leverage everything!)The woman who wears this dress after me will no doubt create her own metaphor.
Example: The Interview Dress

I have a pretty berry-colored dress that I used to love. I wore it to any event when I needed to look and feel my best. I wore it often to job interviews and began to think of it as “my interview dress.” I always knew exactly which dress I had in mind when I said this. I have not worn it in at least two years, maybe three.

Recently, I was going through my dress clothes to decide what I was bringing to a conference. I touched saw my interview dress that I used to love so much and was filled with the feeling of my own life, working for other people, measuring my success by whether or not I was hired. My stomach felt sick, and I knew I will never wear it again. In fact, I have already placed it in a box to donate to the local women’s shelter.

Why? Because the dress that used to represent my best now is a metaphor for being an employee. YUCK! That is no longer a part of my life, and good riddance! But before it leaves my house, I will make a Storyation VIEWSletter™ about it. (Leverage everything!)The woman who wears this dress after me will no doubt create her own metaphor.

Example: The Interview Dress

I have a pretty berry-colored dress that I used to love. I wore it to any event when I needed to look and feel my best. I wore it often to job interviews and began to think of it as “my interview dress.” I always knew exactly which dress I had in mind when I said this. I have not worn it in at least two years, maybe three.

Recently, I was going through my dress clothes to decide what I was bringing to a conference. I touched saw my interview dress that I used to love so much and was filled with the feeling of my own life, working for other people, measuring my success by whether or not I was hired. My stomach felt sick, and I knew I will never wear it again. In fact, I have already placed it in a box to donate to the local women’s shelter.

Why? Because the dress that used to represent my best now is a metaphor for being an employee. YUCK! That is no longer a part of my life, and good riddance! But before it leaves my house, I will make a Storyation VIEWSletter™ about it. (Leverage everything!)The woman who wears this dress after me will no doubt create her own metaphor.

Posted in The Power of a Metaphor by TheStoryLady on Jul 4 2007