The Part of Your Story You’re Probably Ignoring (That Could Change Everything)

What if the most powerful part of your expertise isn’t what you’ve learned—but what you’ve lived?

My two weeks in Chile—unhurried days with family, long walks by the ocean, lazy lunches in vineyards, and nights spent stargazing—weren’t just a break from work. They were a return to something essential. Strangely, the moments that seemed the least productive held the most clarity. What I found wasn’t just rest—it was revelation. And it made me realize: the overlooked parts of our lives—the quiet, quirky, deeply personal stuff—aren’t a detour from our professional path. They might just be the most important part of it.

Meandering conversations over grilled meat, Chilean empanadas, and more than a few glasses of good wine—on the surface, it was just family reminiscing and laughing. But beneath it, something deeper began to settle in. I started seeing with fresh eyes why I’m drawn so instinctively to social causes, why I care so fiercely about combining success with significance, and why storytelling feels less like a skill and more like a native language. The roots run deeper than I realized—into my grandparents, cousins, aunts, and even great-grandparents I’ve never met. I owe more to them than I ever understood.

Most of the people we admire aren’t extraordinary because of some mysterious talent—they’re extraordinary because they’ve embraced the entirety of their life experience, including the painful and peculiar parts. They’ve found a way to infuse their expertise with story, struggle, and soul. That’s what makes them unforgettable. It’s not brilliance alone that sets them apart—it’s integration.

The real obstacle to living an extraordinary life isn’t a lack of specialness. It’s that we don’t recognize how special our story already is. And often, it takes a mirror—whether through deep reflection or powerful coaching—to see the patterns and potential hiding in plain sight.

In the second half of this post, I’ll share three practical strategies to uncover and integrate the most overlooked parts of your personal story—and turn them into a magnetic edge that elevates your work, your message, and your impact.