The woman to my right, a walking miracle. The dude to my left, an ex-professional baseball player who looked like he was about to pass out. Me? A dude who likes to tell stories. Oh, and the instructor.
There were seven people at my table. Strangers at first, friends now. We spent eight hours a day this past Thursday and Friday in a room of 40 people or so. A hip room in The Virgin Hotel in Nashville. They want to be speakers. My job was to teach them how to speak.
Well.
A blond woman at my table figured out a way to reverse her mother’s dementia. She also worked out every day during lunch. A dude at my table was a leech farmer as a kid and now an ayahuasca guide on the side.
Another guy across from me was tall, smart as a whip, and a stair-stepping competitor. He graduated from all the fancy schools and has bought and sold companies for more money than any of us will see in our lifetimes. The last competition he entered was a set of 11,000 steps in Switzerland. Odd, I know.
One woman was supposed to be dead, per the doctors. She wasn’t. She also saved her husband and a few others. I asked her how much she sleeps and she told me from 1 am to 5 am usually. She owns a massive wellness brand and called her husband “My sweet husband”. At one point, as we were editing her keynote speech, an alarm went off on her phone. She immediately shut down and closed her eyes.
I sat there wondering wtf was happening.
She eventually opened her eyes and started back into the computer.
“What just happened?” I asked boldly.
“Oh, my gratitude alarm,” she replied looking at her phone and then focused back on her presentation.
One woman, to my left, killed a man. A story beyond stories.
Seven interesting people and me.
I believe storytelling is the greatest skill a human can master. The most important skill an entrepreneur needs to sell his vision and inspire his team. The most important skill an introvert needs to make friends. The most important skill the lonely guy needs to find the woman of his dreams. Believe me, I know.
The ability to tell stories and connect with others.
My dream has always been to travel the world and tell stories. The company I work for helps people tell their stories.
And so, as I look to my next book and new adventures, I think of the seven people at my table these past two days. Interesting people with interesting stories. People brave enough to overcome imposter syndrome and the fear of public speaking to try and tell their stories from stage. To try and inspire others. To teach us how to live.
They inspired me to dream bigger and lean into my authenticity. Into my story. Into the person I am, my uniqueness, and the story I need to tell.
You have stories inside you. Tell them.
Trey
Oh, good news! I figured out where I am going for my birthday. An interesting place with an interesting man who has an outrageous story. Fingers crossed I can find him.
PS. I am two Whisky drinks at the airport so please excuse any spelling errors. As if it’s the whisky to blame.
I look forward to reading your stories every week!! I love this one!! Can't wait to see where you are going for your birthday and what you have planned!! Happy Sunday to you!!❤️