By: Svetlana Papazov
“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in [Jesus] because of the woman’s testimony…” John 4:39
Jesus met the woman at the well in trying times. He spoke of her situations and circumstances. As she came to know truth, that Jesus is the savior of the world, she relayed this truth to the many people in her village. It was a truth that changed her live, that she knew others needed to know about. As a result, her testimony led to many of other people knowing and believing in Jesus Christ.
Remember what pushed you to pursue solving a problem in the first place, thus becoming a success. Whatever obstacle you have overcome, whatever truth you have discovered that others need to know about rests inside of you and is waiting to come out. People are changed by hearing the power of our overcoming testimonies. Be willing and excited to share the knowledge, truth, and obstacles that have changed you from the inside out. It is that truth that allows you to bring a solution to a problem.
The woman at the well knew the solution to sin was Jesus Christ. What is the solution that you can bring to a problem? Whatever you have become an expert in, do not be afraid to share it.
Remember, without solving a problem, you have no success to brag about; you haven’t made this world a better place and haven’t earned the right to influence others toward a better future.
How can you teach someone to earn a seven figure income, if you’ve never done it yourself? Just reading how others have done it and retelling it doesn’t cut it.
If you are a millionaire that scaled up his/her income from a humble beginning to an impressive yearly salary, you will have the ear of many.
How will you lead someone to an addiction free lifestyle, if you yourself are still an addict?
If you are clean for months or years, now you can point others to a new beginning beyond addiction that will set them for success in the future.
Tell your success story from a vulnerable angle.
Q: What made you overcome an obstacle/solve a problem that transformed you into a better person?
In every success story there is a vulnerable reason for your transformation quest. Dig deep, find the reason and share that story with your audience from that angle. You’ll captivate your audience every time.
Pro-Tip: Assess your audience to be sure you talk matches the cares and concerns of the people you are speaking to. You may have a brilliant talk, but delivering it to the wrong audience.
Your failures, that you have overcome, connect you to your audience better than your successes.
In every success story there is a vulnerable reason for your transformation quest.
Reflection: What solution are you ready to talk about?
Prayer: God I thank you for the obstacles that transform us into stronger individuals. Help us to see the things we have overcome as blessings, because they have taught us so much that we can teach others how to do the same thing. Give us boldness and courage to speak to those who need our expertise to help them overcome their current obstacles. Amen.
Svetlana Papazov is Lead Pastor and Founder of Real Life Church, President/Founder of Real Life Center for Entrepreneurial and Leadership Excellence, a first of its kind model of church and business incubator that educates in entrepreneurship, leadership and faith praxis, and author of the book, “Church for Monday.”