I interview people whose stories are inspiring for me and then take those interviews and weave them into a storytelling concert or speech with a focus. For example, I interviewed 75 performance, literary and visual artists and then created my show entitled "Shout: Kiss My Art!"

EDUCATION | My BA was in English/Education, but my MA is in Storytelling.

HOW TO GET STARTED | Anyone, regardless of education, can begin if they have the drive to do so. However, for me, the education helped me hone my skills, learn what I did and didn't want out of my future as a storyteller. School also gave me an incredible foundation of skills that would have taken much longer to produce on my own, if I'd been savvy enough to think of all the mechanics that drive story, including the psychological aspects. For me, my path has been the only one that could have made sense based upon my limited access to exemplars in the field.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | To be a successful storyteller you must be an excellent listener first, love sharing what you're telling about, and interested in the overall end product. Storytelling isn't acting, but much closer to the work a stand-up comedian does, reacting to and engaging your audience. Yes, you do need to be able to get up in front of others without having a cardiac arrest or sweating through all of your clothes, but it is the passion for the tale that drives the work.

how I got started | I grew up listening to Zig Ziglar, Dennis Waitley and Paul Harvey, and other polished speakers. When I was in college I created a self-help series of speeches based upon stories of my own accomplishments and called it "Looking Out for Number One." I earned an outstanding programming award for my efforts and the passion grew from there.

why this job?| I believe this is the only true calling for me. Everything I've done in my life points to this career, from the first story I acted out when I was a toddler, to earning a Girl Scout badge in storytelling, onward to my accomplishments in college. I am also an educator by training and trade, but in the end, everything that I do comes back to sharing motivational stories.

why I love this job!| I have met the most amazing people, both as interview subject and audience members. Every day I am humbled and honored to speechlessness as I see the synergy that happens as people I share with are connected to others in the world, one story at a time.

my typical day| I spend about 50% of my time researching and crafting stories, 30% of my day marketing and networking, and the other 20% between sharing stories and administrative work. People would be amazed how much background work goes into a single story. The paperwork alone can scare someone away from trying this gig.

what they are | The most common assumption people make when they hear that I'm a storyteller is that I sit on the carpet with kindergarteners and read them stories. Sure, I did that when I was a Girl Scout, but it isn't even remotely close to what I do now. My focus audience is older teens and adults. When I tell someone my age to think of Paul Harvey, they suddenly get it.

all about growth | Every time I perform, I meet potential interviewees and potential employers. The best way to grow my business is to be visible and doing what I do best: storytelling.

my website|