Have you ever watched someone tell a really good story? You're engaged, gripped from the start, cautiously waiting, brimming with expectation of what's next. And, then you look down, shoulders fold in because you wish you could tell a story like them, but you can't…

My daughter thinks life is a series of rocks to elegantly and gleefully skip across as she navigates her own river of life. She has no idea that those rocks will become harder to find, harder to get to, slippery AF, and she'll fall off and bang her shins, break wrists and ankles, and maybe more.

Even in the midst of the chaos, lessons seemed to be stirring. Here's what I know, 5 days post-op…

Most people don't. It feels narcissistic, like they're placing a strobing spotlight on their ego, obviously desperate for external validation. But then I'm here telling you, “Your story matters! Share it!" Confused? I get it. Read on to learn more.

FOPO— not sure what it is? Oh, you do, trust me. Fear of Other People’s opinions. Not that it has a name, are you nodding with how familiar you are with this ghastly feeling? If so, read on.

In an age of Marie Kondo, essentialism, minimalism and rock-hard habits being today's gold medal cocktail, complexity doesn't jive. In fact, it's straight-up counter culture, it's harder, messier, stickier, more…complicated. Aren't we all supposed to agree we're aiming for simplicity?

I'm told I shouldn't care about what other people think. That it's a right of passage in your 40s to be liberated from other people's judgments of me. And I'm here to call bullsh**.

Do you know what’s flawed? You. And every single person around you. It's what makes you, you. It's what makes them, them.

Identities. They shift over time in lockstep with the accrual of struggle, maturity, exposure, reality, practice, participation, and observations.

Authenticity—that's the question that's been plaguing me lately: what is “authenticity,” and what the hell am I supposed to think about it?

You might get close to impacting people with your story if you “hit the mark” and check the box of what you're supposed to do to get by. But telling the truth, in a strategic way, that's when you provide value that changes people's lives.

Leaders and athletes are often afraid of sharing your story for fear of coming across egotistical or shamelessly self-promoting. It's a real concern for anyone wanting to leverage their experience, and their story, for growth. Learning to build trust, rapport, and creating a boomerang effect keeps your audience coming back for more because they know you’re going to share something of value.

What is authenticity? And what am I supposed to do with it? Here are key tips on how to leverage authenticity to position yourself as a thought leader.

It can feel intimidating to dig beneath the surface like you might just offend someone with your honesty. Yet without it, without the editing and impressing that Brene Brown talks about, you risk losing a felt connection with your audience. That connection is what builds influence and impact, trust and rapport.

Identities are complicated. They're both how you define yourself, but also connect with or distinguish yourself from others. But they can be tricky to figure out because they can get confused with values, they can shift and change, and they can make you feel out of control if not handled with care and intention. Here are 3 rules of identities to pay attention to as you craft who you were, who you are, and who you want to become.

What does it mean to be an "inspiration" to others as an athlete?

Life’s lessons, though often uncloaked during times of turmoil, are what make you, you. They are what frame your perspective, influence your decisions, and help you avoid hitting that same brick wall again and again. Can you package these up, tie them to a clear message, and share with people you're looking to impact? Because if you do, you will you start to turn heads. Promise.

4 rules to help increase your odds of success when trying to shift someone’s perspective so you can sell more, create deeper connections, and have a greater impact on your audience.

Your story, my friend, is part of your perceived value as a person, as a brand, and as a company. But how can you use your story to increase your perceived value? How can you use your journey that got you here to persuade people to think you are better than your competition? Here are 3 ways that a well-crafted story can elevate you and your brand’s perceived value.

Guilty until proven innocent. That’s sort of what it feels like when you’re creating a new company, business, product or service—you sort of have to prove yourself to people before they buy in. How do you do that? You have to architect a story for people to believe in. To do that, you have to understand these three fundamental things.