According to Carmine Gallo, bestselling author of ‘Talk Like TED’ the holy grail of storytelling involves a neat little package with a beginning, a middle, and an end, sprinkled with a healthy dose of adversity for our protagonist to conquer. He's all about showcasing those rags-to-riches narratives, where the heroes like Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates rise from the ashes of struggle to bask in the glory of success. 'Richard Branson had dyslexia, Steve Jobs was adopted, Mark Cubans father was an automobile upholsterer'...excuse me while I roll my eyes.
Richard Branson's dad was a barrister, his mum a former ballet dancer and then flight attendant. Steve Jobs was adopted by his two devoted parents who loved him and worked hard to pay for his college tuition, and Mark Cuban's hardworking father taught him valuable life lessons about the value of a dollar.
I couldn't connect with Gallo's one-size-fits-all formula. Maybe because my upbringing was a far cry from the standard over spun tale of woe. Sure, Dad worked hard and alot, my mother also had a full time career taking care of people with disabilities, but they took a long summer break and still managed to squeeze in some epic family road and camping trips. My folks were the real MVPs, showing me what genuine love and acceptance looked like.
I know I’m lucky.
While Gallo's out here preaching about using your 'overcoming adversity' story like it's some kind of secret sauce for success, he conveniently forgets the stories about the unsung heroes chopping wood for the fire while the main character basks in its light. I realised it was them i wanted to hear about. What about the supportive partners, the cheerleading siblings, the assistant at a company who takes the load off, and quietly fixes mistakes and catches the almost dropped balls, the trusted confidants who prop us up when life throws us a curveball? Not a peep from Mr. Gallo on that front.
I've faced my fair share of challenges. It took me decades to even whisper about the storms I weathered. These aren't the kind of tales you slap a marketing spin on to sell a product. Nope, these are the raw, unfiltered trauma that has shaped me into who I am.
And long ago I thought my job was as a cheerleader for a now ex-husband and others, believing in them, on the road to their success. Being this traditional is not in my DNA and I knew in my heart my own fire had gone out. Surviving through trauma meant I could only fight one battle at a time.
Fast forward a few years and I have found a partner who believes in me as much as I believe in him. It's a game-changer, suddenly, I'm not just battling my demons solo, or cheering myself on; I've got someone in my corner through every twist and turn.
I've got more ideas than I know what to do with. But now, with someone else's faith fueling my already burning fire, I'm unstoppable. I used to beat myself up over unfinished projects, but not anymore. I've learned that success isn't a solitary journey—it's a team sport.
So, what's my story? It's not a solo act, that's for damn sure. It's about having people who see me for exactly who I am and love me all the more for it. Someone who picks me up when I've had a clanker of a day, and someone who sees my passion and excitement when I win and celebrates with me. And no storyteller can spin a tale as wild as that.
The Indescribably Good Soap Company had humble beginnings, and way before a soap company was even thought about there was epic failure and a mega amount of learning - You can find that story in 'What If?'