The Skill You Didn’t Know You Already Have (and How to Use It)

Jan 31, 2025 | Guest Blog, News & Events

The Skill You Didn’t Know You Already Have (and How to Use It)

I Don’t Have a Creative Bone in My Body 

“I’m not creative. I don’t have a creative bone in my body. I don’t know how to tell stories.” 

Sound familiar? These are things I hear all the time. And honestly, as a speaker and communications coach who works with everyone from scientists to technologists to artists, I just shake my head. 

The reality is this: everyone is creative. And we all know how to tell stories. 

But I get it: for so many of us—especially those of us in highly specialized fields)—storytelling has been framed as something we do when we’re children, not something we bring into the boardroom or our professional lives. 

And that’s where we’ve got it all wrong. In fact… I’d argue storytelling is the most powerful skill we can learn. It’s innate to us as humans, but needs a little intention to sharpen. 

If you want to know why I think  you’re already a storyteller (even if you think you’re not) and how to harness that skill to create impact, click here to read more. 

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I know this because I’ve lived both sides of the story: from someone who took storytelling for granted to someone who discovered how to unlock it in others. 

Everyone’s a Storyteller—But Are You a Good One? 

Growing up on Cape Breton Island, storytelling was like breathing. My family told stories constantly—stories about my grandparents, their parents, and their lives. We had pictures, we’d fill in the blanks, and we’d imagine what it was like. Storytelling was a language I learned early, but no one ever formally taught me how to tell stories. 

Fast forward to my career: I started in fundraising, then transitioned to advertising and strategy. In the early days, I wrote direct mail letters for causes like the Migraine Foundation. Back then, the advice was to write long, detailed letters—stories that grabbed attention. I remember vividly sitting at my desk describing the onset of a migraine in excruciating detail. And as I wrote it? I gave myself a migraine. It was my first big lesson in the power of storytelling. 

But here’s the thing: As my career shifted, I moved away from telling stories myself and into roles where I supported others—working with writers, art directors, and planners. My own storytelling became less consistent, and I started relying on gut instinct rather than structure. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn’t. 

It wasn’t until years later, when I started coaching TEDx speakers, that I truly learned how to build impactful stories. Working with speakers, I had to break down storytelling frameworks like the Hero’s Journey, the quest narrative, and so many others. I learned the deliberate, repeatable structures behind every great story—and it changed everything. 

The Power of Storytelling Frameworks 

Here’s what I realized: When we rely purely on natural ability, storytelling is hit or miss. But when we learn to use frameworks—when we get intentional about how we assemble a story—the results are consistently impactful. And that’s something anyone can do. 

Think you don’t have stories? You do. They’re your life, your experiences. Think you’re not creative? You are—it’s part of being human. Creativity is just waiting for you to find your expression of it. And storytelling? It’s a skill you can absolutely learn. 

If you’re ready to dive in, I’ve put together a Storytelling Toolkit to help you get started. It’s free—no strings attached. Just click below to download it and start discovering the stories only you can tell. And if you need a little extra support? You know where to find me. 

Because the truth is, we need your voice. Your stories matter, and they’re worth telling. Let’s make them count. 

Download your Storytelling Toolkit NOW!