this never changed I always wanted to be a Disney princess but here’s the deal
a Disney princess but here’s the deal
a Disney princess but here’s the deal I’m 5 foot 13 inches
I’m 5 foot 13 inches
I’m 5 foot 13 inches I was not anyone’s first choice to be
I was not anyone’s first choice to be
I was not anyone’s first choice to be Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty so I did
Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty so I did
Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty so I did the only reasonable thing a woman of my
the only reasonable thing a woman of my
the only reasonable thing a woman of my size could do on her quest for the crown
size could do on her quest for the crown
size could do on her quest for the crown I signed up for a beauty pageant now
I signed up for a beauty pageant now
I signed up for a beauty pageant now this was a mrs. pageant which means that
this was a mrs. pageant which means that
this was a mrs. pageant which means that the majority of contestants were about
the majority of contestants were about
the majority of contestants were about age 30 and above prepping for the
age 30 and above prepping for the
age 30 and above prepping for the contest which included a
contest which included a
contest which included a question-and-answer section which allows
question-and-answer section which allows
question-and-answer section which allows the contestants to tell the judges about
the contestants to tell the judges about
the contestants to tell the judges about themselves my pageant mentor asked me
themselves my pageant mentor asked me
themselves my pageant mentor asked me what do you think is the hardest part
what do you think is the hardest part
what do you think is the hardest part for contestants hmm I thought is that
for contestants hmm I thought is that
for contestants hmm I thought is that wearing that heavy ballgown no she said
wearing that heavy ballgown no she said
wearing that heavy ballgown no she said hmm
hmm
hmm it’s strutting the catwalk in high heels
it’s strutting the catwalk in high heels
it’s strutting the catwalk in high heels and not falling down no she said I got
and not falling down no she said I got
and not falling down no she said I got it
it
it it’s the swimsuit competition no she
it’s the swimsuit competition no she
it’s the swimsuit competition no she said exasperated its questions and
said exasperated its questions and
said exasperated its questions and answers the contestants struggle to tell
answers the contestants struggle to tell
answers the contestants struggle to tell their story if see many of the
their story if see many of the
their story if see many of the contestants can tell the judges about
contestants can tell the judges about
contestants can tell the judges about their spouse their children their
their spouse their children their
their spouse their children their children’s hobbies wishes desires and
children’s hobbies wishes desires and
children’s hobbies wishes desires and dreams but when it comes time for the
dreams but when it comes time for the
dreams but when it comes time for the question tell us about you that’s when
question tell us about you that’s when
question tell us about you that’s when many draw a blank
many draw a blank
many draw a blank the day of the pageant arrived and
the day of the pageant arrived and
the day of the pageant arrived and pretty soon it was my turn for questions
pretty soon it was my turn for questions
pretty soon it was my turn for questions and answers
and answers
and answers I felt really confident I got this I
I felt really confident I got this I
I felt really confident I got this I thought I’m ready for this
thought I’m ready for this
thought I’m ready for this but when I walked into the room and
but when I walked into the room and
but when I walked into the room and locked eyes with the judges some radical
locked eyes with the judges some radical
locked eyes with the judges some radical Mindwarp happened
Mindwarp happened
Mindwarp happened I wasn’t natural and conversational I
I wasn’t natural and conversational I
I wasn’t natural and conversational I was on autopilot I was a robot
was on autopilot I was a robot
was on autopilot I was a robot attempting to give the judges the kind
attempting to give the judges the kind
attempting to give the judges the kind of responses I thought they want to hear
of responses I thought they want to hear
of responses I thought they want to hear versus the honest answers hidden deep
versus the honest answers hidden deep
versus the honest answers hidden deep inside
inside
inside me I was at a loss for my own story I
me I was at a loss for my own story I
me I was at a loss for my own story I shared what was on the surface things
shared what was on the surface things
shared what was on the surface things like my current mood I’m feeling great
like my current mood I’m feeling great
like my current mood I’m feeling great and my thoughts how the pageant was
and my thoughts how the pageant was
and my thoughts how the pageant was going oh it’s going wonderfully I’m
going oh it’s going wonderfully I’m
going oh it’s going wonderfully I’m having a great time super great
having a great time super great
having a great time super great I didn’t dig deep that day I didn’t walk
I didn’t dig deep that day I didn’t walk
I didn’t dig deep that day I didn’t walk away with a title and a trophy opted
away with a title and a trophy opted
away with a title and a trophy opted away with something else BEC death the
away with something else BEC death the
away with something else BEC death the mrs. pageant was a breakthrough moment
mrs. pageant was a breakthrough moment
mrs. pageant was a breakthrough moment for me
for me
for me you see personal stories are critical to
you see personal stories are critical to
you see personal stories are critical to the human connection because they allow
the human connection because they allow
the human connection because they allow us to understand each other more fully
us to understand each other more fully
us to understand each other more fully by sharing our personal story that is
by sharing our personal story that is
by sharing our personal story that is telling people who we really are we’re
telling people who we really are we’re
telling people who we really are we’re able to build relationships make
able to build relationships make
able to build relationships make connections storytelling can even help
connections storytelling can even help
connections storytelling can even help you leave a legacy in fact research
you leave a legacy in fact research
you leave a legacy in fact research shows that storytelling activates
shows that storytelling activates
shows that storytelling activates certain parts of the brain that allow a
certain parts of the brain that allow a
certain parts of the brain that allow a listener to transform that story into
listener to transform that story into
listener to transform that story into their own ideas and experiences a
their own ideas and experiences a
their own ideas and experiences a surefire way to get someone’s support
surefire way to get someone’s support
surefire way to get someone’s support but that begs the question what makes a
but that begs the question what makes a
but that begs the question what makes a great story that question gets a lot of
great story that question gets a lot of
great story that question gets a lot of buzz in the business world it seems like
buzz in the business world it seems like
buzz in the business world it seems like everyone today is trying to crack the
everyone today is trying to crack the
everyone today is trying to crack the code the chatter consists of things like
code the chatter consists of things like
code the chatter consists of things like we have to be better storytellers find
we have to be better storytellers find
we have to be better storytellers find the untold stories share the untold
the untold stories share the untold
the untold stories share the untold stories be bold be unique to which I say
stories be bold be unique to which I say
stories be bold be unique to which I say no no
no no
no no the difference here is a matter of
the difference here is a matter of
the difference here is a matter of thought it’s rational versus emotional
thought it’s rational versus emotional
thought it’s rational versus emotional you see people don’t want to be told
you see people don’t want to be told
you see people don’t want to be told what to think and do they want to be
what to think and do they want to be
what to think and do they want to be engaged to think feel and do and based
engaged to think feel and do and based
engaged to think feel and do and based on my observations storytelling can help
on my observations storytelling can help
on my observations storytelling can help with that but it has to be told the
with that but it has to be told the
with that but it has to be told the right way it has to be
right way it has to be
right way it has to be emotionally honest in addition to being
emotionally honest in addition to being
emotionally honest in addition to being a beauty pageant contestant I’m also a
a beauty pageant contestant I’m also a
a beauty pageant contestant I’m also a former television news reporter
former television news reporter
former television news reporter ironically during my time in TV news I
ironically during my time in TV news I
ironically during my time in TV news I learned a lot about the beauty of
learned a lot about the beauty of
learned a lot about the beauty of storytelling you see stories don’t need
storytelling you see stories don’t need
storytelling you see stories don’t need to be dramatic to be successful you
to be dramatic to be successful you
to be dramatic to be successful you don’t need to be a famous rock star
don’t need to be a famous rock star
don’t need to be a famous rock star actress or entrepreneur to get people’s
actress or entrepreneur to get people’s
actress or entrepreneur to get people’s attention you need to be honest you need
attention you need to be honest you need
attention you need to be honest you need to be real these qualities spark
to be real these qualities spark
to be real these qualities spark engagement on slow news days when the
engagement on slow news days when the
engagement on slow news days when the police scanner was silent and there were
police scanner was silent and there were
police scanner was silent and there were no special events happening in the city
no special events happening in the city
no special events happening in the city I donned my reporter cap and went out
I donned my reporter cap and went out
I donned my reporter cap and went out and did something that’s becoming
and did something that’s becoming
and did something that’s becoming increasingly rare in a world filled with
increasingly rare in a world filled with
increasingly rare in a world filled with technology Facebook and snapchat I went
technology Facebook and snapchat I went
technology Facebook and snapchat I went out and I talked to people right now
out and I talked to people right now
out and I talked to people right now most times when you ask someone how
most times when you ask someone how
most times when you ask someone how they’re doing the response is fine or
they’re doing the response is fine or
they’re doing the response is fine or I’m good it’s something I call dry toast
I’m good it’s something I call dry toast
I’m good it’s something I call dry toast and just like the beauty pageant a lot
and just like the beauty pageant a lot
and just like the beauty pageant a lot of times when you ask someone to tell
of times when you ask someone to tell
of times when you ask someone to tell you about themselves they’re not sure
you about themselves they’re not sure
you about themselves they’re not sure where to begin or what to say but if you
where to begin or what to say but if you
where to begin or what to say but if you ask the right questions and listen
ask the right questions and listen
ask the right questions and listen that’s when the magic happens no more
that’s when the magic happens no more
that’s when the magic happens no more dry toast just bread and butter so what
dry toast just bread and butter so what
dry toast just bread and butter so what my best stories profiled people living
my best stories profiled people living
my best stories profiled people living their daily life Ashley the woman who
their daily life Ashley the woman who
their daily life Ashley the woman who knit scarves for cancer patients Eugene
knit scarves for cancer patients Eugene
knit scarves for cancer patients Eugene the homeless man who lived under the
the homeless man who lived under the
the homeless man who lived under the highway Daniel the 11 year old piano
highway Daniel the 11 year old piano
highway Daniel the 11 year old piano prodigy who learned the craft from his
prodigy who learned the craft from his
prodigy who learned the craft from his father Steve all of these people are
father Steve all of these people are
father Steve all of these people are fascinating they come from different
fascinating they come from different
fascinating they come from different walks of life and share different
walks of life and share different
walks of life and share different perspectives and yet there’s something
perspectives and yet there’s something
perspectives and yet there’s something about all of their stories that we can
about all of their stories that we can
about all of their stories that we can relate to because we’re human
relate to because we’re human
relate to because we’re human you might not think you have a story to
you might not think you have a story to
you might not think you have a story to tell but newsflash you do and it’s that
tell but newsflash you do and it’s that
tell but newsflash you do and it’s that story that personal experience living
story that personal experience living
story that personal experience living inside of you that someone else needs to
inside of you that someone else needs to
inside of you that someone else needs to hear the other day I was at the grocery
hear the other day I was at the grocery
hear the other day I was at the grocery store 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon but a
store 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon but a
store 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon but a time I got to check out the line was so
time I got to check out the line was so
time I got to check out the line was so long it stretched past the candy and gum
long it stretched past the candy and gum
long it stretched past the candy and gum racks past the national Enquirer’s and
racks past the national Enquirer’s and
racks past the national Enquirer’s and ended at the last chance DVD bin now me
ended at the last chance DVD bin now me
ended at the last chance DVD bin now me being 5 foot 13 that’s 6 foot 1 by the
being 5 foot 13 that’s 6 foot 1 by the
being 5 foot 13 that’s 6 foot 1 by the way 5:13 I’m able to look over people’s
way 5:13 I’m able to look over people’s
way 5:13 I’m able to look over people’s heads and I caught sight of the cashier
heads and I caught sight of the cashier
heads and I caught sight of the cashier I could tell she was tired but she was
I could tell she was tired but she was
I could tell she was tired but she was doing her very best to deliver a
doing her very best to deliver a
doing her very best to deliver a positive guest experience to everyone
positive guest experience to everyone
positive guest experience to everyone she interacted with by the time I got to
she interacted with by the time I got to
she interacted with by the time I got to the front of the line I caught sight of
the front of the line I caught sight of
the front of the line I caught sight of her nametag Cassidy and I asked her
her nametag Cassidy and I asked her
her nametag Cassidy and I asked her Cassidy how are you doing today she
Cassidy how are you doing today she
Cassidy how are you doing today she looked at me and said fine that’s when I
looked at me and said fine that’s when I
looked at me and said fine that’s when I looked at the line of shopping carts
looked at the line of shopping carts
looked at the line of shopping carts behind me really she laughed and said
behind me really she laughed and said
behind me really she laughed and said well to tell you the truth I’m counting
well to tell you the truth I’m counting
well to tell you the truth I’m counting down the minutes to like it out of here
down the minutes to like it out of here
down the minutes to like it out of here you see I’m a freshman in college and
you see I’m a freshman in college and
you see I’m a freshman in college and I’m studying to be an accountant and I
I’m studying to be an accountant and I
I’m studying to be an accountant and I want to get home and finish my school
want to get home and finish my school
want to get home and finish my school work well we got to talking a little bit
work well we got to talking a little bit
work well we got to talking a little bit more and I could tell Cassidy was really
more and I could tell Cassidy was really
more and I could tell Cassidy was really good with numbers
good with numbers
good with numbers especially after witnessing her price
especially after witnessing her price
especially after witnessing her price check on my half pound of strawberries
check on my half pound of strawberries
check on my half pound of strawberries ok gummi bears before moving down to
ok gummi bears before moving down to
ok gummi bears before moving down to school to go to college
school to go to college
school to go to college Cassidy worked at a donut shop in
Cassidy worked at a donut shop in
Cassidy worked at a donut shop in downtown Chicago and every day at 8 a.m.
downtown Chicago and every day at 8 a.m.
downtown Chicago and every day at 8 a.m. a woman would come in and order the same
a woman would come in and order the same
a woman would come in and order the same thing a medium coffee with cream never a
thing a medium coffee with cream never a
thing a medium coffee with cream never a donut never a bagel but just a medium
donut never a bagel but just a medium
donut never a bagel but just a medium coffee with cream and it was like
coffee with cream and it was like
coffee with cream and it was like clockwork clock hits 8 a.m. in walks the
clockwork clock hits 8 a.m. in walks the
clockwork clock hits 8 a.m. in walks the woman each day medium coffee with cream
woman each day medium coffee with cream
woman each day medium coffee with cream well the days go by and finally the end
well the days go by and finally the end
well the days go by and finally the end of summer rolls around clock strikes
of summer rolls around clock strikes
of summer rolls around clock strikes eight a.m. in walks the woman medium
eight a.m. in walks the woman medium
eight a.m. in walks the woman medium coffee with cream
coffee with cream
coffee with cream cassadee hands her the beverage and says
cassadee hands her the beverage and says
cassadee hands her the beverage and says it’s been a pleasure serving you but
it’s been a pleasure serving you but
it’s been a pleasure serving you but today is my last day and the woman said
today is my last day and the woman said
today is my last day and the woman said oh no I’m so sorry to hear this I’ve
oh no I’m so sorry to hear this I’ve
oh no I’m so sorry to hear this I’ve always enjoyed being helped by you where
always enjoyed being helped by you where
always enjoyed being helped by you where are you going
are you going
are you going Cassidy said well I’m going to college
Cassidy said well I’m going to college
Cassidy said well I’m going to college I’m going to study to be an accountant
I’m going to study to be an accountant
I’m going to study to be an accountant the woman opens her purse and pulls out
the woman opens her purse and pulls out
the woman opens her purse and pulls out a business card she hands it to Cassidy
a business card she hands it to Cassidy
a business card she hands it to Cassidy and says well it just so happens I work
and says well it just so happens I work
and says well it just so happens I work for an accounting firm in downtown
for an accounting firm in downtown
for an accounting firm in downtown Chicago you study hard in school and
Chicago you study hard in school and
Chicago you study hard in school and give me a call we’re always looking for
give me a call we’re always looking for
give me a call we’re always looking for top talent now even in the grocery store
top talent now even in the grocery store
top talent now even in the grocery store after a long work day you could see the
after a long work day you could see the
after a long work day you could see the hope in Cassidy’s eyes you could tell
hope in Cassidy’s eyes you could tell
hope in Cassidy’s eyes you could tell that this 18 year old was bound and
that this 18 year old was bound and
that this 18 year old was bound and determined to achieve her dream and by
determined to achieve her dream and by
determined to achieve her dream and by sharing her story with this woman this
sharing her story with this woman this
sharing her story with this woman this business woman in the don’t chop Cassidy
business woman in the don’t chop Cassidy
business woman in the don’t chop Cassidy opened a door for herself she created a
opened a door for herself she created a
opened a door for herself she created a connection
connection
connection I left the grocery store that day but
I left the grocery store that day but
I left the grocery store that day but this story did not leave me because it
this story did not leave me because it
this story did not leave me because it speaks volumes about the storytelling
speaks volumes about the storytelling
speaks volumes about the storytelling magic that happens when we listen ask
magic that happens when we listen ask
magic that happens when we listen ask questions and speak honestly your next
questions and speak honestly your next
questions and speak honestly your next opportunity could be right around the
opportunity could be right around the
opportunity could be right around the corner but it’s up to you to think about
corner but it’s up to you to think about
corner but it’s up to you to think about your life and the kinds of stories you
your life and the kinds of stories you
your life and the kinds of stories you want to tell to help with this process
want to tell to help with this process
want to tell to help with this process I’d like you to ask yourself a few
I’d like you to ask yourself a few
I’d like you to ask yourself a few questions first what brings me joy next
questions first what brings me joy next
questions first what brings me joy next what was a difficult time in my life and
what was a difficult time in my life and
what was a difficult time in my life and what did I learn
what did I learn
what did I learn and finally what do I want my
and finally what do I want my
and finally what do I want my grandchildren real or hypothetical to
grandchildren real or hypothetical to
grandchildren real or hypothetical to know about me take time to consider
know about me take time to consider
know about me take time to consider these questions in the quiet moments of
these questions in the quiet moments of
these questions in the quiet moments of your life knowing your story will help
your life knowing your story will help
your life knowing your story will help guide you sharing it can help guide
guide you sharing it can help guide
guide you sharing it can help guide others when I think about these
others when I think about these
others when I think about these questions I know that people bring me
questions I know that people bring me
questions I know that people bring me joy I’m always going somewhere doing
joy I’m always going somewhere doing
joy I’m always going somewhere doing something trying something new and it’s
something trying something new and it’s
something trying something new and it’s because I find people so intriguing I
because I find people so intriguing I
because I find people so intriguing I love meeting them they bring me joy and
love meeting them they bring me joy and
love meeting them they bring me joy and when I think about a difficult time in
when I think about a difficult time in
when I think about a difficult time in my life for me it was figuring out what
my life for me it was figuring out what
my life for me it was figuring out what to do with it I graduated college in the
to do with it I graduated college in the
to do with it I graduated college in the time of the recession and who went
time of the recession and who went
time of the recession and who went through job after job after job
through job after job after job
through job after job after job searching for opportunities trying to
searching for opportunities trying to
searching for opportunities trying to find myself going to different theatre
find myself going to different theatre
find myself going to different theatre auditions until I finally paved my way
auditions until I finally paved my way
auditions until I finally paved my way into a communications career and when I
into a communications career and when I
into a communications career and when I think about all of those struggles now I
think about all of those struggles now I
think about all of those struggles now I know that they built character they made
know that they built character they made
know that they built character they made me stronger all of us have a unique
me stronger all of us have a unique
me stronger all of us have a unique story to tell but it’s up to us to
story to tell but it’s up to us to
story to tell but it’s up to us to persevere to fill the pages of our own
persevere to fill the pages of our own
persevere to fill the pages of our own story book and not anyone else’s I think
story book and not anyone else’s I think
story book and not anyone else’s I think back to the beauty pageant you know I
back to the beauty pageant you know I
back to the beauty pageant you know I wasn’t quite sure how to express my
wasn’t quite sure how to express my
wasn’t quite sure how to express my story at that time but since then I’ve
story at that time but since then I’ve
story at that time but since then I’ve to pause and reflect and to think about
to pause and reflect and to think about
to pause and reflect and to think about the kinds of stories I want to be
the kinds of stories I want to be
the kinds of stories I want to be telling others I want you to do the
telling others I want you to do the
telling others I want you to do the thing I want you to have those
thing I want you to have those
thing I want you to have those breakthrough moments that allow you to
breakthrough moments that allow you to
breakthrough moments that allow you to create connections build relationships
create connections build relationships
create connections build relationships or leave a lasting legacy a little girl
or leave a lasting legacy a little girl
or leave a lasting legacy a little girl was in the bookstore with her mother
was in the bookstore with her mother
was in the bookstore with her mother when she spotted a book about
when she spotted a book about
when she spotted a book about agriculture mommy can I get this one
agriculture mommy can I get this one
agriculture mommy can I get this one her mother smiled and said agriculture
her mother smiled and said agriculture
her mother smiled and said agriculture but I thought you wanted a
but I thought you wanted a
but I thought you wanted a about baking instead no I want this one
about baking instead no I want this one
about baking instead no I want this one because it reminds me of grandpa and the
because it reminds me of grandpa and the
because it reminds me of grandpa and the stories he told me about growing up on
stories he told me about growing up on
stories he told me about growing up on the farm
news flash your stories are beautiful
news flash your stories are beautiful gifts gifts that can last a lifetime
gifts gifts that can last a lifetime
gifts gifts that can last a lifetime share them generously with others Thanks
”
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