We all have a unique personal story that influences who we are and motivates us to do the work we do.

Let’s take some time, right now, to recall why you are in your chosen business in the first place… whether you are a therapist, coach, consultant, or healer.

(pause for reflection)

I believe that we are all here on Earth for a purpose; we all have a mission to fulfill. Everything that happens to us is designed to teach us and help us discover what our purpose is.

If you are anything like me, you’ve been through one or more major life transitions and have come out the other side knowing that living a life of meaning, and building a purpose-driven business, is vital to feeling happy and fulfilled.

Running your business based on who you are and what your purpose is will enable you to confidently own your worth and attract abundance.

At the core of your heart and soul lies your deep-seated beliefs, value systems, philosophies and perspectives that follow you throughout life and make up the lens through which you see, feel and behave.

As Robin Fisher Roffer (brand strategist and author of Make a Name for Yourself) says, “the real movers and shakers in this world live their lives with conviction; they never hide who they are.”

You have the same potential to be a ‘mover and shaker’, you just need to open yourself up to be your authentic self and embrace the opportunity to courageously stand out from the pack to be seen and heard – in order to be your best self, attract your ideal clients and increase your level of influence in your field.

One of the ways you can achieve this is by telling your personal story and weaving your message into your marketing and communications.

Why is this important?

Because your story gives meaning to what you do for a living and how you live your life. Your story makes you a ‘real’ person that your audience can relate to. Your story will open up your prospect’s heart and build an emotional connection; it fosters credibility and builds trust. All of these things are crucial because: people buy from people they like, respect and trust AND people support others who share the same values and philosophies as them.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” – Maya Angelou

Here are some guidelines for writing your own personal story:

• Use emotive language to draw in the listener/reader
• Paint a picture in the mind of the listener to leave an imprint in their memory
• Don’t make it all about you – always relate it back to your audience
• Talk about the circumstances or the trigger point that kicked off your journey
• Describe the struggle – how you were feeling and what you were thinking during your low point
• Highlight your turning point – your ‘a-ha’ moment that changed everything
• Talk about what you did after that moment – the healing that took place, the outcomes and changes that followed
• Describe the motivation that you feel to do the work you’re doing today
• How has what you’ve been through relate to the people you feel the need to help – what is your mission all about?

Run your business based on who you are and what your purpose is to attract abundance.