Reflection – Storytelling

Challenge & Selection    Storytelling is a great tool that I use all the time. I work with vulnerable populations, the ones who have  a problem with fitness,obesity,weight etc.Many of these people deal with oppression and dysfunction in  every aspect of their lives, they need to be empowered and inspiration is a path to empowerment.  When I work with the people who are depressed about their body we often share stories related to  motivation and achieving goals. With my clients who are not motivated enough and don’t see any hope  I share stories of my life in order to help them visualize a state of independence, I use their feedback  against the context of my story to ascertain their goals, and sometimes we use stories to better  understand their interests and thought processes. I use this information to develop different strategies  to try and find a way that works for them to gain more confidence and the will power to achieve their  goals and lead a better lifestyle.    Application    In discussing policy changes with a fitness company I work in , I was trying to explain to them the  benefits of taking a more client focused approach, among other things, and in particular, of recognizing  each person as a unique being, and addressing their individual needs first and foremost. The company  was in the grip of a culture that provided same solutions for all the people’s problems and its clients  were failing in this non-empathetic, rigid structure. I was also explaining how sometimes addressing the  needs of one individual can impact everyone for the better, even if it seems extreme or out of the  ordinary. I told a story about when my sister who is a fit athlete now once upon a time was overweight  and had no confidence. Her football coach understood the problem and sat with her and discussed the  issues she was facing. He got to know that she was unable to manage time and was able to give only less  amount of time to fitness. He helped her to achieve her goals by doing things like bringing small changes  in lifestyle For example, being hydrated throughout, taking stairs instead of the lift, cycling to college  which actually helped her be fit.    Insight & Approach    Well, wow, that was an eye-opener. The next thing happened was I was also not fit and was quite  overweight. So now my sister came to me and helped me by sharing her story to me and helped me my  suggesting things which I could do in my normal routine for e.g. walk till college, sleep for sufficient  amount of time, not sitting for long and the  most important not giving up and be patient and wait for  the results. In such a way a plan which is customized for a single individual works well and helps in  achieving goals faster.    So I told this story to the company, and I think it had a big impact on people there. The policies are being  reevaluated and the fitness trainers are going through new training. Sometimes a little story can do a lot  of good.    This course made me see this as a tool in a new way. When I've done it before it was really "ad hoc," but

now I can prepare ahead and think of stories that will assist me in presenting my ideas and best  illuminate them.    I have a design background, but I ended up as an entrepreneur in business. I had no idea this would ever  be considered an asset, but I am so very grateful that it is!


Reflection – Storytelling Challenge & Selection Storytelling is a great tool that I use all the time . I work with vulnerable populations , the ones who have a problem with fitness , obesity , weight etc . Many of these people deal with oppression and dysfunction in every aspect of their lives , they need to be empowered and inspiration is a path to empowerment . When I work with the people who are depressed about their body we often share stories related to motivation and achieving goals . With my clients who are not motivated enough and do n’t see any hope I share stories of my life in order to help them visualize a state of independence , I use their feedback against the context of my story to ascertain their goals , and sometimes we use stories to better understand their interests and thought processes . I use this information to develop different strategies to try and find a way that works for them to gain more confidence and the will power to achieve their goals and lead a better lifestyle . Application In discussing policy changes with a fitness company I work in , I was trying to explain to them the benefits of taking a more client focused approach , among other things , and in particular , of recognizing each person as a unique being , and addressing their individual needs first and foremost . The company was in the grip of a culture that provided same solutions for all the people ’s problems and its clients were failing in this non - empathetic , rigid structure . I was also explaining how sometimes addressing the needs of one individual can impact everyone for the better , even if it seems extreme or out of the ordinary . I told a story about when my sister who is a fit athlete now once upon a time was overweight and had no confidence . Her football coach understood the problem and sat with her and discussed the issues she was facing . He got to know that she was unable to manage time and was able to give only less amount of time to fitness . He helped her to achieve her goals by doing things like bringing small changes in lifestyle For example , being hydrated throughout , taking stairs instead of the lift , cycling to college which actually helped her be fit . Insight & Approach Well , wow , that was an eye - opener . The next thing happened was I was also not fit and was quite overweight . So now my sister came to me and helped me by sharing her story to me and helped me my suggesting things which I could do in my normal routine for e.g. walk till college , sleep for sufficient amount of time , not sitting for long and the most important not giving up and be patient and wait for the results . In such a way a plan which is customized for a single individual works well and helps in achieving goals faster . So I told this story to the company , and I think it had a big impact on people there . The policies are being reevaluated and the fitness trainers are going through new training . Sometimes a little story can do a lot of good . This course made me see this as a tool in a new way . When I 've done it before it was really " ad hoc , " but now I can prepare ahead and think of stories that will assist me in presenting my ideas and best illuminate them . I have a design background , but I ended up as an entrepreneur in business . I had no idea this would ever be considered an asset , but I am so very grateful that it is !