Mira Awad’s Post

"I'm not a numbers person!" I always made sure to clarify to anyone who was interested in hearing. But I never really stopped to consider whether that was true or not.   As a girl with artistic tendencies, many people in my early childhood were quick to tell me what I was good at and what I wasn’t. And when you hear something enough times, you internalize it as if it’s your own truth.   So there I was, repeating things I never really gave much thought to. It sounded like it made sense, so I rolled with it. However, words are not just words. Words become beliefs, which translate into values, shape behaviors, and eventually form habits that construct the person you are.   Inevitably, the story we tell ourselves dictates who we become.   This grim realization comes with a silver lining, though. Now that we understand why we are the way we are, we also know how to change it—by changing the story we tell ourselves.   Storytelling has become a well-known term in marketing, but we seldom discuss its value for personal growth. I work with people looking to advance to a better job, change careers, or take that leap of faith they’ve been dreaming of for a lifetime, and we do it merely by changing the stories they tell themselves.   I know—it’s easier said than done. These shifts don’t happen overnight. I, for instance, despite the changes I went through, still have an automatic aversion to numbers. But nowadays, when I catch myself saying, “I’m not a numbers person,” I immediately correct it: “Well, that’s what I was made to believe, and it’s not necessarily true.” That simple correction transformed the way I approach the daily realities of running my business and my career.   In fact, my latest blog post happens to be all about numbers! While it’s geared towards investor pitches, I think there’s something there for everyone. Link to my post "Start with a Number: The Power of Numbers in Investor Pitches" is in the comments, along with the link to subscribe to my newsletter for more tips on storytelling and presentation skills. Take care, Mira

Everyone who's ever tried marketing anything knows that the success of a product hinges on one fundamental principle: it must offer a solution to a pressing problem that a segment of the population faces. The more significant the problem and the larger the audience, the greater the potential of the product to become popular and profitable. However, success isn't always about reaching the largest audience. Sometimes, addressing the need of a very specific, well-defined market segment can lead to a highly desirable product.  So how do you go about telling a story that your specific audience wants to hear? I try to tackle that in today's blog "Your Product is the Solution". Link to the blog post in comment below. And in another comment, you'll find a link to subscribe to my newsletter for more tips about storytelling.

I was on a call with a seasoned investor yesterday, discussing the storytelling needs of his company. At the beginning of the call, although I had googled him beforehand, he felt compelled to introduce himself. "I guess I need to say a few words about me," he said. I could immediately see the energy draining from his body, and his tone of voice went into autopilot mode, reciting his bio as if he'd done it hundreds of times before. The fact is, he probably has done it hundreds of times before and will have to do it hundreds more. At the end, he asked, "Any questions?" I said I had none, but since I was here to help, I asked permission to be honest and then pointed out what I had just witnessed. He laughed and confirmed that he was already aware of this habit and knew it was a problem. I asked him to tell me about himself again, but instead of listing CV items, I wanted him to phrase his story as a journey between three stations: "I started as X, then I got interested in Y, and that brought me into doing Z." This was like pressing the refresh button. The man sat up in his chair, his tone woke up, and he managed to find the three stations of his career in a heartbeat. In that short monologue, he used magic words like: "What I learned was...", "I became passionate about...", "It was fascinating to me...", and "What I love doing." Taking me along on his life journey felt more intimate and personal to him, and much more interesting and engaging to me! This time, I definitely had questions; I wanted to drill him about what he had learned, what he became passionate about, and what fascinated him. You see, the trick to being interesting is to be interested! When you have passion for something, you are contagious. *Subscribe to my storytelling newsletter for similar tips on storytelling and presentation skills: https://lnkd.in/d86B6Gsj

The new website is finally up and running, and I could not be any happier with the design that the very talented Roni Ben-Tsruya did for me! Here's a link to my first blog post about Personal Storytelling. Subscribe to get insights and tips about Storytelling and Presentation Skills. Always happy to hear your thoughts. https://lnkd.in/dc23dJ3b

Bring them home. My latest newsletter: https://wix.to/NAZahFC

By the light of a phone, my latest newsletter: https://wix.to/NEavSwk

It was an absolute delight to be part of this magnificent team. Onwards and upwards Climate First !

Yesterday at the House of Lords, Climate First kicked off the London roadshow. Why am I the only one looking like a tourist though?🤔😆

I’m happy to share that I’ve started a new position as a Storytelling Consultant for the fantastic cohort of startups at Climate First! I am especially thrilled because of my strong belief that these companies are going to be making an incredible impact on the planet and our chances of survival as its inhabitants. I have made it a point to use my skills in Storytelling to help cause-driven companies and organizations, and cannot be happier about this perfect fit.

I am thrilled to take part in the Climate First Roadshow as a Climate First Mentor. The roadshow brings 10 exceptional climate tech companies from Israel to the UK, the second largest climate hub in the world, and includes many different networking and community events: * Cohort II House of Lords Welcome Reception, 11 March * Climate First Investment Forum, 12 March * Family Offices Climate Roundtable, 13 March Join us! Registration Link:  https://lnkd.in/dAzrurZG