Article: Change Your Stories, Change Your Life

In the last decade, first as a founding member of an internal consulting group at a Fortune 500 company, then as the founder and president of my own consulting company, I have coached hundreds of corporate executives facing work crises, family challenges, life decisions, and moral dilemmas. I have taught thousands of people how to accept accountability and lead themselves to the life and work experiences they desire.

Each time I explore a story with one of my clients, we both learn from the experience. I am grateful to all of my clients for helping me understand the power of our stories. Each time I catch myself in a victim story, I also learn. Th e lessons from all of these experiences are captured in this book.

To support you in shifting your stories, the book is divided into two parts: a parable and a resource guide.

Parable
In the parable we follow the story of Jeff, a good guy with talent and high hopes whose life throws him some unexpected challenges.

His struggle is one I believe we have all faced. How do you respond positively to adversity without letting it bring you down? With a little help, he discovers the answer, and so will you.

I wrote this book as a parable because I think the story brings the lessons to life and makes them easier and more fun to digest. Although this story is fictional, the characters draw from many people in my life � ��" my family, friends, colleagues, clients, and of course myself.

However, one part of this parable is true. Th at story has been one of the greatest inspirations of my life. If you can't guess which part that is while you read the parable, you'll find out in the afterword.

Resource Guide
The lessons of the parable will be evident, but that doesn't mean they will automatically translate into sustained behavior change. Therefore, a resource guide after the parable offers specific tips and tools you can use to carry the lessons from this book into your work and life.

I have done my best to provide effective lessons in this book.

However, changing your stories is a skill that takes practice over time. I still discover more every day. In order for me to share these lessons, http://www.be-the-hero.com features a reader's section that will be updated with more information and tools to help individuals and managers succeed.

You will also have access to a forum where you can connect with others who are seeking to live and work like heroes, and you will be able to ask me questions about the heroic challenges in your work and life. Your access code to enter the reader's section of the Web site can be found in the resource guide of this book.

I hope you enjoy this book, and I invite you to be the hero you want to be.

Noah Blumenthal

July 2009

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