10 steps to dream (and write a new story)
You have 1440 minutes in a day. You can devote 60 of them to dream & tell a new story
Welcome to the 7.22 Edition of the “Beyond Words” newsletter where I share scripts for better public speaking.
Today at a glance:
10 ways to dream
Scripts for when someone claims credit for your work
VIP Day Immersive in Portugal (with me)
Did you know that you have 1440 minutes in a day?
You CAN devote 60 minutes of them to dream.
To tell a new story.
Here are 10 steps
I’ll share my planning for a VIP Day in Lisbon to illustrate how.
Visualize your future daily
Interestingly enough, I made a vision board in February and I wasn’t closing a client for Lisbon. To be honest, I’m weary of cities. I already live in one of the biggest in the world (NYC). The countryside is truly where my nervous system gets to rest. I had a bigger yen for Portuguese wine country, an hour outside Lisbon.
It’s no wonder there was a disconnect between what I said I wanted—-
And what I was getting.
The toggle? I put up images of the ‘feeling’ of being in Alentejo around my mirror.
I had done this for Nice, France, when the retreat details still felt far away and unclear. All of it came true, even down to the image of my apartment.
(You can read more about the “Magic Mirror” practice in Claude Bristol’s book,“The Magic of Believing.”)
Journal. Write down your dreams, thoughts, what you want
Patricia Highsmith is author of “The Talented Mr. Ripley” series.
At 15 years old, she kept meticulous records of her life in her journal.
What she learned at school
poems
dreams
gossip
According to Vanity Fair, she borrowed from her diary for her fiction. “Writing, of course, is a substitute for the life I cannot live,” Highsmith wrote in a diary entry from 1950.
What do I want? ‘Winning’ at business is closing a client who not only wants to do the storytelling work, but wants to do her work in another country, leveraging my superpower in creating unique experiences.
Read inspirational books that transport you
Okay, I subscribe to Afar, Conde Nast Traveller, Worth magazines.
It’s pictures transport me.
Mind-map your dreams, new ideas
A mind map is a brainstorming technique used to visually organize information. They feature one main idea as the central point of the diagram, with subtopics branching out and connecting to supporting ideas
Storyboard your new story.
8:30am Car service Top Tours Portugal picks up client
9:30am Arrival at Alentejo, breakfast
10:00am-11:30am Strategy Sprint 1 (90 minutes)
11:30am-11:45am Break
11:45am-1:15pm Lunch Strategy Sprint 2 (90 minutes)
1:15pm-1:30pm Break
1:30pm-3:00pm Strategy Sprint 3 (90 minutes)
3:00pm-5:00pm Client choice of Spa visit, hot air balloon ride, horseback riding
5:00pm-6:00pm Client return to Lisbon via car service
Other ideas:
Write a short story or a blog post about it.
A VIP Day culminates for a client in a Hot Air Balloon Experience Over Alentejo
Imagine: After an intense day of strategy work, we celebrate my VIP client with a hot air balloon ride above the Alentejo wine region of Portugal. The sky was clear, promising perfect conditions for our ride. The balloon, with its vivid colors and imposing presence, stood ready.
As it lifted up into the air, we saw rolling vineyards, ancient olive groves, and quaint villages —a patchwork of colors and textures, telling their own stories of the rich heritage of the region.
As we enjoyed gourmet snacks and champagne, I asked my client to reflect on what came up for her from the day. What sense of wonder and possibility was coming up for her as we were suspended in the sky?
As the balloon gently touched down, she said this day marked a new beginning for her. She was brimming with stories yet to be told.
Tell a visual story about it.
Map your outfits to your activities. This is my favorite ‘visual story’ to tell.
The main activities we outlined above: Travel to and from airport, dinners and lunches on premise at L’and, work strategy sessions, and a possible hot air balloon ride.
Temperatures in Evora in September are 61 at night, 84 during the day.
Podcast your way to the new picture.
Paint or draw the new story.
Take walks
Your life is a story.
Don’t let it be boring.
Scripts for Credit claiming in a meeting at work
Yesterday, I shared scripts for speaking up in a meeting at work (when you are not).
Today’s scripts are for that moment when someone claims credit for your work.
Reshma was frustrated because she contributed to a team meeting and her colleague took the credit for her idea.
Scripts: Go to boss and
Tell a story about a win such as brainstorming technique you used. When I came up with the idea, I used this strategy. I’m happy to share it with the team.
Submit a case study
Nominate yourself for a job
Add honors to your email signature
Share laurels when speaking one on one to recruiters
During weekly check in with boss, say how excited you are about the idea
Be inclusive, share credit where appropriate. We were having a great conversation when the idea came to me
Source: Fran Hauser “The Myth of the Nice Girl”
VIDEO of our interview
Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:
1.Join the Samita Lab Mastermind. Join 7 other women leaders in the core program that sits at the center of my business model. The Mastermind teaches you exactly how to build a powerful person brand and the mindset to support it. It culminates in a TEDx talk on stage in front of 200 people at the end.
I only enroll for this program once a year.
The waitlist is open for the Class of 2025.
2. The Anatomy of a 'No' If you’re struggling to say ‘no’ gracefully at work, I created a free download here with scripts (15,000 downloaded)
I’ll add to it each week.
3. Register for my Wednesday Sept 18th workshop on “Building a powerful personal brand on LinkedIn” hosted by my alma mater, Bucknell University.