Welcome back to the Christianity and Business Podcast, an initiative of the R.G. W. Dunham College of Business at Houston Baptist University. I'm your host, Darren Shear, and this is a show that helps Christian business leaders to integrate biblical values into business. On this episode, we're joined by Michelle Prince. Michelle helps people use the strengths and talents God has given them, which she calls seeds of greatness. Love that, to successfully lead in business and life. She is a best-selling author, motivational speaker, publishing expert, crew senior leadership initiative coach, and founder of the Performance Publishing Group. And she's helped thousands become published authors to get their message out and make a difference. Her latest book is The Power of Authority. You can't spell authority without author, she says, that helps people to get their message out and learn how to leverage it to grow their business. And she uses her foundational principles of success to help ignite their God-given gifts and create a successful and joyful business that glorifies God. And she was also the co-host of the Zig Ziggler podcast and was named his ambassador to continue his legacy. And she's working on her latest book, Shine, to encourage people to share their story. That's um the acronym SHINE. I'm sure we'll find out what that stands for. Michelle, welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_01Thank you, Darren. I'm excited to be here.
SPEAKER_02So storytelling is so powerful. Um, it it's estimated that probably one-third of Jesus' teachings were through stories. About 31 of 65 of his parables were stories. Why do you think Jesus told so many stories to communicate his message?
SPEAKER_01I think because we connect through story. We can we can uh understand more Jesus, I believe, spoke that way because to simplify and make complex um issues understandable for the rest of us. But I also think though, just generally speaking, as human beings, we want to learn, we want to know someone, we want to know their backstory. And when we share ourselves, our story is just who we are and and the gifts and talents that God's given us. So it just connects people.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. And how can storytelling and business be an expression of the Christian faith?
SPEAKER_01It's huge. And even more anywhere in any business, I always say your book is your business card or, you know, it's your story that that gets people to see what you have to offer, but especially Christian business owners. Again, going back to, you know, whatever the business is, we do business with people we know, like, and trust, right? And so whatever your business is, people, your clients, your customers are thinking, you know, what is it? How can I connect with this person? Do I like them? Do I trust them? Do I, do I want to invest my time and resources into this? And when they know the backstory, when they know, why do you do what you do? You know, why are you so passionate about dentistry? Or, you know, why are you so passionate about real estate? People, people connect to that. And um, I think as Christians, we overlook that and sometimes feel like we're boasting if we're telling our story. But I really think, you know, when you look at your story as a gift from God, um, your story is your passions, your experiences, and all those things that go together. But if you look at it, it's been given to you, and gifts are really meant to be given away when we share our story. You just don't know who you're going to inspire. Um, but especially in business.
SPEAKER_02Is there a story that you like to tell about how you and your company company have helped your clients?
SPEAKER_01Gosh, you know, I we've done a lot of different things, and of course, we published books and all that, but I always say it's not about a book, it's about your story. But what I love more than anything is when someone, and I can think of so many people who, you know, they they say, like, oh, I don't, I don't have a story, or I don't have anything to say, or who am I? You know, who would care? And then by the time we we help them to just discover what's already within them, it's nothing that we've done, it's just helping them to really dig a little bit deeper and then have that aha moment of, oh my gosh, all of everything I've been through, it's it's not for nothing. I mean, it's there's, you know, in your mess is your message, or in your test is your testimony. And and so for that's those are my favorite moments when somebody realizes, wow, I have been through this, good or bad, but it's to share it with someone else who might still be going through it. And um, so yes, we we help people to write books and become authors, but it's more of just helping them to see who who they already are, and and that our obligation, I think, as Christians is to share more of who we are so that we can build the body.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. You do you find that the tendency for a lot of us is to instead of sharing uh our story, we we tend to just want to preach it people and and and teach and just kind of share like the the little bullet point message instead of just letting our really just sharing a story, because that really, as you said in the beginning, it it draws people in, which is I think why Jesus told so did so much of his teaching through stories. Um is that something you encounter as you're working with authors and businesses?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and and to be truthful, it's hard, right? Being vulnerable is not easy. Um, I know for myself personally, I struggled for a lot of years. Um, I always knew I wanted to to, you know, sow my seeds of greatness or what have you, or be be the best version of myself. But but you know, that fear and and what will people think and being vulnerable is scary. But I think, or what I've experienced is is when you are real, that things aren't great all the time, or you know, I haven't always had it all together, or my kids drive me crazy sometimes, or I'm struggling with my marriage, or I'm struggling with this. When you when you open up about your real story, I think people they trust you more because they see that, you know, wow, she's she's just like me, or he's just like me. And um, I don't think anyone can really relate to being perfect. We aren't Jesus. So um I think when we share a story, what it does is just let people know how, you know, broken and imperfect we are. And I I think that's what connects people. For me, it does. I had a great mom, uh mentor, I had Zig Ziggler as a mentor I worked with just right out of college. And, you know, he would share stories and everything he could teach about sales and about personal development and leadership, but but he he he told stories. And I really think that's why he was so beloved, is because he shared himself and that he didn't have it all together all the time. And that made a connection.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Yeah, what a great man. What is the process that you take your clients through to help them tell their story?
SPEAKER_01So, first thing is um I do an exercise to help them figure out what is specifically their story. And it's it's and I'll share it with the audience to do this on their own, is I have them grab a pen and a piece of paper and we do a tea chart. And on the left-hand side of the T, just write the word passions, and I have them think about what are you passionate about? You know, what lights you up? Um, I do believe passion is a clue. Uh, it's not everything, but it is a clue to your purpose. I mean, God is a good God. I don't think he's gonna give us a purpose that we hate. So chances are good if we if we really focus in on, you know, what you love to do and what makes you excited, um, that's a clue. And then on the right-hand side of the T is where we write experiences. So, what have you experienced in life? Um, are you a mom, a dad? Have you, do you run a business? Have you been in sales? Um, but experience is one of those things that not all experiences we have, we wanted to go through. So maybe you've been through divorce or bankruptcy or abuse. And even though that may not be a part of your story you want to share, it's just a part of who you are because your story is your story. You can't change your story, but you can leverage your story to help others. But the exercise, what it does is it's like everything, all of your passions and all of your experiences, I mean, in whole, that's who you are. I mean, that's just really the core of who you are. But where the story part comes in, and and for those who want to write a book, we help them narrow it down. And where can you find a connection? Where do you have something on the passion side as well as something on the experience side? And it's the intersection of the two that is a perfect book that an author wants to write because they have passion to do it. Um, but it's also a book that others want to read because they have the credibility to share what they know on that topic. And there's more to it, but that's kind of where we start.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. And you have this uh this acronym SHINE. What does that stand for?
SPEAKER_01So I my my next book to be published is called Shine Through Your Story, and it is an acronym. Um, and and the whole book is based on uh Matthew 5, 14 through 16, which I'll paraphrase, but you know, a city on a hill cannot be hidden. And in that as Christians, what that means is that we we can't hold all of what we know and all that we've learned and all that we have to share with someone else to help make a difference in their life to ourselves. I mean, that's not why God gave us these experiences, these passions and gifts. So um the book is all about recognizing them. So first Sean S stands for sow your seeds of greatness. And it's it's based on a quote by Zig uh man was designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness. And I've always loved that quote. And it for me, what it means is no matter who you are, no matter what you've been through, you have seeds of greatness. God's given them to you. And and so the first part of that book and the acronym is figuring out, well, what are they? What are your gifts? And how can we, how can we cultivate them to nurture and grow into what God intended for you? Um, the H is honor your story. You know, there was a lot of painful parts of our story. Um, even those we do a lot of business books. And, you know, even if your story isn't all painful, it sometimes we overlook our story. Like, no, everybody knows this, or or nobody really cares, but honor it because again, I do believe your story is just a part of um it's just a part of who you are. And so we go through the process of figuring out, well, what is my story? Like I shared some of that with you. The eye is identify what's holding you back. Um, this is something I see all the time for myself, but also for tons of authors, is, you know, we have these limiting beliefs and this mind chatter that holds us back. Um it could be procrastination, it could be fear, but whatever's holding you back, you know, how can you get beyond that? And I talk about biblical affirmations and, you know, really believing the promises and and you you can't really shine and and serve God if you're if you're held back. So that's part of what that process is in the eye. And then the end is now you need to document your story. Um, and now is the time. Um, you know, I love that you started with Jesus was a storyteller, because I I totally believe that. And then part of the premise of this book is that Jesus told stories. The apostles told stories. But guess what? You and I would not be believers today if the apostles didn't write those stories down. So it's not just a matter of having a great story, it's about documenting it in a way that can serve other people, whether it's in a journal, whether it's in a blog, whether it's in a book, whether it's on a podcast, but you got to document it and you got to get it out there. And then finally, the E stands for um equip and encourage others. There's something that happens when you share your story and then you're vulnerable. You, you subconsciously are inspiring other people to do the same. And so, in order for us to really build the body of Christ, we have to encourage one another and be vulnerable and share what we've been through, good or bad, in order to help someone else. And and so that's kind of the there's more to it, but that's the premise of of the book.
SPEAKER_02And yeah. And this really starts with an individual sharing their own story, but then for the organization that they lead, that or that company needs to tell its story too, right? And you know, when you think about the companies like like Chick-fil-A, you you go into Chick-fil-A, I guess I haven't been because of the pandemic, we haven't been in there in so long, but the story is on the wall, right? With the pictures of kind of where Chick-fil-A has come from and the in the dwarf house. And you don't see that in too many restaurants, right? Because things are just very transactional. But that's one of the among many other amazing things about Chick-fil-A that they do so well and so differently is to really bring their their story out to the forefront of the store. I mean, is that what you advise businesses to do?
SPEAKER_01100%. Um, it is because, well, there's a couple of things that happen there. You know, when you're when you write a book or you share your story, you know, there is this instant credibility that goes along with it. But what you do with it is is is really the key. And I think it builds trust. Again, when somebody knows your why, you know your intentions, why you're in business, you're not just in business. I mean, of course, we're all in business to uh have a means to an end. And yes, we we exchange dollars for value, but ultimately there's a usually a bigger purpose behind why you do your business. And I, you know, you you're you do this podcast. So I'm sure when you're interviewing people, you ask why, you know, why do you do what you do? Because we want to know. And I think that's why there's such a fascination with documentaries and um podcasts, is because it's one thing to okay, you're successful, that's great, or you have this awesome business that does great things, that's awesome. But we're more interested in the backstory of how did you get there and why. And um, I just think that it it it helps consumers feel this confidence. Trickle A is probably one of the greatest examples that I'm so glad you brought up because we have this confidence in them because we know their intentions, we know what started it and we know what they stand on. And if they didn't share that story, we would never know. We wouldn't have as much loyalty.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. Yep, gonna have a good product. So, what where can people connect with you, Michelle? And what are you working on right now that people can get involved with?
SPEAKER_01Well, I you know, I'm finalizing the book shine and I'm I'm working on some additional systems, coaching around that, really wanting to help people to just uh uncover what's holding them back. Um, but I'm also working on some things, you know, taking this into companies um broader than just individuals, of helping companies to see how how they help their employees to really be their best self and to dream. And so, and I, you know, with my training background and speaking, I've been working on a lot of things in that area right now. So all under the same umbrella of, you know, find your passion, follow your purpose, you know, share your story, make a difference. And whether you're an individual, whether you're a business owner, or whether you're a company, um, as Christians, I think we all are called to help one another be our best selves and to shine. If they could find me, just Michelleprince.com, or I'm on Facebook, um, Instagram, Twitter, you know, all those things. Um, but reach out. I'd love to support anybody that has any questions on finding their story or just living their best life.
SPEAKER_02Excellent. MichellePrince.com, that's where to go, everybody. Michelle, thank you for your time. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and your um and your passion for helping people share their story today.
SPEAKER_00Thank you, Darren. Thank you for having me. We hope you've enjoyed this episode. And if so, we would greatly appreciate it if you would leave us a quick rating and review for the Christianity and Business podcast on iTunes. You can get more information about HBU Center for Christianity and Business at Christianityandbusiness.com. Thanks for listening, and remember to keep integrating biblical values into your business.