How Your Life Story Connects to Those You Serve
Core Article: How Your Life Story Connects to Those You Serve
Paragraph I’m Pondering: “It’s time to embrace and let go of not knowing what will happen next…”
Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “My business is a reflection of my passion…”
Book Review: When The Heart Waits by Sue Monk Kidd
Cool Stuff: See how these entrepreneurs created success by following their passion.
AI Info & Resources: Curious about how AI is impacting us entrepreneurs?
How Your Life Story Connects to Those You Serve
When you think about marketing, the focus often turns to understanding your clients—their challenges, hopes, and dreams. Yet, there’s a part of that process that most people overlook: how sharing your own story can make a bigger impact.
I attended a mastermind meeting this past week in Dallas run by Perry Marshall. I’ve been in the online space almost as long as he has. We’ve been traveling in many similar circles and have met each other on and off throughout the years. At this event, it was different. The group had gone to dinner (It was the day after the election), and I was at a big round table filled with seven men and me. The conversation turned to the election.
Perry looked at me and asked a question about how the election results affected me. I decided to be honest, to speak my truth to these strangers at the table. And in doing so, the whole table spoke to me with empathy, compassion, and connection. It was the most fascinating experience I’ve ever had. Sure, it was scary to come out to all these strangers and tell them that I was afraid for my wife and our family under this new administration. They openly wanted to know more, and I felt connected and heard.
I’m sharing this for a couple of reasons—when I was younger, I never would have done that. I’d be too scared of what they’d think or how they would judge me. Today, I felt I needed to be honest in hopes of connecting to those few who would meet me at the door and walk through with me if they chose to.
It was the most amazing 2 days with some amazing emotionally mature men who were curious and kind, wanting to know more about me and my spouse. I was kind of blown away by the caliber of men that Perry’s attracted to his mastermind group. And grateful for the heart-soothing day after the election experience.
The other reason I’m sharing This is that when you’re brave enough to share a part of your story and your truth, it breaks down barriers in the right place and can help create deeper connections. Yet there’s always that fear of “Oh, what if I share this and then they’re going to think x, y, or z about me?”
One of the most impactful things I learned in recovery is “What someone else THINKS of ME is NONE of my business.” I can’t go around this life worrying about what others think of me. I did that for the first half of my life and drove myself crazy.
Your life and entrepreneurial journey—THAT is uniquely yours—the highs, the stumbles, and the truths you’ve come to believe—all form a path that can connect you to your dream clients in ways that “typical marketing” can’t. Especially now in this age of inauthenticity and ego-driven marketing.
Soulfully driven marketing goes deeper. It’s about building a genuine connection and creating a moment of recognition where someone sees a part of themselves in WHAT YOU SHARE. Those connections don’t just come from boisterous ads or a perfectly crafted sales page. They come from a willingness to share the experiences that shaped YOU.
Why Your Story Has a Place in Your Marketing
No one else has lived your life. The decisions you’ve made, the lessons you’ve learned, the values you carry—all of these are part of the invisible map that’s constantly guiding you.
They’re not just experiences you’ve had; they’re a vital part of your marketing when you make the decision to share them. Imagine yourself sharing with someone who’s facing a challenge you know well.
The empathy and understanding you offer comes from a place far deeper than a marketing strategy. It comes from a place of true, genuine connection.
When you let your story breathe into your messaging, it stops being about making a sale. In fact, I’d argue that it’s never about “making a sale.” It’s about transformation and creating a true impact to help, inspire, and guide others. It becomes about showing up as someone who genuinely understands, who’s been there and remembers how it felt. And can be present and offer guidance.
Building Trust Through Relatability
Clients crave something real; they’re looking for authenticity in a world flooded with messages that feel hollow. When you share parts of your life story in your marketing, you’re inviting clients to see you as more than a business.
They see you as a guide who’s walked similar roads, someone who knows both the struggle and the triumph and cares about helping them reach their own goals.
Relatability creates trust. And trust isn’t something that can be manufactured through bullet points or promises alone; it’s rooted in a deeper understanding.
When someone recognizes something familiar in your story, they feel seen. That moment of “I’ve been there too” isn’t just about empathy—it’s a point of connection that can make all the difference.
Becoming More Than “Another Service”
When you view your marketing as an invitation to share parts of your journey, everything changes. Suddenly, you’re not just offering services or solutions. You’re offering to be a partner in someone’s journey. Think about a time when a business made you feel genuinely understood. Those aren’t everyday moments, and they don’t happen by accident. That’s what experience-driven marketing can bring—letting clients know they’re more than a number and you’re here for more than a transaction.
Bringing Your Story Into Your Marketing
Sharing your story doesn’t mean opening the door to all the details of your life. It’s about choosing the moments that matter. And the ones that will connect you to your dream clients.
Here’s how you can bring your experience into your marketing, intentionally and powerfully:
- Open Up in Your “About” Section
Let clients in on why you’re doing this work. What brought you here? Was it a struggle, a realization, or a deep passion? Sharing a glimpse of what drives you allows them to see the person behind the brand. I did that on my About page and on my Home page on my site. (Scroll to the bottom—Soulful Marketing a Journey…) I want to attract like-minded people with similar values and beliefs. - Tell Your Story in Your Content
Whether it’s a blog post, an email, or a social media post, weave in pieces of your journey that relate to the challenges your clients face. Talk about the lessons, the challenges, and even the moments of doubt that you had and/or your clients. Those are the moments that will resonate with your dream clients. - Be Honest About Your “Why”
Honesty is magnetic. When you share why this work matters to you, people feel it. Your dream clients recognize when your motives run deeper than making a sale, and they’re drawn to that authenticity. - Listen to Their Stories, Too
Invite your dream clients to share their stories and listen deeply. Creating this space of mutual understanding strengthens the connection and shows you’re there not just to serve but to support and understand.
Are You Ready to Lead with Your Story?
Ask yourself: are you willing to put yourself out there, not as an expert with all the answers, yet as a human who’s walked through the unknown, just like your dream clients?
Your story, your journey, and the insights you’ve gathered along the way are what make you uniquely able to serve those who need you most. Sharing those parts of yourself means you’re doing more than marketing—you’re inviting others into an experience where they feel seen, heard, and understood.
Next time you craft content, consider how your life story could guide others. When you lead with your story, you’re building more than a business; you’re building genuine connections that last. 🙂
Paragraph I’m Pondering
“It’s time to embrace and let go of not knowing what will happen next. Let’s start looking at uncertainty from a place of curiosity and grace instead of fear and frustration. Spiritual growth is an ongoing process and requires you to accept your emotions and not judge, create a spiritual practice, indulge in tremendous self-care, and find meaning and connection in your life that lifts you up. Focus on what you’re grateful for every day.”
~ Sue Monk Kidd, When the Heart Waits Spiritual Direction For Life’s Sacred Questions
Powerful Affirmations to Inspire
- “I attract opportunities for financial growth and seize them with confidence and gratitude.”
- “My business is a reflection of my passion, purpose, and commitment to making a positive difference in the world.”
- “I honor the flow of life and trust that everything I need for success is being drawn to me at the perfect time.”
Book Review
When The Heart Waits: Spiritual Direction For Life’s Sacred Questions
By Sue Monk Kidd
Cool Stuff
- If you’re interested in how tech companies work, check out this article about IBM and how they got started.
- Success stories about 5 entrepreneurs that will inspire you.
- Here’s how these 11 people created success by following their passion.
AI Info and Resources
- Curious about how AI is impacting us – entrepreneurs? Here’s a very interesting article out of M.I.T.
- If you’re like me and are always trying to find a better way to describe and find my dream clients, then you’ve got to click on this article.
- This whole AI doppelganger thing, hmmm, I’m on the fence. It still feels a bit creepy – check this out.
Weekly Photos
- Before the election, I went on some hikes in the woods. This is one of my favorite places because it inspires me to look through the burnt trees to see the beauty in the sunrise. And I just really love this pic.
- This dog, Emma, she’s just too cute sometimes. We just got back from a walk in the rain, and her ears were all wet.
- I Had the most amazing time with this guy – Perry Marshall, at his Roundtable event. Pure, kind-hearted genius.
- I think this probably ended up being my favorite pre-Christmas photo of Emma. I was picked as an Amazon reviewer, and I get things sent for free in exchange for a review. So I got this dog toy, and well, I needed a picture of it, and Emma’s face kind of says it all.
- Here’s the capital building in downtown Dallas. Leaves are changing. It was a pretty morning.
- The hiking dog’s got her winter coat and is always ready to go with me.
- I took this pic on my last flight. I think it was somewhere over the rocky mountains. I just love all the little towns nestled around the mountain ranges. Reminds me of my town in northern CA.
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