Values-Driven Storytelling: Finding Your Authentic Voice

In today's world of surface-level content and quick-hit viral moments, real voices of impact are getting lost in the noise. As a documentary filmmaker, I've witnessed firsthand how the most powerful stories often go untold – not because they lack value, but because we're approaching storytelling all wrong.

The Challenge with Values

Every leader has core values that drive their work. Yet when I sit down with clients for our first Story Strategy session, even the most articulate experts often struggle to name what truly matters to them. Recently, I worked with a renowned relationship expert who, despite teaching values to others for years, found herself pausing when asked to articulate her own.

"I never have... it's strange. I just have to think a minute," she reflected during our first call. This moment of hesitation is surprisingly common, and it reveals something crucial about how we approach our stories.

We're often too close to our own narrative to see it clearly. We focus on what we think we should value instead of uncovering what truly drives us.

A Different Approach to Finding Your Values

Through the Story Mapping process, I've discovered that the key to uncovering authentic values lies not in what we say we value, but in the stories we live every day. Here's a simple exercise to help you start this discovery:

1. Look for Patterns: Think about moments when you made difficult decisions. What principles guided your choices?

2. Find the Friction: Identify times when you felt tension between different priorities. What ultimately won out?

3. Notice Your Energy: What stories do you find yourself telling others again and again? What lights you up when you talk about it?

4. Examine Your Challenges: Sometimes our values become clearest in moments of difficulty. What lines won't you cross, even when it would be easier to do so?

Why This Matters

Your values aren't just words on a wall – they're the foundation of your impact. When you understand what truly drives you, everything else falls into place: your content, your message, your ability to connect with others.

As one client reflected after going through this process: "It's valuable in and of itself... it's just clarifying, it's important."

Moving Beyond Surface Stories

True values-driven storytelling goes beyond the standard mission statement or brand values. It requires:

• Honesty: Being willing to examine what really drives your decisions

• Vulnerability: Sharing the struggles along with the successes

• Consistency: Living your values, not just stating them

• Courage: Standing firm in what matters most to you

Creating Lasting Impact

When you build your story from authentic values:

• Your content naturally resonates more deeply

• Your message becomes clearer and more compelling

• Your impact creates lasting change

• Your audience connects with who you really are

Taking the Next Step

Your story matters – not just what you do, but why you do it. The world needs your authentic voice. If you're ready to discover and share your true values:

Book a Story mapping session to dive deeper.

Remember: The goal isn't to create another piece of content that gets lost in the noise. It's about sharing your story in a way that creates lasting meaning and genuine connection.

Ready to discover your core values and share your story more authentically?

How a Documentary Can Deliver ROI for Leaders & Entrepreneurs

When Bruce, the head of the National Wheelchair Softball Association (NWSA), first approached our studio, he had a modest budget and a simple goal: document their annual tournament and create some educational content about the sport. What he didn't expect was how a short documentary would transform the visibility and legitimacy of wheelchair softball, creating ripple effects that continue years later.

"Your pieces created the legitimacy of the sport," Bruce explains. "Not a perception, but that reality... Prior to that, there was really nothing that existed."

The Challenge: Documenting a Niche Sport

Wheelchair softball's rich history dates back to 1947 at the Birmingham Army Hospital in California. The National Wheelchair Softball Association was formally established in 1976, and over the decades, the sport grew from a few teams in the upper Midwest to a nationwide phenomenon. The Nebraska Barons, Bruce's team, emerged as a dominant force in the modern era, claiming 13 titles between 2003 and 2021. (Source)

Despite this impressive legacy and competitive spirit, the sport struggled with visibility. As Bruce explains, "It was always amazing to me that no one over the many years had really even videotaped games... Beyond that, there was nothing. Then the periodic news channel article, you know, they had different teams out in their cities and things."

A Niche Sport with Broad Impact

Today, wheelchair softball encompasses approximately 500 active players in the United States and another 100 internationally. While these numbers might seem modest, Bruce emphasizes the broader impact: "The families of all those 500 people, you know, and the friends and relatives of those families... there's a reach there. The people that play the game are very much involved in it, and those that love them have an interest in it."

The Solution: From Event Coverage to Human Stories

While the original scope was straightforward event coverage, we proposed a different approach: following several key individuals through the tournament to tell the human story of wheelchair softball. This included perspectives from players, coaches, and even an umpire.

Bruce's response to this pivot reveals the power of trust between client and creative team: "What's the downside, you know? The money wasn't enough for what you did, it's all we had. But what was the downside of doing that? So why not?"

The Results: Creating Lasting Impact

We created a short documentary about the tournament featuring profiling a player commonly referred to as MVP, a player who is a spirited leader, a coach looking to take the sports’ impact internationally, and an umpire who first underestimated the sport but quickly fell in love with the game. You can view the trailer for the short film at the bottom of this post.

Years later, the documentary has delivered measurable results and ongoing benefits:

1. Mainstream Sports Recognition "As a direct result - and no doubt a direct result - several different major companies have included wheelchair softball clips in the promotion of Major League Baseball," Bruce notes. "There was the World Series clip... a five second piece that was put into the promo of the World Series."

2. Legitimacy and Credibility "Your pieces created the legitimacy of the sport," Bruce explains. "Not a perception, but that reality... Prior to that, there was really nothing that existed."

3. Evergreen Marketing Asset The documentary continues to serve as a valuable recruitment tool. "All the people that I try to recruit, I definitely send those videos for them to view, to try to get the hook and try to get them interested."

4. Long-Term Value As Bruce points out, "It's timeless because the sport doesn't change so much. Just like baseball doesn't change... What was created will be applicable now, and it's been 5 or 6 years... It'll be applicable another five years and another five years."

5. Expanded Awareness and Participation While exact numbers are difficult to track, Bruce notes the documentary's role in growing awareness: "You don't know why new players come to the sport or why there's greater attention drawn to it. But those little five second pieces here or there create maybe looks and hits on the internet and looks and hits on the website."

The Unexpected Benefits

Perhaps most significantly, the documentary has helped fulfill the organization's broader mission of creating opportunities for people with disabilities. As Bruce reflects, "It's more about the opportunity for people that have this special need... the awareness that exists so that they can add that to their life that will help them lifestyle wise and health wise."

Key Takeaways for Leaders

This case study demonstrates several crucial points about documentary investment:

1. Trust the Creative Process: Being open to creative direction can lead to more impactful results than initially envisioned.

2. Think Long-Term: A well-crafted documentary can serve as a marketing asset for years, continuing to deliver value long after its initial release.

3. Human Stories Matter: While event coverage has its place, telling human stories creates deeper connections and more lasting impact.

4. Multiple Use Cases: A single documentary can serve multiple purposes - from recruitment to legitimacy-building to mainstream media inclusion.

Breaking Down Barriers Through Storytelling

Non-profits and social impact organizations often face a common challenge: the communities they serve are frequently misunderstood or overlooked by the broader public. Traditional marketing materials and statistics, while valuable, can struggle to create genuine understanding and empathy.

Documentary storytelling offers a powerful solution to this challenge. By focusing on individual stories and experiences, documentaries help audiences move beyond stereotypes and statistics to see the human reality of social issues. As Bruce's case demonstrates, when viewers connect with real people sharing their authentic experiences, it creates a deeper understanding that can lead to meaningful change.

"It's the stories of the people that really connect you to the sport," Bruce notes, highlighting how personal narratives created awareness and opportunities that raw information about wheelchair softball never could. This human-centered approach helps break down barriers and misconceptions while building bridges of understanding between communities.

For organizations looking to document their work, the lesson is clear: while the initial investment might seem significant, the long-term ROI of a well-crafted documentary can far exceed expectations, creating lasting value that serves your mission for years to come.

From Idea to Action: How We Make Starting Your Documentary Easy

The late summer sun streams through my office window as I settle in for a Story Strategy call with Jennifer, a renowned relationship expert considering her first documentary project. Like many visionaries I work with, she's built something meaningful but struggles to find the right way to share her story authentically. As we dive into our first session, I can sense both excitement and uncertainty in her voice – emotions I've come to recognize well in these initial conversations.

The Journey Begins: Story Strategy Session 1

The first Story Strategy session is all about discovery. We explore the deeper meaning behind Jennifer's work, uncovering the values that drive her and the impact she hopes to create. Through carefully crafted questions and thoughtful discussion, we begin mapping out her core values – those fundamental principles that have guided her journey and shaped her mission.

"It's interesting to me that that wasn't just immediate because I'm always sort of teaching values," Jennifer reflects during our session. "I've never done that... to articulate it as here are my core values."

This initial excavation of values leads naturally into stories – those pivotal moments that illustrate who she is and what she stands for. The process often surprises clients as they discover new connections between their experiences and their work.

Diving Deeper: Story Strategy Session 2

By our second session in early October, the framework of Jennifer's story is taking shape. We refine her core values, matching each with powerful stories that bring them to life. The conversation flows more easily now as we explore how her unique perspective could reach and impact her intended audience.

This session is where we really dig into the "why" – why tell this story now? Why in this way? We discuss practical concerns about timing, logistics, and approach while keeping focused on the ultimate vision.

Bringing It All Together: The Story Map Presentation

Spring flowers are blooming when we reconvene for the final presentation. The Story Map has evolved into a comprehensive guide for Jennifer's documentary journey, incorporating everything we've discovered together. It includes:

• Clearly articulated core values with supporting stories

• A vision for the documentary's structure and style

• Production timeline and budget considerations

• Strategic recommendations for reaching her intended audience

"It's valuable in and of itself, even if you do nothing beyond it," Jennifer reflects on the process. "It's just clarifying, it's important."

Why Story Mapping Works

The Story Mapping process breaks down what can feel like an overwhelming project into manageable, strategic steps. It provides:

1. Clarity of purpose and message

2. A solid foundation for your documentary project

3. Confidence in your story's value and impact

4. A practical roadmap for moving forward

Through three focused sessions, we transform initial ideas into actionable plans while ensuring your authentic voice remains at the center of the story.

Your Story Deserves to Be Told

Every visionary leader has a story worth sharing. Whether you're ready to start production immediately or just beginning to explore the possibility, Story Mapping provides the clarity and direction needed to move forward with confidence.

Your work is making an impact. Let's make sure your story does too.

Ready to explore how Story Mapping could help bring your story to life? [Contact us to learn more about starting your journey.]

Changing lives with Legacy documentary films

The Gift of Time: Why Leaders Are Choosing Legacy Films to Preserve Their Family's Story

Imagine this: A 90-year-old woman in a beautiful pink ball gown steps onto a theater stage. Her name is in lights on the marquee outside. Inside, her family watches in awe as she dances, despite having only started dancing at 89. This isn't a scene from a Hollywood film. This is a real moment, captured forever in a legacy film that would become one of her family's most treasured possessions.

More Than Just a Documentary

"Who in the world gets that?" Geniel Fife wondered aloud when reflecting on having a documentary made about her life. "I'm so lucky to have had this documentary made and to have it so well done with sound and color and motion and the quality of it."

It's a common reaction. Many remarkable individuals – particularly those who've lived lives of quiet impact – don't see themselves as documentary subjects. As Geniel's daughter Carolyn observed, "There can be documentaries made about a soccer player and their achievements... But having a documentary about my mom is just so profound... Why would I ever have a documentary made about me? And yet the ripple effect that she's had in the world is profound and it's relatable."

The Urgency of Now

For many families, the decision to create a legacy film comes at a crucial moment. As Geniel's daughter-in-law Pauline reflected after her passing, "All I can say is now looking back on it, I'm amazed and I'm grateful that we've had a year. I mean, not many people get more than a few weeks or months... How many families get this kind of a blessing, where they've been able to have time to pull together all of this material, to have this kind of closure in this kind of manner?"

The contrast with unexpected loss is stark. As Pauline shared, "When my dad died suddenly of a heart attack... I didn't have a year to even talk to him or have time... There were so many things I thought later, 'Oh, I wish I'd ask my dad this.'"

A Bridge Between Generations

Legacy films serve as more than just historical records – they're bridges between generations. Stephen, another family member, captured this perfectly: "I've often thought about how interesting would be to have a video of my own grandfather and grandmother. What were they like? Do they have some characteristics that I have? It's nice to know that there's some strength in your ancestors because maybe some of that is in your own blood."

This sentiment echoes what many successful individuals understand: knowing your roots provides strength and context for future generations. As John Finnlayson-Fife noted, "If you look at family life... through generations, you learn not just good ways of doing things, but you get to understand why my dad is this way... You can learn from that a certain amount of acceptance and wisdom and compassion."

Why Now Is the Time to Invest in Your Family's Legacy

The convergence of technology and storytelling has created an unprecedented opportunity. As Geniel’s son Karl observed, "There's this intersection of an unbelievable amount of cutting-edge technology that's being used to document what it's like to be alive in this moment... To me, this endeavor feels like the first black and white photograph."

However, the true value isn't in the technology itself. "Story is king," Karl emphasized. "You need somebody with vision to assemble the story and to remember what matters and sequence it in the right order...That's always going to be a precious resource."

The Return on Investment: Beyond Financial Metrics

For leaders and successful individuals accustomed to measuring ROI, here are the unique benefits of investing in a legacy film:

1. Preserved Wisdom: Capture the insights, experiences, and life lessons of your family's elders while they can still share them personally.

2. Generational Connection: Create a tangible link between past and future generations, helping your descendants understand their roots and draw strength from their heritage.

3. Family Unity: The process of creating the film itself brings families together, creating new memories while preserving old ones.

4. Emotional Healing: Provide a structured way for family members to process grief, share appreciation, and express unspoken feelings.

5. Cultural Legacy: Document not just individual stories, but the values, traditions, and principles that have guided your family's success.

6. Professional Quality: Work with skilled documentarians who can transform personal histories into compelling narratives that will engage future generations.

7. Timeless Investment: Create an heirloom that appreciates in emotional value over time, becoming more precious with each passing generation.

In an era where success is often measured in quarterly returns and annual reports, legacy films offer something different: the opportunity to create an enduring testament to what matters most. As Geniel’s son David reflected while contemplating history, "You go to a graveyard and you'll see someone who died in 1846. You think, who was this person? What was her life like?... It's just gone. And it's really sad."

Don't let your family's story be just another name in a future genealogy database. The time to capture these stories is now, while they can be told firsthand, with all the richness and emotion that only personal narrative can provide.

As Geniel said in her final months, "You made me famous." But more importantly, she and her family created something that will continue to inspire, teach, and connect generations to come.

Ready to explore creating a legacy film for your family? Contact us to learn more about our bespoke documentary services for discerning families.