Stories resonate deeply within us, touching parts of our humanity that few other things can reach. We often frame the world around us through narratives, and those narratives influence our beliefs and behaviors profoundly. Perhaps none are more powerful than the stories we tell ourselves.
In my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve discovered that the stories you tell yourself—the ones that frame your life and the world around you—have a major impact on your ability to succeed, but not always in the way you might expect.
Stories are how we make sense of the world, and everyone is the main character of their own story. But it’s important to understand that you’re not the hero of anyone’s story but your own. And what your story looks like depends on how you interact with others.
One of the most powerful superpowers you can learn is simply helping others enact their own stories. Rather than trying to be a hero in someone else’s story, take on the role of a helper or mentor. You can be the one to help people realize their own potential and reach new achievements.
You’ll have to put in some effort, but when you do, people will be drawn to you. You’ll find it easy to create strong relationships and build a supportive and loving community. And you’ll stumble into new opportunities that will help launch you to success.
A real hero focuses on these three things:
Kindness
Helping others shine makes your own light brighter. Not only does it feel great to do so, but it can have real benefits on your mood, mindset, and well-being. But true kindness is more than just being polite to those around you—it requires you to go out of your way to do things for others and take the time to consider their needs and wants and respond to them.
Personally, I’ve always found that kindness comes back around. The more you do for others, the more they’ll be willing to do for you, and this is especially important as a business leader for building rapport and loyalty. Kindness that comes from a place of genuine care draws people to you in all aspects of life.
Generosity
Generosity goes hand-in-hand with kindness, because you must be generous in order to be kind. You must be willing to sacrifice your time, resources, and energy for the benefit of others.
One of the most influential people in my life was my grandfather, who was known for his generosity. He was a high school custodian and made little money, but he was always giving people gifts. In fact, he’d buy trinkets and keep them around specifically to give to anyone who visited his house. People were always delighted by them, even if they weren’t worth much, and he was just as delighted. It made an impression on me. Generosity benefits both the giver and the receiver, and it’s important to practice regularly. In fact, you can make a habit of it, like my grandfather did—and it doesn’t have to be gifts. Share your time and your knowledge as well as money and items. Offer to give someone a hand before they ask.
Gratitude
My grandparents made a profound impact on my life, stepping in to support my mom and me when I was young. I’m eternally grateful to them and especially to my mom, who was only 17 when she had me. With my father absent, she made the tough decision to leave high school and work tirelessly to provide for me. Her sacrifices and dedication shaped my life, and I try to show my gratitude whenever I can. Recently, I bought her a new car—a small token for someone who truly deserves it.
We all have people who have been the mentors in our lives, who have supported us and allowed us to play the heroes in our own stories. Recognizing them and being grateful for the things they do, large or small, is part of how we can lift them up to better live out their own stories.
Who are the heroes in your life, the people who have lifted you up and helped you find your way through your own story? How can you become more like them? Look for something you can do to help someone else today and make them look like a hero in their own story. Go out of your way to do something for them, ask them what would be helpful to them, or simply recognize them for their best traits. Not only will it make them feel great, but you’ll likely feel just as good.
