OU’s Alumni Association hosted its webinar “Your Untapped Power: Using Your Story to Inspire Transformation” on April 16. The webinar focused on committing to a personal story to uncover power and leadership strength.
Chief Inspiration Officer at Inspired Purpose Partners and best-selling author Tony Martignetti advised the audience through guidance to stay focused in stressful situations.
“I get to help leaders navigate chaotic times to get clarity about what it is you know by uncovering your story on this journey,” Martignetti said. “We tell stories about who we are as individuals or as a collective group.”
Martignetti explained that stories affect knowledge deeper than what is commonly believed.
“Stories affect us physically and mentally on many different levels, changing our thoughts, feelings and often our actions,” Martignetti said.
He emphasized the heightened ability to memorize experience and improve information processing, making storing data easier but not reaching our fullest potential.
“We create our nightmares through the story we tell ourselves about what might happen, often reflecting on our past and rewriting our stories,” Martignetti said. “We often transform our past challenges into strengths, but people don’t look back, they only think forward, but we have to look back.”
Martignetti shared a personal career experience to reach the goals of his corporate wishes, explaining the emotional ties given up fulfilling those needs.
These experiences led to the true desire for the line of work and momentum of leadership.
“I started to share my story instead of running from them so I can move forward from a place of strength and not fear,” Martignetti said.
He continued to share his past challenges with misguided leaders, becoming a lever for the future.
“We should no longer tolerate leaders who squandered their opportunity to authentically lead, inspire and empower the people who make these amazing breakthroughs possible,” Martignetti said.
Martignetti explained that to make a change, he had to utilize a form of coaching.
“If I wanted to help others, I had to discover who I was before I could guide others,” Martignetti said.
The webinar asked the listeners questions about personal stories and reflecting on defining moments in their careers or life callings.
“You’re learning from these experiences that either peak or challenge you along the way,” Martignetti said.
Martignetti focused on personal challenges that caused burnout and imposter syndrome, realizing his true desire for work and journey soon unfolded.
The event encouraged the audience to consider their paths to uncover their next life points, transcending from the past.
“It’s one step at a time to figure out and bring awareness of who you are, allowing you to take the next steps of evolving,” Martignetti said. “It starts with personal values and understanding where you come from.”
The webinar ended with listeners’ questions regarding the desire for work and the need for community leadership to succeed.
Visit the OU Events Calendar through the Alumni Association for more information about Martignetti and future inspirational speakers.
