We all have a story. Some of us tell our story really well, some of us don’t tell our story at all, and some of us could use a little help.  Wherever category you fall into, you deserve to love your story, own your story, and speak your story. Our stories are what connect us and remind us we are more alike than we are unalike.

I had a front row seat to the most powerful stories that were told on The Oprah Winfrey Show. These stories landed on millions of people’s hearts and they landed on mine. I watched brave people walk onto the Oprah stage and tell their story and audiences leave the studio with more compassionate hearts.

Our story has impact. When we speak our story and it lands on someone’s heart – that’s when our story becomes our superpower. Story helps build connection, empathy, confidence and leadership. We become more efficient teammates and humans when we know each other’s stories. We commit ourselves more deeply to our work and our purpose.

I speak my story to help you speak yours. That is my purpose. If you are looking for someone to help your brand, your team, and your audience celebrate the power of our stories, I am your speaker.

My former boss Oprah Winfrey says “Wherever you are, that is your platform, your stage, your circle of influence. That is your talk show, and that is where your power lies.”

We all have a platform. Use your platform, your voice, your story to spread love and understanding. This is the time to speak, to speak up, to speak more kindly to yourself and others, to speak on stages and actually have some fun with it, because your audience is waiting!

We all have an audience. If you think you don’t, let me remind you that your audience is at your dinner table, in your boss’ office, on your Zoom call, in a meeting, on your Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn feeds, at a loved one’s celebration, or at a keynote you deliver.

The size of your audience does not matter, it matters that an audience showed up to hear from you.  I will give you (and your audience) the tools to discover your story and speak without fear.

It’s so easy for us to say no to our mother’s invitations. Especially when we were kids, but even now, we come up with an excuse because we are too busy or we don’t want to be pulled away from Netflix. But what if saying no blocks us from an opportunity? What if we said yes?

When I was 14 years old, I said yes to my mother when she invited me to the filming of The Mike Douglas Show. I could have said no. But I didn’t and that yes changed the trajectory of my life – proving not only that mothers really do know what’s best, but also that their invitations can be game changers.

My mother’s invitation allowed me to see my career. As I sat in the studio audience at The Mike Douglas Show, I spotted a woman on the set with a clipboard. I didn’t know what she did, but she was a woman, she was wearing a headset, she was holding a clipboard and she looked really busy. I knew in that instant I would do whatever she was doing one day too.

Ten years later, when I landed my job with Oprah Winfrey, I began to feel the power of my mother’s invitation. Thirty years later – when I landed a quote in the Smithsonian at the Watching Oprah exhibit, the power of my mother’s invitation proved that my yes was my ticket to my career.

Next time your mother, or anyone who loves or likes you, invites you to do something you don’t want to do, consider my story – say yes, and let it be the start of how you tell your story, no matter what your age is.

I will inspire you (and your audience) to get out of your comfort zone, be brave and say yes to experiences that can change your life.