Episode 16: Turning shame into strength - When you finally stop hiding

What happens when the story that shaped you is also the one you’re most afraid to share?In this episode of The Business of Stories, Susan sits down with Storytelling Mastery member Jen Neil, who spent years hiding - held back by a chapter of her life that carried deep shame, grief, and a sense of failure.Jen opens up about walking away from everything - her home, her business, her identity - and the long journey back to herself. You’ll hear how she rebuilt from the ground up, found the courage to tell the truth about her past, and slowly turned the very story she wanted to hide from … into the foundations of the thriving coaching practice she runs today.If you’ve ever felt like a part of your past disqualifies you, makes you question how others will see you, or is safer kept quiet, Jen’s story will show you what’s possible when you stop hiding, and start reclaiming the strength you didn’t know you had.You’ll discover:Why shame-filled or ‘messy’ chapters are often the ones that shape your deepest gifts and purposeHow Jen rebuilt her identity after losing everything, and why hiding kept her stuckThe moment she realised the thing she was most afraid to share was the exact thing her clients neededWhat changes when you shift from sharing your story as the hero (or victim!) … to sharing it as the guideHow to share hard stories safely, intentionally and from the scar, not the woundThis honest, powerful conversation will help you see your story with more compassion, and recognise the strength, wisdom and mission that may already be living inside the chapters you’ve been avoiding.If you’re ready to rewrite how you see yourself, reclaim the parts of your story that shaped you, and use them to serve others, this episode is a must-listen.If you have a question you would love Susan to answer on the show, please email it (in writing) to [email protected] you’d like to contact today’s guest Jen Neil, you can do so at storystrands.co.uk/contact-usOr grab her free guide ‘10 Signs It Might Be Time to Refresh Your Story’ at storystrands.co.uk.*Download my Be The Guide Masterclass herehttps://thebusinessofstories.com/betheguide/Download a free copy of The Business of Stories hereGrab The Storyteller’s Starter Pack hereCheck out Storytelling Mastery here About your host Susan Payton:When Susan told her ‘ordinary’ story to 1,500 business owners back in 2015, the response from people who resonated with it and felt connected to her as a result of hearing it, blew her away!In fact, that moment completely changed her business - and her life.Susan has since worked with entrepreneurs all over the world, written the international bestselling book, The Business of Stories, hosted the podcast of the same name, and become a leading authority on how to use storytelling to stand out in your industry.Thousands have used her simple framework to share their message with impact, attract ideal clients and grow their business.Susan has also spoken on stages from Brighton to Barcelona, guested on panels and podcasts and run numerous masterclasses, guest expert sessions and workshops, both online and in person.In a world where it’s getting harder and harder to be heard above the noise, Susan is passionate about showing business owners how to clearly articulate their value and speak to the right people, at the right time, with a simple message and a great story.See my bio here And my speaker page hereConnect with Susan:Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanpaytonuk/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanPaytonUK/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessofstories/Produced by Winter Audio.Mentioned in this episode:The Story Source Your go to source of stories, ideas, examples and content for your emails, sales, launches and visibility. LIFETIME access for the first 100 people. Buy once. Get LIFETIME access. www.thebusinessofstories.com/source