Finding Your Voice: A Journey of Discovery and Expression
Printer-Friendly Version
How do you find your voice?
I remember my dog, Bonnie, finding her bark. She was a beagle puppy playing around in my son’s room. She stopped suddenly and let out a short but enthusiastic “Aroo.” It shocked her and us. From then on, it was always fun to hear her uniquely beagle “Arroooooo.”
That’s what it’s like when we find our voice. We discover and express our unique perspective, style, and identity. It’s about embracing who you are, what you believe, and how you communicate those beliefs to the world.
How do you discover your voice? Here’s my journey.
Their principles—their stories. Leadership gurus like Dale Carnegie and John Maxwell heavily influenced my voice. I taught their principles and shared their stories. I mimicked their thoughts and behaviors. I even mirrored the body language and gestures of some great speakers. But it was their voice, not mine. Be diligent in who or what influences you. Put garbage in, you get garbage out; put treasures in, you get treasures out.
Their principles—My stories. During my Maxwell Leadership certification, I was encouraged to develop 30 stories to use when teaching or speaking about Maxwell’s principles. For example, Maxwell states in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership’s Law of Connection, “Leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand.” I developed a story about connecting with a Coca-Cola senior leader that I’ve shared many times.
My principles – My stories. I began writing a book in 2011, blogging in 2017, and podcasting in 2021. Expressing and summarizing my thoughts into simple takeaways or principles helped shape my voice. I adopted the phrase, “how do I know what I think unless I read what I write?” Hence, I’ve invested decades in journaling and writing to develop my thoughts and shape my voice. And my voice comes from my heart. Sometimes, it’s joyful; other times, it’s broken or sorrowful. Let’s say I have a scar I can talk about. Les Brown said, “People will respect you for your success but love you for your failures.”
People will respect you for your success but love you for your failures.
Les Brown
My principles – Their stories. It never ceases to amaze me when I facilitate a workshop or deliver a talk to hear someone repeat a principle or respond to a message I’ve shared. Something resonated with them: a thought or word, a principle or application, a story or experience. People take a principle, apply it to their lives, and make a change. Nothing is more gratifying to me than helping others by sharing some of the small wisdom nuggets I’ve learned during my lifetime.
Like Bonnie found her unique voice with that first “Aroo,” finding your voice is about discovering and expressing what makes you unique. It’s about combining your principles with your stories and experiences and, sometimes, borrowing wisdom from others to shape and refine your perspective. Remember, people may respect your successes, but they’ll love you for your authenticity and how you connect with them through your vulnerabilities. Keep sharing your voice—it’s the most powerful tool you have.
Visit my website for more insights and resources: prestonpoore.com
![prestonpoore-133 prestonpoore-133](https://prestonpoore.com/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/prestonpoore-133-circle-d9d59560110cce4e0130ff9e18f84e07-5f246f3dd049d.jpg)
Preston Poore
I'm an award-winning Fortune 500 executive with over 30 years of experience, including tenures at The Coca-Cola Company, The Hershey Company, and Ralston Purina. On top of that, I am a Numerica Corporation co-owner and board of directors member, published author, and a John Maxwell Team certified speaker, trainer, and executive coach.
My learnings and lessons are not drawn from the classroom of academic theory but from the crucible of marketplace trenches. I share my hard-earned experience with audiences to help them, their teams, and organizations become the best version of themselves.
Discover Your Life Purpose
Do you wake up each day dreading the idea of spending another day at work? If you’ve failed to discover and build your life around your life purpose, you might feel dissatisfied with your life. Flip the script! Get this special eBook, discover your purpose, and begin living a more fulfilling life today!
![C_FORTH_FS_DIN_20160315_0731_color C_FORTH_FS_DIN_20160315_0731_color](https://prestonpoore.com/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/C_FORTH_FS_DIN_20160315_0731_color-scaled-square-f45c49cfedb6b01f64dbaa81d22745b8-609eabc35e75c.jpg)
Want to Book Preston for your next event?
Books By Preston Poore
My perspective is that stronger leadership comes through building a stronger faith. That’s why I’ve published Discipled Leader and 21 Days to Sound Decision Making. Grab these to help you tap into your potential and make a significant impact on your family, business, and community.