I want to share a secret with you today. A secret that I’ve found from experiencing, watching and engaging.The Secret: A story (that is, a life story), is often what is needed to bring you success

It only recently occurred to me that a part of my success in life and in business is due to my story.

My Story (or, what attracts people to me and helps me stand out)

• I was a little brat as a kid. I overcame that after realising arguments only get you closer to your grave.
• I was captain of my football team for several years.
• At 14, I designed my first Web site. I’d never been as passionate about anything else.
• At 15, I got my first pay cheque for designing a Web site.
• At 16, I passed all my school exams, despite being told by my teachers that I would never do so.
• In March 2005, at 17, I dropped out of college a year early. I did so to allow me to work full time from home, for myself.
• In August 2005, at 17, I travelled 3,500 miles, alone, across the Atlantic to attend a BBQ with several Web designers, bloggers and Web host owners in the back garden of the house of a friend I met online. I came back home intact, carrying some of the most important lessons of my life with me.
• In May 2006, at 18, I was interviewed for a newspaper for the first time. The newspaper ran a half-page article entitled Web wizard has designs on a million.
• Also in May 2006, at 18, I conducted my first radio interview. I spent 10 minutes talking live on BBC radio about my life as a young entrepreneur.
• In 2007, I became a Scout leader, continuing my 13 years of Scouting by dedicating myself to helping other young people achieve their absolute best.
• In July 2008, I decided to resign as co-owner of the business I dropped out of college to start. I set my sights on travel and blogging.

That’s my story. I take it for granted. I don’t feel special or different. Because I’m not. Because we all have our own stories. Life stories. It is however, how well you write your story that determines its relevance to your success.

There are two examples that stand out to me which show the importance of a story when looking for success.

Britain's Got Talent

Britain's Got Talent is a TV talent show. Having now being going for two seasons, we’ve seen two very worthy winners. Paul Potts won the first season with his Opera singing performance. And George Sampson won the second season with his street dancing performance.

They were both absolutely fantastic acts. But so were the several other acts who made it in to the two respective finals. In fact, I’d go as far as to say there was very little difference between the top three in both seasons of the show. Apart from, of course, their stories.

Paul’s Story

Paul was a mobile phone salesman with a huge lack of confidence. He was the gentle giant. The man with a talent that nobody ever thought he could have.

George’s Story

George is 15 years old (good start!). He’s a cheeky kid, from a poor background and couldn’t have got to the Britain’s Got Talent auditions without earning the train fare to London by performing his act on his city streets. He also never gives up. He did in fact audition in the first season of the show with the same street dancing skill but he didn’t even make it close to the final. He came back for the second year to show the judges he had what it takes. Honestly, I’m not sure he was all that much better in the second season than he was in the first. He was fantastic in both. But he had a much better story to tell in the second season.

The Talents who may have Won if they had a Better Story

In the second season, we saw two acts who may well have won the show had they had better stories.

Faryl Smith

Faryl is a classical singer. She has an amazing voice. And she’s 12 years old. That all sounds like the start of a great story. Unfortunately for her, she looked far above her age. Being 12 just doesn’t cut it in the entertainment industry. You have to actually “be” 12, act 12, look 12 and be that cute kid everybody loves to love. Like George. While Faryl’s maturity beyond her years (both in mind and in body) will help her greatly in most aspects of life, when your fate relies on the vote of a national audience, it doesn’t quite play in to your hands.

Signature - Suleman Mirza and Madhu Singh

Since George won the show, there has been widespread calls from many people saying Signature should have won the competition. With their incredible dance skills, combing pop and British Bhangra (Indian dance), as well as their flare for shock and surprise, the argument that they should have won is very strong. From my own point of view, I couldn’t call it between Signature and George. They were both as good as each other.

Unfortunately for Signature, they didn’t win the competition because of their complete lack of a story. They are grown men (against the kid that everybody loves). They had stable jobs (as salesman and training to be a lawyer). The story just wasn’t there for them, and as much as we all loved them and their act, the audience couldn’t connect emotionally with them as much as they could with George.

Your Story

Most people have a story. Somewhere you’ll have a story. Something that makes you stand out. Something that says “You can connect with me”. If you can’t find your story, set out to start a new story. Join that sports team. Find that passion. Expand that comfort zone.

Your life is a story. Write it as you wish.