Meet Kelly Swanson

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kelly Swanson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kelly below.

Kelly, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
The truth is, I still stuffer from it. That’s right. I’m an award-winning storyteller, inducted into the NSA Speakers Hall of Fame, with one theater show playing all over the country, and another one launching in October, and I still feel like an imposter in my own life.

The difference is that now I am aware of it. I recognize the difference in truth and feelings. And I have a quicker process for getting past it.

The secret to overcoming it was to completely rewrite my inner script – to change the narrative that runs through my head. To look at each self-sabotaging thought, analyze where it came from, determine its validity, replace it with the proper truth, and then take action on reprogramming my brain with that new truth until the old one becomes, hopefully, a distant memory. Then I wash/rinse/repeat the process.

I believe that there are always triggers in our world that bring up those emotions of feeling like an imposter – feeling not good enough for the job we have – wondering if we deserve the success that we have worked so hard for. Our brains can tell us that we deserve it, but often our hearts will tell a different story. And sometimes it’s not as easy to just “stop feeling that way.”

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am so excited that in my career I get to be the artist I have always wanted to be, and share my art with the world. AND I get to teach people how to tap into that same art to become master storytellers in their own world. This work of mine shows up in many ways:

1. Keynotes and Workshops: I have two delicious keynotes: Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale? Living a Story Driven Life. and The Story Driven Influencer: Where the art of story meets the business of persuasion. I love coming to company events and corporations to teach the power of story – whether it’s to change the inner script, or to use story to influence others.
2. Theater Shows: My Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale theater show is playing all over the country, and is a show of comedy and motivation that inspires you to take back the power in your life. The second show – Prides Hollow – is based on my small town and a challenge started by an old man and a coin that asked us all what would we do if we were brave. That second shows premieres in NC in October of 2024.
3. Story Impact Network and Academy: I have a wonderful community of people who love the power of story. I share my journey, teachings, and stories with them. We have a public (free) networking community, and inside of that there is an awesome private membership group called Story Impact Academy. In the Academy I have a wonderful course – The Persuasion Principle: Talk less. Sell More – and we do online meet ups every month where we are helping people tap into the power of their own story.
4. And coming SOON, I will be hosting a STORY SUMMIT in the Fall of 2024. An epic event in NC where people come learn about the many aspects of story. It will have different tracks, so you can pick the track you want!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
If I were to look back at myself when I first started this journey, I would give myself this advice:

1. I know you’re scared. I know you feel like you don’t belong here. But you do. You have a talent. You have a gift. The world will open up to you. Doors will open. You won’t have all the answers. And you will be scared. But take a deep breath and walk through that door anyway. Trust that you are being guided down the path to use your gifts.

2. Remember that this isn’t really about you – this is about them – the people you serve. Keep your eye on the bigger picture, and always look out at the people you serve, instead of in at yourself.

3. Stop looking around and comparing. It is a complete waste of time. We aren’t all in this one race, rushing to see who gets to the finish line first. It’s not one race. Life is a web. We intersect each other at times. But we are all on our own journey. When someone else gets something you want, it doesn’t make you less than. Stop looking around. Keep your head down and focused on your own path. Look forward not around or back. And don’t let your feelings drive your car. Emotions are a great check engine light, but don’t let the way you feel dictate the way you show up in the world. Always be in tune with what that little voice is whispering in your ear, and knowing how to separate the temporary feeling with the truth.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
Yes. This challenge is personal. The death of my father. This is the first great loss of my life, and it has caused me to stop and rethink everything. My purpose. How fleeting life is. What really matters at the end of the day. My challenge is that I see how short life really is, and I want to make sure I am dancing FULL OUT. So I am in a process of re-evaluating my life and work to-do list. In fact, I’ve pulled out a fresh new sheet of paper, and everything must audition its way back into my life. What will my relationships look like? Who will I let in? How will I cultivate relationships that REALLY matter at the end of the day. What is my legacy? What work do I want to be known for? What do I want to focus on that really uses my gifts and talents in a meaningful way. I am at that place in life where I no longer want to work hard, I want to work smart. No, I want to work with MEANING.

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