The Power Of Your Story: Embracing Authenticity When Nobody Is Watching

Have you ever come across a few words that hit you so hard, that they instantly make you stop and reflect? It happened to me just the other day as I was scrolling through my LinkedIn feed and came across a post by Heather Monahan. As someone who’s always eager to learn from business leaders and entrepreneurs, I tend to follow a few influencers whose words I can trust to be genuine and insightful. Heather is definitely one of those voices.

Want to learn more about storytelling? Start by downloading the first chapter of The Storytelling Mastery.

While her entire post resonated with me, it was the first line that really grabbed my attention: “What do you do when nobody is watching?”

That question stopped me in my tracks, and I thought about it for a long time. With 2024 drawing to a close and 2025 on the horizon, this question feels more relevant than ever. It made me think about a quote by Jeff Bezos: “Your brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room.”

So, I ask you: Who are you when nobody is watching? Would you still pursue what you’re doing if you made less—or even more—money from it?

These aren’t just theoretical questions; they’re fundamental for any entrepreneur, especially those of us who aim to build businesses with purpose.

• Why do you do what you do?
• And how does your “why” align with who you truly are, when the spotlight is off, and no one is around to see?
• What’s the real story behind the over-curated communication and polished images we often put out into the world?

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These are the questions I’ve been reflecting on, and I thought I’d share my thoughts with you. Let’s dig deeper into this together.

The Power of Authenticity in Business

As I think about my own journey as an entrepreneur, one thing is clear to me: authenticity is the most powerful asset we can offer in today’s business world. There’s a growing movement in the marketplace, particularly among the African diaspora, where consumers are increasingly looking for brands that align with their values and lived experiences.

We are no longer just looking for products; we want something real, something we can connect with on a deeper level.

Studies have shown that consumers are more likely to support brands that are transparent and authentic. A 2020 Nielsen survey found that 59% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that communicate in an authentic and transparent way.

As business owners, we have an incredible opportunity here, but we also face a challenge: to avoid falling into the trap of superficial marketing and stay true to who we are.

The question is: How do we stay authentic in a world that often pushes us to put on a mask, to be something we’re not? The answer, I believe, lies in embracing our own stories—our personal, cultural, and entrepreneurial narratives.

When we are truly authentic in our business, when we share the stories that have shaped us, we create a deeper connection with our audiences.

For entrepreneurs, particularly those within the African diaspora, this means embracing the richness of our cultural backgrounds, our diverse experiences, and the unique perspectives we bring to the table.

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When we share these stories authentically, we don’t just attract customers, we create communities of people who see us, understand us, and are deeply connected to the values we represent.

Owning Your Story: The Key to Connecting with Your Audience

What does it mean to own your story? For me, it means fully embracing who you are—your past, your cultural heritage, and your lived experiences—and integrating these elements into your business.

It’s about being unapologetic about what makes you unique and using that authenticity as the foundation for everything you do.

I’ll admit, in the early stages of my entrepreneurial journey, I wasn’t always this comfortable with my story. Growing up in Uromi, Nigeria, and later moving to Italy, I carried with me both the beauty and complexity of my African roots.

But for a while, I thought I needed to hide parts of who I was to fit into a certain mold of what it meant to be “normal” or acceptable. I worried that if I was too “African” or too open about my experiences as part of the African diaspora, I might alienate potential clients.

But over time, I realized that this fear was holding me back. When I finally began to embrace my true self—the stories of my childhood in Nigeria, the lessons I learned from my cultural background, and my experiences as a writer and storyteller—I found that I was able to build much deeper connections with people.

I attracted clients who not only saw the value in what I offered, but who also resonated with the deeper message behind my work.

See also Who Are You and Where You Are Now? OWNING YOUR STORY Pt. 2

Owning your story is about more than just making sales—it’s about making a meaningful impact. When you own your story, you’re not just another business in the crowd. You’re a brand with purpose, and you create a community that believes in what you stand for.

The Impact of Storytelling in the African Diaspora

For me, storytelling is an incredibly powerful tool—especially for entrepreneurs within the African diaspora. We come from a rich and diverse cultural heritage, and when we weave these stories into our businesses, we connect with people on a level that goes far beyond commerce.

This is why we consistently focus on the power of storytelling, highlighted through our Business Storytelling Series and Diaspora Storytelling Series. These dynamic events bring together industry experts from diverse fields to share their insights and strategies, offering invaluable knowledge to help you craft and amplify your own narrative.

Always remember that our stories are rooted in history, struggle, triumph, and resilience. They carry the weight of generations and speak to the very heart of who we are as Africans, no matter where we are in the world.

The African diaspora is a massive force—estimated at over 250 million people, with a combined purchasing power projected to over a $1 trillion by 2030. That’s an audience that not only has economic power but also has a deep longing for brands that reflect their values, culture, and identity.

As entrepreneurs, we have an incredible opportunity to tap into this market by authentically sharing our stories.

See also The Why Behind the Mission – Owning Your Story for a Deeper Purpose, Pt. 1

In the article, “Why Storytelling is Important for Culture)”, it was said that storytelling is so deeply embedded in culture that it’s almost inseparable from culture itself is storytelling. In this piece, we’ll explore why storytelling is essential to every culture, the powerful role it plays, and what it means for us as individuals, members of society, and storytellers of all kinds.

When we tell our personal and cultural stories, we don’t just build businesses, we preserve culture, bridge gaps, and challenge stereotypes. We show the world that the African experience is diverse, nuanced, and multi-dimensional.

We give voice to a community that has too often been misunderstood or misrepresented. And in doing so, we create a brand that speaks not just to our customers, but to our communities, both locally and globally.

Lessons from My Own Journey and Work

Reflecting on my own journey as a storyteller, I can’t help but think about how far I’ve come since writing my first book, Round My Mind, back in junior secondary school in Nigeria. After moving to Italy in 2004, I delved deeper into my own cultural identity, examining what it meant to be African in a foreign land.

Over the years, through my work as a writer, podcast host, and founder of AClasses Media, I’ve come to realize that my cultural narrative isn’t just my own—it’s part of a larger, global conversation about African identity and the African diaspora.

One of the most fulfilling parts of my journey has been the opportunity to share these stories through different platforms, from my books to my podcast, The Obehi Podcast, and even my documentary films like Pan-Africanism: Testing Ideas on Reality and Creating the Blackness of Africa.

Through these channels, I have sought to challenge simplistic views of African identity, offering a deeper, more complex narrative that reflects the full richness of the African experience. This is what storytelling can do: it allows us to shift the narrative, to redefine the way the world sees us, and take ownership of our own stories.

Overcoming Challenges in Storytelling

Of course, owning your story isn’t always easy. That is why The Storytelling Mastery, my five-part book series exist. There are challenges along the way. One of the biggest obstacles I’ve faced is the fear of being vulnerable.

Sharing my personal experiences, especially the struggles, has often felt like exposing too much. But I’ve learned that vulnerability is what makes my story relatable. It’s what connects me to my audience on a human level.

Another challenge is striking the right balance between being authentic and maintaining professionalism. I’ve had to find a way to stay true to who I am while still presenting my brand in a polished way that resonates with my audience.

It’s not always easy, but I’ve realized that the key is in showing my humanity, my imperfections, my successes, my failures—without compromising on the value I bring to the table.

See also The Right Frameworks For Effective Business Storytelling

Finally, and I say this quite often, it’s important to resist the temptation to over-curate your story. In today’s world, people can see through inauthenticity. They can tell when you’re trying too hard to create a perfect image.

Instead, focus on sharing the real, unpolished parts of your journey. That’s where the real magic happens.

Conclusion: Own Your Story and Lead with Purpose

As we close out 2024 and look ahead to the new year, I encourage you to embrace the power of your story. Own your narrative, share it with the world, and allow your authenticity to guide your business. In doing so, you’ll not only build a stronger brand but also foster deeper connections with your audience.

When you share your true self with the world, you create a business that is purpose-driven, meaningful, and impactful. Like me, you’ll find that by embracing your own cultural identity and personal experiences, you can build something much bigger than a business, you can build a community, a movement, and a legacy.

So, I ask you again: Who are you when nobody is watching? And how can your story lead the way to success? The world is waiting to hear it.

Want to learn more about storytelling? Start by downloading the first chapter of The Storytelling Mastery.