What’s Your Story?
August 24, 2011 by Johanna Baker-Dowdell
By Johanna Baker-Dowdell, Strawberry Communications
Last week, I attended the Tasmanian Women Entrepreneur Awards as a finalist and saw the importance of storytelling first hand.
I know how powerful stories are – I tell my clients’ business stories every day in my line of work, but being part of the group of women sharing how they came into business was an exhilarating experience for us – and our audience.
Each business owner stood proudly to share the story of what had brought her to the point where she was an awards finalist, and the winner had all of us laughing and smiling along with her. Women are naturally great connectors, storytellers and sharers, and when we get together in a supportive group, we can be inspirational.
Each of us had something different to say about the journey we took as women, as business owners and, for some, as mothers to get to that point and, as a result, we added to the knowledge and experience of those successful women entrepreneurs who had gone before us.
I think it is easy to devalue the important role we play in inspiring others, instead of celebrating what we achieve in our businesses, so I’m going to set you a challenge… I want you to think about your story in business – what was the catalyst that started you off, how has your business grown and evolved and what have you learnt as a result?
Now that you have started thinking about your personal story in business, think about who will be inspired by it. Of course, there are the ABN community members, but think wider to your family, friends and neighbours. Is there an aspiring business woman out there who needs one more nudge to get started? And, could that nudge be your inspiring story?
Celebrate your story and share it far and wide. You never know who it will touch.
MORE GREAT POSTS BY JOHANNA BAKER-DOWDELL
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Johanna Baker-Dowdell - Strawberry CommunicationsJohanna owns and runs writing and public relations service Strawberry Communications. The agency builds relationships with the media and key stakeholders on behalf of its SME clients. This service is provided through careful research and strategic communication, then maintained by telling the business’s story through amazing publicity and expertly crafted words. Strawberry Communications is based in Launceston and was launched in 2007. Johanna has more than 16 years experience in the media industry and is also a freelance journalist and blogger.
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Thank you, Johanna. This is a wonderful and inspiring message.
The other thing I like about stories is that you get to write a new and fresh page every day. We are the authors of our story. The pen is in our hands and if we muster up enough courage – enough imagination and enough confidence – we can write a dream come true!
I look forward to reading the next brilliant chapter of *your* story, Johanna.
Best wishes,
Robin Dickinson
Robin I could not have put it better myself, thank you! I love being a storyteller – and sharing those stories every single day.