by Lynn Sanders | Dec 19, 2024 | DMM Blog, Personal Development, Personal Stories
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!
To Your Success,
Lynn Sanders
by Lynn Sanders | Sep 16, 2024 | DMM Blog, Personal Stories
Every morning (well, almost every morning), I consciously choose to start my day with six spiritual practices that set the tone for a GREAT day.
These practices are referred to with the acronym of SAVERS. They continue making a difference for my inner state and how I approach life. And I’m not the only one. These guidelines were developed through the wisdom of Hal Elrod, internationally best-selling author, speaker, and founder of The Miracle Morning. Hal faced two different near death experiences, and the SAVERS kept him going strong on the inside.
The SAVERS represent::
- Silence
- Affirmations
- Visualization
- Exercise
- Reading
- Scribing
It’s incredible how much clarity and inspiration can emerge when we dedicate time to nurture our mindset. The SAVERS awaken me to making the most of each day, because I become more conscious of my values.
Often, we’re focused on the gaps in our lives—what we haven’t achieved, what didn’t go as planned. Those negative thoughts can easily take over, but the truth is… they don’t have to. When we know our values, and live in alignment with those values, then we can feel good about ourselves. Even when things don’t go as planned, we can turn to a positive affirmation… and shift our thinking into a positive state.
For instance, last week, I was facing technical issues a day before my book launch party. My new zoom subscription suddenly required a password, and no one had been told of that password. Meanwhile, several people were having difficulty in locating the zoom link on my Eventbrite page. My anxiety level started rising. In my mind, all kinds of negative thoughts were popping up.
But then — like sun breaking through the clouds, something good happened. Unexpected clarity and encouragement. And from an unexpected source…. my mom’s spirit on the Other Side. Yes, I know that may sound strange to some of you, but to me, it was a blessing.
You see, I awoke on the morning of the book launch with a forgotten poem that my mother used to post in our kitchen. I hadn’t thought of in decades, and yet it was suddenly in the forefront of my mind. While I didn’t remember every word, I did recall enough of the lines to do a quick Google search and find this classic poem by Walter Wintle.
Its words were exactly what I needed to hear. They reminded me that we create our own reality with our thoughts, and I was determined to make that book launch a positive and memorable experience. Written at the turn of the century, this message is forever relevant…
If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win but think you can’t,
It’s almost certain you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost.
For out in the world, we find,
Success begins with a fellow’s will—
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But soon or late, the one who wins
Is the one WHO THINKS HE CAN!
This poem gave me the boost I needed that day.
Our thoughts shape our destiny. And we get to choose those thoughts.
Sure enough, the book launch party was a success. It all began with one powerful thought: “I think I CAN!” For a peek at our festive gahtering, filled with uplifting, compelling stories, you can visit: https://bit.ly/BookPartyVideo
For those who’d like to empower youth, check out my new best-seller on Amazon: Adventures In Ecuador: Diary of a Volunteer. https://bit.ly/AdventuresBook
Here’s to your success,
Lynn
P.S. Get the 7 Keys To Build Your Business WIth Your Story at:
https://DifferenceMakersMedia.com
