#26: What’s Your Story? with Sarah Elkins
Sarah Elkins sure knows the power of a good story. And she’s got plenty of good ones to tell. She’s done everything from serving cocktails to serving the government. She had top security clearance with the NSA in Washington, D.C. then moved to Montana and started the No Longer Virtual conference to meet all of the connections she’s made on LinkedIn over the years. Sarah also works to help determine what’s your story and the best ways to harness it to boost relationships.
Her book Your Stories Don’t Define You: How You Tell Them Will explores the ways we can use our stories to further our careers, love life, and just about any relationship we may have. When you know what’s your story and how to tell it in an engaging way, it opens up a ton of doors. And with how well traveled Sarah is, she’ll probably be right behind one of those doors.
Highlights of our conversation include:
How the stories you tell can make or break a relationship and better ways to use storytelling to help strengthen your connections. (2:50)
Sarah gives us a look inside her book, Your Stories Don’t Define You: How You Tell Them Will, and things to look for while you’re storytelling. (6:27)
The importance of having a story portfolio, which is important for an interview, a first date, or any other opportunity where you’re meeting someone from the first time. (8:21)
Sarah talks about how her background, from serving cocktails to serving government, comes back to what she’s doing now, including the lessons and applications she’s learned along the way. (13:30)
How you can find your what and your how related to your why, and why that’s important to help drive your behavior and mindset. (15:19)
Sarah and I share our favorite cocktail recipes — perfect for beating this summer heat! (18:31)
Sarah walks us through her experience working in government, including having the highest civilian clearance with the NSA in Washington D.C., and whether any of her jobs were like the wonderful show Veep. (21:29)
A look inside the No Longer Virtual Summit, and the impact social distancing will have on the event moving forward. (24:02)
Why Sarah loves “small world” stories and her belief in connectedness and things happening for a reason, plus one of her favorite “small world” moments. (32:27)
Sarah takes us through her top three connection stories, including her first No Longer Virtual Summit, her longest-term friendship despite only spending one semester together, and a friend who has a perfect harmony with her. (36:55)
What’s next for Sarah Elkins?
Want to learn more about Sarah and her work? Visit her website or check out her book, Your Stories Don’t Define You: How You Tell Them Will. She’s also already planning the next No Longer Virtual Summit for a time when we can safely travel again. Now go out and connect with someone new today and share your story!
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