Have you ever found yourself in a highly volatile situation?
How did you respond when placed in such a scenario?
Sometimes we surprise ourselves with how well we handle conflicts.
I was walking out of Jackson Square in Hamilton and walked right into the lion’s den.
There was a group of protesters waving large signs emblazoned with pictures of baby fetuses.
Someone, who did not belong to the group, was about ready to get into a fight with one of the demonstrators, and I was standing right between them.
“It’s disgusting. I can’t believe these people are out here waving around this filth.”
I agreed with the irate woman and struck up a conversation with her.
I asked her a few questions, and then I shared a story with her.
Years ago, a teenage girl my wife knew had been raped.
Despite the struggle that lay ahead of her, the young girl decided that she wanted to keep the baby.
With the support and help from her family, she raised a sweet and caring son.
The mother and her now teenage son had developed such an amazing bond.
He brought such incredible joy to her life.
How much different would her life be if she had decided not to keep the baby?
How much different would her life be if she decided not to have the baby?
After sharing the story, the woman was visibly moved.
“I guess I never thought of it that way.”
Often, there will be those who try to use shock to get their point across.
Others will rely on statistics, hoping that those numbers will connect you to their cause.
The truth of the matter is that facts tell, but stories sell.
I was not part of the organization putting on the protest.
I was not a protester.
I was far from comfortable standing there in the middle of this conflict.
However, I was able to connect with one person that day in a real meaningful way.
I had a conversation and shared the story of someone’s real-life experience, and it gave that person a new perspective.
While a picture may be worth a thousand words, if there is no story we can connect it with, those thousand words lose all meaning.
We must be willing to have meaningful conversations with others.
Share stories that can have a positive impact on the lives of others.
You will never regret it.
My name is John, and I’m thrilled to introduce myself
I am a dedicated husband to my wonderful wife and a proud father of two amazing children. In addition, I am blessed to be a loving papa to four adorable grandchildren. These roles bring immense joy and fulfillment to my life.
Two titles i identify by, that tend to grab attention: Leadership Advocate and Storyteller. These two titles are closely intertwined and warrant further explanation.
To me, being a leader means being an effective communicator. I firmly believe that storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to convey a message and connect with others. A good leader possesses the ability to inspire and motivate through the art of storytelling.