The email had me at “Story is the golden thread that holds your whole body of work together.” And getting a seat at the table, albeit a “hot” one, for MM’s Tell Your Story Live workshop in New York City, was a high point of 2018. Having the chance to have my daughter as a guest as well was an added bonus. The schmear on the NY Bagel. She’s at the early phase of a new business venture & I wanted her to see Megan in action.
And both Megan & my daughter helped keep me on track of the various dates & events in my life. The written preparation I sent to Megan ahead of the workshop helped her add the nuances to my story that I’d spaced on when I was in front of the group.
The group dynamics helped me go deeper than I have ever gone by myself. I’m just too good at rationalizations & diversionary tactics to do this on my own. These new friends were very present & totally invested in helping me get to the core of my story. Picking up on Megan’s approach, everyone offered the gift of deep listening.
Having MM work out her trademark 14 ELEMENTS in 4 ACTS approach for your own story is like getting an update to your GPS. Your internal software seems more accessible & accurate. It helps you navigate, with more clarity, what is the right next step for your work/life journey. Like NYC itself, the work is a bit gritty, with periods of gridlock; all part of getting to the gems there for you to find.
At one point, while on the hot seat, I heard myself say to Megan… “How did you get that out of me?” I realize now that the pointed questions the group posed & my deep trust in MM & her process led me to blurt out… “It’s harder to be me than it seems.”
Once my hot seat was done I got to see & hear Megan, in real time, use her approach with others which took the live experience to another dimension. After hearing one especially complex story I caught myself holding my breath. Nervous for Megan, I wondered how in the world this was all going to fit together? Megan was in her zone, marker in hand, & then she emerged & “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” the 14 ELEMENTS in 4 ACTS started to emerge on paper. How does she do this? Is it her geological training that helps her see what’s below the surface? Is it because she’s Irish? Whatever it is it’s magically delicious.