There, he said it, perfect.

In a zoom chat with Will Ferry, a client and then friend, whom I had lost touch with for a few months, after our couple of years of monthly scheduled chats, he filled me in on his newest self-redesign and career pivot.

A coach.

And he would be a good one. He leaned into his calling. Bravo.

We compared our observations on how so many successful people will not give themselves permission to talk about themselves, and in so doing be vulnerable, tell their career story, and craft “words congruent with their actions.”

I wonder why all the time.

As I commented on another colleague’s post last week, he reminded us it’s not just “tell” the story, but “relate” the story: so we too can relate to it, emotionally and cerebrally, and appreciate the context, so it stands out as a memory marker.

How well do you relate your story on LinkedIn? Is it congruent with your accomplishments against adversity (not enough time under the deadline, not enough money in the budget, and/or other challenges that seem to make it impossible), but you succeeded anyway? Revel in your success and tell us, please?

Well, just don’t lay down factoids; go beyond reporting the facts.

Yes, relate to us how vulnerable you were to the elements that wanted to torpedo your ship, but you kept sailing, charting new waters, arriving at your destination early or under the budgeted funding allocated to it, against tidal waves of self-doubt, and touched down at your destination  with your beaming smile of admiration for your team, and theirs for you.

Relate to us. Stories stick in our memory. You will then stick out among our referral partners.

Or not, and then we will never know. As if it never happened.

Put the right quality words around the story of your actions. What you learned, How you can replicate the experience with added wisdom. Step out, not onto a gangplank who will watch you disappear, but from the competitors who would otherwise wish you to sink.

Yet you glide in romantic glory against the setting sun to face another day’s challenges.

First you just need to try to bob, then float, and then you can surf those waves in proud, glorious explanation of why you succeeded.