"Pick Me! Pick Me! Pick Me!!"
Uh, why?
When I was a kid in the 1970s, I loved everything about school except P.E. It was the bane of my existence.
Speed was not my forte. You could time my 50-yard dash with a sundial. So, naturally, I was always the last kid picked for relay races, kickball, flag football — you get the picture.
Here's the thing: Because I wasn't fast, everyone (including me) just assumed I wasn't athletic at all. Can't outrun a turtle? Then, surely you can't catch a ball or swing a bat, either. This was the story written by others about my playground abilities — or lack thereof.
And I let the story stick, never bothering to show that I could actually play when given the chance.
(Plot twist: In high school, I lettered in softball. Turns out you don't have to be an Olympic-caliber sprinter to hit a line drive out of the infield. Who knew?)
It’s funny how these playground-esqe dynamics often follow us into our professional lives, isn’t it?
We still find ourselves waiting to be picked — for the contract, the partnership, the speaking opportunity. We assume others can see our talents, our capabilities, our potential. And we’re shocked when — SURPRISE! — they don’t.
Here's what I've learned over the years: Being great at what we do isn't enough.
Ann Richards, the 45th Governor of Texas, once observed that “Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backward and in high heels.”
That quote has always resonated with me because it perfectly captures how women often do more than what's visible on the surface. The same is true for many women business owners in midlife.
Like Ginger, we've mastered our craft while juggling multiple roles and overcoming extra challenges.
We bring deep expertise, hard-won wisdom, and remarkable adaptability to the table.
Yet somehow, we're surprisingly bad at telling that story.
When Actions Aren’t Louder Than Words
In the business world, the old adage of “action speaks louder than words” might be true for some. But, for many women, it’s not.
We can be exceptional at what we do, consistently deliver outstanding results, and still remain invisible to the very people who need our expertise most.
We've spent decades developing our skills, building businesses, managing teams, and solving complex problems.
And we've done it all while navigating the unique challenges that come with being women in business.
Yet when it comes to showcasing our expertise, we often hold back, thinking (or hoping) our work will speak for itself.
But our work can't speak for itself. Instead, we need to speak for it. We need to speak for ourselves. And there's no better way to do that than by telling our own unique story in a way that showcases our true value.
Let's turn our expertise into stories that make potential clients excited to work with us. First step: documenting our wins in a way that makes them easy to share.
Every success we've achieved, every problem we've solved, every transformation we've guided — these aren't just past accomplishments. They're proof points waiting to become powerful stories that showcase why we're the perfect choice for our ideal clients.
Your Success Story Passport: Opening Up a World of Value-Focused Content
Your professional journey is filled with victories, lessons, and breakthrough moments that make you uniquely qualified to serve your clients. But when was the last time you really documented these achievements in a way that helps you tell your story?
Say hello, bonjour, hola and ciao to the Success Story Passport – your personal tool for capturing and leveraging your professional journey in a way that accelerates your business growth.
In the same way a real passport documents your global adventures, your Success Story Passport captures the pivotal moments that have shaped your expertise. Each "visa" represents a significant achievement or project along the way that demonstrates your value to potential clients.
Whether you're updating your website, posting on LinkedIn, or pitching to potential clients, you'll have concrete examples of your impact ready to go.
Inside, you'll find guided prompts to help you document:
Your standout achievements
The challenges you've overcome
The unique approaches you've developed
The results you've delivered for clients
From Passport to Powerful Stories: A Quick Example
Let's say you filled out a Success Story “Visa” about helping a client launch their online course. Here's how that one passport entry can generate multiple stories for multiple uses:
The Achievement Story: For Showing Results
"When a client came to me struggling to take their expertise online, I guided them through creating their first course. Starting from zero tech experience, we mapped out their content, set up their platform, and launched in just 8 weeks. The result? They enrolled 25 students in their first cohort."
LinkedIn Post: Share as a celebration post, tagging your client (with permission) and highlighting key metrics
YouTube Video: "How We Launched a Successful Online Course in 8 Weeks - Behind the Scenes"
Email Newsletter: Use as a case study snapshot to demonstrate your process
Website Testimonial: Feature the quantifiable results and timeline
The Challenge Story: For Building Connection
"Technology overwhelm almost stopped my client from sharing their valuable knowledge online. But by breaking down the course creation process into manageable steps, we turned that fear into confidence. Now they're teaching students from around the world."
Facebook Post: Share as a relatable story about overcoming tech fears
Blog Post: "From Tech-Scared to Tech-Savvy: A Client's Journey"
Instagram Caption: Pair with a behind-the-scenes photo of your planning process
Speaking Topic: Use as an engaging opening story for presentations
The Process Story: For Demonstrating Expertise
"One of my favorite client transformations started with a simple question: 'What's the one thing you teach over and over?' That question led us to identify their core expertise, which we transformed into a successful online course. Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs start with the smallest questions."
Twitter/X Thread: Break down your question-based approach
Podcast Episode: "The Power of the Right Question: How to Uncover Your Expertise"
LinkedIn Article: "5 Questions That Transform Expertise into Income"
Newsletter Tips Section: Share as your "Tip of the Week"
See how one passport entry can fuel weeks of content? Each platform gets its own version of the story, but all roads lead back to showcasing your expertise in helping clients create successful online courses.
“We Pick YOU!”
When you share stories that showcase how you've helped others succeed, you make it easy for potential clients to see how you can help them succeed.
Your experiences — including each challenge met, each problem solved, each transformation achieved — are the perfect ingredients for stories that prove why choosing you is a no-brainer!
The Success Story Passport is just one tool to help you capture these moments. The real magic happens when you transform those experiences into stories that connect, engage, and inspire potential clients to reach out.
What story will you share first? I’d love to hear! Just leave me a note in the comments!
This is great Michele. I love the success story passport idea and framework you outlined plus put out there for free so folks can use it!