There’s More Than One Type of Success Story. What’s Your Story?

 

People love stories about people. They especially love inspiring stories of triumph over adversity. Redemptive tales give us hope and the courage to keep striving.

 

This is my speciality because I believe YOUR Story Matters.

 

I’m an experienced Journalist with a prolific career spanning 40 years writing for newspapers, magazines and online publications in Australia, the UK and Africa. 

 

Over four exciting decades, I’ve written engaging features on a diverse range of subjects including health and psychology, community and global issues and travel adventures. My popular weekly newspaper columns, Family Matters and Relationship Matters kept my readers enthralled and entertained for more than a decade.  

 

But for all the fascinating subjects I’ve embraced, I always return to the power of the heroic story. 

 

Now, at my mature stage of life, I’ve decided to focus on writing inspiring life stories about extraordinary people. So who qualifies as “extraordinary”?

 

In my encounters with people around the world, I’ve identified six types of success stories. 

1. MAD stories acknowledge purpose-driven heroes who have overcome adversity or mediocrity to transform their lives and Make A Difference to families, communities, humanity, animals and the planet. 

2. LOVE stories portray dynamic couples who have found romance and lasting love and together achieve extraordinary accomplishments. 

3. MONEY stories shine the spotlight on irrepressible business whiz kids and visionary entrepreneurs who rise from humble beginnings to financial abundance, providing inspiration, opportunities and leadership to others.

4. CREATIVE stories celebrate talented musicians, actors and artists who devote their lives to excellence, bringing joy and enriching cultural life. 

5. SPORTING stories recognise elite athletes who sacrifice comforts to train relentlessly to attain super health, strength and fitness and master extreme physical feats and sporting achievement.

6. RECOVERY stories honour those who have overcome injury, illness, or disability, abuse and trauma, loss and grief, defeated addiction or survived war, disasters or imprisonment to become inspiring mentors to others on the gruelling path to healing and renewal. 

 

In some cases two or more powerful themes intertwine in a remarkable life story. 

My personal story is MAD. I aspire to Making A Difference to impoverished communities in Africa. I aim to reduce suffering, abuse and deprivation and increase love, joy and empowerment. My heartfelt desire is to help communities flourish through the transformative power of knowledge, skills and resources. 

 

So what is YOUR story? Where does your heart lie?

Extraordinary Stories

I don’t write ordinary biographies about mediocre lives. I dig deep to discover the extraordinary in YOUR life story…even if your own hidden greatness eludes you. 

I believe there is a hero within all of us, yearning to be free, to be seen and heard and impact the world as a force for good. 

Telling your story will activate and empower you to live your potential, fulfilling your childhood dreams.   

The Power of an In-Depth Interview

A vital part of creating a captivating story is the INTERVIEW process. 

After two decades as an eager newspaper reporter, chasing newsworthy leads and churning out copy on tight deadlines, I took time out in my 40s to study developmental psychology and master psychotherapy and counselling skills. I really immersed myself in understanding human nature and personalities.

 

Being a qualified Counsellor with natural empathy, curiosity and active listening, makes me gifted in the art of delving deep in an interview and opening your heart.

 

We Need Inspiring Stories

 

Since 2020, the world has been thrust into turmoil, lurching from one crisis to the next. 

 

The world needs positive, uplifting stories more than ever. We need to discover heroes and leaders who will guide us to a better world of problem-solving, kindness and peace. 

 

What’s Your Problem?

 

If you are to survive these turbulent times in business and self-employment, you need a powerful online profile to stand out from the noisy crowd on the information superhighway, with every man and woman and their adorable dog and quirky cat clamouring for attention. 

 

There’s a great need for the well-written biography, from short and punchy taglines to reflective ‘long reads’, to promote yourself right across every form of media. 

 

These days, you face a constant demand for snappy bios and persuasive profiles to promote yourself and your business or cause in the competitive public domain. 

 

Why not Do It Yourself? What’s wrong with DIY?

 

Yes, some multi-talented all-rounders can write their own life story. Many cannot.

 

Most businesspeople find it difficult to write about themselves. They agonise about the process and tie themselves in knots.

 

Most cannot see themselves objectively from the perspective of others’ viewpoints and how they interact and impact their surroundings. 

 

Writing about yourself, you can come across as boastful, exaggerating and embellishing your attributes and lacking genuineness. 

 

Or you can be falsely modest or have blind spots to your talents, values and positive traits. 

 

 Or you can fall into the trap of being too dry and boring, listing your career history and professional achievements like a CV without any glimpse into the real you. 

 

Whichever way you lean, most businesspeople who write their own profiles are selling themselves short.

 

And this means you are losing credibility and losing opportunities.

 

Why not ask a friend to write your story?

 

If you enlist a non-professional writer – a friend, colleague, or staff member – to write your profiles – they will lack the incisive skills to produce bios with pizzazz.

 

Would you ask a well-meaning friend to cut your hair, do your plumbing, pull out your tooth? 

 

In all fields, there are enthusiastic amateurs and skilled professionals.

Everyone can cook, but not everyone is a chef! Right?

 

Good writing is time consuming, involving an in-depth interview and hours of carefully crafted writing and revisions. 

 

Most non-professional writers cannot commit the time and lack the expertise to produce powerful biographies.

 

Why do you need ME? 

 

As an outsider, I bring curiosity and fresh eyes and astute ears to your story. 

 

As an experienced counsellor, I bring empathy, understanding and psychological insight to the interview. This is where the magic happens.

 

And as a seasoned journalist, I bring an eloquent and engaging writing style that grabs the reader’s attention, drawing them into your story with warmth and enthusiasm.  

 

Combining my two skills as an insightful interviewer and gifted storyteller, I will evoke your honest, authentic voice and find the middle ground between the two extremes of egotism and false modesty.

 

Allow me as a professional writer with savvy knowledge of my craft and decades of experience to create concise, convincing, and captivating stories that will delight the public and attract supporters and customers.

 

 

What I offer my clients

1.    Your compelling Story for publication on your website or blog

2.    Your newsworthy Story to pitch to magazines and newspapers and online publications 

3.    A beautiful Brochure to promote yourself and your business.

4.    Your Story for Wikipedia.

5.    Publication in a Book, either inclusion in collection of inspiring life stories or your own awesome book. 

6.    Short videos and biopic films. 

7.    Short impactful profiles to use on your book cover, your public speaking intro and your social media such as Facebook and Instagram. 

8.     Your Story is perfect as a highlight of your LinkedIn profile. 

9.     What do you get for someone who’s lived a full life and has everything they need? A well-crafted life story also makes a unique gift for an older person in the family who wants to capture their story for posterity. This could also be the perfect retirement gift that shows how much you value and respect their life experience and achievements. 

 

WHO are my clients? Could YOU be my client?

 

I offer my dynamic writing service to businesses, charities, community organisations and individuals, wherever you are in your journey; starting out, in the middle or reaching the end. My clients are located across the UK and internationally. I conduct interviews in-person and on zoom.

 

Be Inspired

 

Read these inspiring stories about extraordinary people Making A Difference for humanity, animals and the planet. 

 

Angela Sheldrick is devoted to rescuing and caring for baby elephants in the renowned  elephant orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya.

 

John Lawler started Madventurer in Newcastle in the UK so students on their gap year can volunteers on life-changing projects in countries all over the world. 

 

Abass Dodoo is a master Ghanaian drummer, based in London, dedicated to sharing the joy of music with everyone, from famous political leaders to kids on the street.

 

Juliet Gellatley has devoted her life to campaigning to protect animals from suffering and slaughter in the UK and globally.

 

Kimona Ward survived a stretch in prison in the UK to turn her life around and devote herself to charity work in her homeland, Jamaica. 

 

Dr Robi Sonderegger, an acclaimed Australian psychologist, rehabilitates child soldiers in Uganda.

 

Steve and Terri Irwin and their children, Bindi and Robert have devoted their lives to being Wildlife Warriors and protecting endangered species in Australia.

 

Allan Pease is an Aussie legend, a best-selling author and entertaining public speaker. His success story is also peppered with financial disasters and health challenges, which he recovered from, with irrepressible humour. 

 

Briony Smith has devoted to her life to Making A Difference to the planet by saving endangered big cats from extinction.

 

Molly Melching, an American educator runs Tostan, a phenomenal charity based in Senegal, protecting millions of girls across west Africa from the harmful practice of Female Genital Cutting. 

 

Millicent and Me, is the story of a friendship between an amazing Kenyan woman and an Aussie journalist, who put our heads together to transform a Community Centre in rural Kenya. 

 

Are you ready to tell your story and unlock your success? 

 

What do you do NOW?

 

Contact me by email dianejoypriestley@gmail.com

We can make a time to chat about Your Story because Your Story Matters.