A Technology Strategist, Nonprofit Communications Director, Wellness/Yoga Studio Founder, Coffee Supplier CEO, Pastor, and Magician walked into a bar…
Ok. Not a bar. But Room 206 of local library this past week?
Yes. True story.
We gathered for one hour to learn from one another about communication - and most especially from the Magician who is the group facilitator and has been a professional speaker for over 50 years.
“What do you lead with when talking about your business?” one person chimed in.
“I wonder that, too,” The Wellness person added. “I talk a lot about wholeness and balance, vulnerability and authenticity. But it feels like jargon.”
“I sell coffee, and there’s a lot of it out there, of course,” offered the CEO. “What aspect of my coffee do you think people would find most notable or interesting?”
Everyone in the room was part of an organization with some kind of flashy website-and-logo and a desire for more people to know how great/helpful/amazing their thing is.
And that desire was being raised via a singular, shared question:
How do I best communicate what I offer in a way that meaningfully connects (and generates business/clients/donors ideally!)?
As if prompted to center stage, the Magician pulled forth the rabbit of truth:
It was not a slick trick one can use to enchant-unto-sales.
It was not the singular 1-2-3 spell which, if spoken perfectly, guarantees a sudden flood of donors, dollars, and DM-inquiries.
It was not a wand technique whose precise motion can cause all anxiety to vanish and piles of cash to appear in its place.1
Versions of this magic are peddled all day long via the various mediums around us.
What he pulled forth instead was a one-page, hand-written list he’d been working on that very morning.
(Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash)
“This is a list of things that have gone wrong in my life. Failures. Griefs. Hardships. Stuff I didn’t want to happen."
He went on, “Nobody relates to perfection. Nobody wants to hear how great you are - or even your products are. The connection is built when they know you are relatable. Which means, they need to know you’ve failed, hurt, or not been perfect, too.”
He paused and let the incantation quietly whisper within each of us:
Maybe all the Magic you need is already there.
Are you willing to dig deep to bring it forth?
And what would it look like to weave one or two of these stories into the story you’re telling others about yourself/your business?
“These are the stories I am writing down,” he concluded. “They are the bridge of connection.”
We spend a lot of our days doing our best to dazzle, charm, or otherwise bring the magic:
Wearing the right look
Landscaping the front yard
Making the resume pop
Attaining the notable credential/recognition
Name-dropping the thing/person/place we know
Insta-perfecting the post
To be sure, not all of these things are bad - and some can be good (and/or necessary to some degree).
But… let's admit, a whole lot of those can be driven by our basic desire to be…
Seen.
Known.
Respected.
Connected.
Interesting.
Fun.
Worthy.
Loved.
Paradoxically, none of those desires are attainable in any genuine sense when all anybody knows about us or our business is how great we are.
So, sure, we could take a couple hours to unlock the magic by brushing up our pitch deck, website, or resume.
Or, we could pull out pen-and-paper and make a list of all the times we’ve been (or currently are!)…
Lost or limping.
Failing or folding.
Grieving or groveling.
Uncertain or underwhelming.
Those are the stories that change vulnerability from jargon to inspiration. When people hear those stories, they hear their true-but-also-usually-hidden story, which allows for a far deeper connection than all the awe-inspiring theatrics in the world.
Because, of course, what we have tapped into is the Deep Magic of the Universe which has wowed audiences for generations with the same few tricks, including this one:
Ta-Da - here is your greatest strength and resource for connection! Pulled not from the hat of money, power, or control but vulnerability.2
--
So, whether you are looking for a huge ROI3 or simply want to join alongside audiences throughout time to witness the stunning act that never fails, go ahead and grab a pen, a piece of paper, and an open heart.
I promise - Life is coming out of that hat.
For the record, should you discover the trick for discovering how a windfall of cash suddenly appears, I also promise it does not replace the anxiety. That continues to hang out. Sometimes much more pervasively than before. See: Most lottery winners. The anxiety-disappearing spell is a post for another time. But a hint for now: Go bird-watching.
Other classics from the Deep Magic repertoire include…
Our greatest success is found in failure.
Our greatest height is found in serving.
Our greatest love is found in letting go.
Our greatest wholeness is found in brokenness.
Caveat: The Return on Investment may very well include money - or it may not. It will, however, be really big and likely you would not trade all the money in the world for what is discovered in telling a true story about yourself/your business.
That was very powerful. Thank you for sharing.
Wow!!! Very thought provoking! Thanks for sharing!