Have you ever had a moment where life stopped you in your tracks and whispered, “This is it. It’s time”?
For me, that moment came like a thunderbolt — the day my mom passed away suddenly from a heart attack at the age of 73.
She was vibrant. A loving, kind, compassionate soul. My dearest friend, filled with wisdom and dreams of her own.
And just like that… she was gone.
In the days and weeks that followed, grief washed over me like waves. But beneath the sorrow was something deeper, something louder — a calling.
It was the realization that our time on earth is limited. That tomorrow is never promised. That the dreams placed on our hearts aren’t there by accident — they are whispers from the Divine, meant to be followed now, not someday.
In trying to make sense of it all, I found the book, Infinite Possibilities by Mike Dooley.
Or maybe it found me.
Dooley’s words have been like oxygen to my soul. He writes, “Thoughts become things. Choose the good ones.”
He reminds us that we are not passive observers in life — we are powerful creators. Dream-weavers. Possibility-makers.
And what we dare to envision, we are equally capable of achieving — if only we’ll believe.
Reading it was like having a conversation with the version of myself that had always known this truth deep down. The version who had put dreams on the back burner while life kept calling for responsibility, duty, and practicality. But after losing my mom, I couldn’t ignore the urgency any longer.
I began to ask:
What dream have I buried under the “somedays”?
What story have I been waiting to write, speak, live?
What legacy do I want to leave behind?
And so, I started to say yes — to bold ideas, divine nudges, and scary, beautiful leaps.
I stepped fully into my calling as a storyteller, coach, and difference maker.
I started writing books for children that spark compassion and courage.
I began helping other purpose-driven leaders share their stories with impact and authenticity.
I no longer waited for “the right time.” I made the time.
Because this is the art of living your dreams: It’s knowing that dreams don’t come with expiration dates, but we do. It’s choosing to act, even when the path isn’t clear. It’s trusting that the universe rearranges itself around the boldness of a dream pursued.
My mom’s passing broke my heart wide open — but in that open space, light rushed in.
A deeper truth. A deeper purpose. And an unwavering commitment to not just dream, but to live those dreams out loud.
If you’re reading this and you’ve been waiting — for the perfect time, the perfect plan, the perfect courage — let this be your moment.
Your wake-up call. Your invitation.
You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to believe that it’s possible.
As Mike Dooley says, “Your dreams are not here to tease you. They are here to show you what’s possible for you.”
So go ahead. Dream wildly. Live boldly. And write your masterpiece — one inspired word at a time.
My dad read bedtime stories. My mom recited poetry around the house. And I’d love to read stories of real heroes.
As I soon realized, every great movement, every powerful mission, and every life-changing initiative begins with a story.
But are you telling yours in a way that captivates, inspires, and compels action?
If you’re a cause-focused leader, nonprofit professional, or changemaker, your story is your most valuable asset. It’s the key to building trust, attracting supporters, and driving real impact.
After over 30 years as a professional storyteller — attracting results through a 6-figure donation, doubling memberships and increasing followers significantly, online, I recognize that more of us need to learn how to become effective storytellers to achieve results.
That’s why I invite you to join me for my upcoming webinar:
Transforming Purpose into Prosperity: Mastering The Power of Storytelling
In this free session, you’ll discover: The essential elements of a compelling nonprofit story How to emotionally connect with your audience and inspire action Proven strategies to use storytelling for fundraising and advocacy The power of AI-driven storytelling to amplify your reach
Your mission deserves to be heard, remembered, and supported. Let’s make that happen together.
The start of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on your story.
What story do you tell about yourself, your business, or your cause? Is it clear? Is it compelling? Does it truly represent your mission and vision for the year ahead?
How do we unlock the power of a new year? I recommend doing that by stepping outside your comfort zone. You can choose to launch yourself into a new reality by working on your inner story first. Each day, I recommend taking early morning time to do some spiritual practice — meditate, visualize, journal…
To boost your inner strength, I’ve made a commitment to serve more difference makers this year. I’m planning to start a “Storytelling for Nonprofits” group coaching group in the next few weeks. It will serve as a guide and mastermind group to raise awareness, support and money. If that’s something you’re interested in, let me know.
For the next 30 days, I’m also launching a “Story Tips” challenge. Want to join me? It’s free. I’ll be sharing a quick 1-2 minute video tip on building your business through stories. You can choose to share a tip from your business, and then post it in the Facebook group too.
Authentic storytelling is not just something that comes from Artificial Intelligence. It comes from your heart and soul. It’s true to just YOU. Of course, artificial intelligences is terrific as an assistant and springboard for your work. But people also want to hear your inner stories.
And only YOU know all your stories and the lessons you learned from them.. waiting to be explored and shared with others.
To begin, I’d like to share one of my earliest memories that reinforced my joy of storytelling.
I’ve been immersed in the world of storytelling for as long as I can remember. My parents read stories to me constantly, and visiting the Chicago public library was always a treat. I loved writing poetry because it was a fast way to capture a moment, a feeling, an idea. Since I didn’t have paper handy most of the time, I’d scribble poems on paper napkins. When I was about 7 years old, I eventually got a small notebook, which became my poetry journal.
One of my early poems was called, “The Wonderball,” and I was so proud of it! My dad thought it was so good that it made me feel like a million dollars. It was a fantasy poem about seeing into the future with a magician’s ball. Now, many years later, I still love sharing stories in both my personal and business life.
Your Next Step for 2025?
Consider the story behind your “why.” Why do you do what YOU do?
Take time this January to revisit and refine your “why.”
It’s the foundation of a powerful story, and it will guide your goals for the year ahead.
As the year winds down, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on how far you’ve come.
What worked in 2024? What could have been better?
This was our year of traveling across the country — from Illinois to California — to be in a place where my husband Joel always wanted to live. He had always dreamed of living in California, and now we’re renting a home and “trying it out…” We’ve had ups and downs, but I don’t regret one minute.
It has been wonderful to experience a new place… and venture forth into a dream.
You deserve to take steps toward achieving your dreams too.
Take time during this holiday week to assess your journey. Doing that not only honors your efforts but also shines a light on the path ahead.
As you envision a bright 2025, remember — grow your business with your stories.
Your stories are uniquely yours. They set you apart in a world full of choices.
Sharing your story authentically can connect you to your ideal audience, build trust, and inspire action.
Here are my tips as you reflect on the past and step forward into 2025.
Celebrate Wins and Lessons Learned:Take stock of your biggest achievements and challenges in 2024. What stories shaped your year?
Whether you overcame obstacles or achieved milestones, these experiences are the foundation of your brand’s narrative.
Identify Your Audience’s Needs:Consider your ideal audience.
What resonated with them this year? Were there untold parts of your story that could better align with their values or inspire them?
Set Story-Driven Goals: For 2025, plan ways to weave storytelling into your strategy.
Create content that highlights your mission, showcases client transformations, and emphasizes the difference your business makes.
Amplify Your Reach: Use storytelling across platforms.
Write a blog, host video interviews, or engage on social media to share authentic, relatable moments that connect with your audience.
I have some surprises coming up for you in the new year ahead… so stay tuned!
Until then… Have a happy, healthy holiday season…. and know this — I BELIEVE IN YOU!
NOTE: Years ago, I got to hear the late poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou speak at an event. What a “WOW” experience! Her personal stories were riveting. The crowd hung on every word. You could hear a pin drop.
Did you know that Maya Angelou stopped speaking at age eight? She had been molested by her mother’s boyfriend. When Maya spoke up in court, that boyfriend went to prison. He was killed shortly after his release. Maya thought her voice had killed him, and she became afraid to speak. It took almost five years to eventually heal. Maya shared her story in the book, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Ultimately, her voice became one of the most important voices in American literature.
Maya said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
As you take time now to reflect and embrace your story, you’re setting the stage for your own future growth. I’m happy to serve as your guide.
Let 2025 be the year when you bring YOUR story to life!
As we take the time to reflect on being grateful, I invite you to pause and reflect on being thankful for what you have.
The people you love. The trees and animals surrounding you. The food on your table. Whatever brings you joy.
As a gift to you, I’d like to share the meaningful wisdom of my late friend, Roland Takaoka, who passed away on August 23, 2018 from a fourth stroke.
Our friendship happened instantly — through the computer. Roland contacted me after he happened to watch my interview with a disabled speaker. Our first conversation must have been about two hours. We enjoyed immediate chemistry! I found an amazing soul, and even though he lived in California and I was in Illinois, we knew we’d be in touch all the time.
Roland became my technical wizard, the “Wingman” for my online interviews” and my website designer. He did so much for so many. In fact, he led three of his own online programs to educate, inspire and uplift others.
Roland was ALWAYS smiling! Always positive. No one would know that he sat in a wheelchair, totally paralyzed on his right side.
When he happened to share his manuscript about his experiences in the hospital and rehab institute, I saved it on my computer. I never thought to ask him about publishing it. I figured he’d just do it on his own. But he never did. His stories of transformation after his third stroke were so compelling.
I was completely shocked when I got the news of his fourth stroke. This time, he was in serious condition. His wife called me, and I immediately starting contacting his friends and followers online. I said, “Let’s do a Get Well Roland program!” Using Google Hangouts on Air (no longer around), I knew we could get about six people on the screen at the same time.
I wanted everyone to say positive thoughts and prayers towards him. If we all do that, I thought… perhaps we can help him heal. But this time — it didn’t happen.
He passed away three days later. I was devastated. How could that happen? Roland had promised me that we’d stick together. How could I honor his spirit?
I KNEW i had to publish his story. It wasn’t even a question. His book contained so much humor, joy and fun… along with his story of transformation after that third stroke.
So I embarked on raising funds to cover the costs. So many people helped support this project. “Roland’s Story: Inspired By A Stroke” is his beautiful memoir, with a forward from me and the closing from an interview with Roland’s wife, Barbara.
Even though time has passed since I created the crowdfunding video, this 4-minute piece truly captures Roland’s spirit. In gratitude to his forever friendship, I’d like to share it with you… along with his special message of, “You can make anything happen.” (Taken from a longer interview that we did together…)
To experience more of Roland’s uplifting energy, here’s our interview:
Last but not least, if you’d like to get Roland’s special memoir, go to Amazon: https://bit.ly/RolandsLink
If you’ve already read his book, and can post a review, I’d be most grateful. Here’s to each of you… with Roland’s message: “EXPAND IN JOY!”
With love & gratitude,
Lynn Sanders
P.S. For those who’d like to learn more about growing your business through your stories, you can schedule a complimentary strategy chat at: https://calendly.com/LynnSanders
For the month of December, I’ll be offering rates of 50% off in story consulting. Learn more about my services at: https://DifferenceMakersMedia.com
Transforming Purpose into Prosperity: Mastering The Power of Storytelling
[Date & Time]
Register now: 
The essential elements of a compelling nonprofit story
