This is how you upgrade out of the inferior seats

“Last chance to upgrade your return flight!”, the email from the airline says.  

I think about ignoring it, like always, but my flight out was so uncomfortable that it might be worth it. 

For three miserable hours, I couldn’t even fit my legs in the seat, and having no space for my backpack overhead didn’t help. 

“Make your bid for a Space+ seat, starting at 5 euros!” 

That seems cheap enough, so I make the minimum bid and a few hours later, it’s done: I’ve been upgraded. 

***

The next afternoon, I walk to my airport gate, and I shake my head when I see all the long queues to board. It must suck to have to do that. 

I sit and wait, reading my book, until they call for the priority boarding. 

I walk up to the gate and try not to make eye contact with everyone waiting; I don’t want to look like I’m gloating. 

I take my seat, and there’s plenty of space. I can stretch my legs with room to spare. 

The overhead locker has a big sign showing it’s reserved for the people in my seat. I put my backpack in, and when someone in an inferior seat tries to put his bag in there I point to the sign.

I guess he’ll have to put the bag between his legs. Poor guy. 

Once I’ve made myself comfortable, the rest of the masses file in, struggling to squeeze into their seats, arguing about overhead luggage space, looking stressed out. 

I catch the air stewardess’ eye, and we share a knowing smile. It feels great to watch it from afar.

After a while, everyone settles down, and we take off. It’s a great flight. I feel refreshed by the end of it, and I can’t help thinking how lucky I am–but I also know I deserve it: 

I worked very hard for those 5 euros. 

If only those people on the inferior seats had done the same… 

But as soon as the plane lands, we’re all together again. No more priority. No special treatment. 

We all get in the same queue to leave, then join the general population making their way out of the airport. 

It gets hard to keep reminding myself how special I am. 

Oh well… 

It was good while it lasted 😅

Do you remember? 

The challenge for anyone who does any type of thought leadership (as a speaker, consultant, or expert) is to remember how you used to be when you had the same problem as your audience–and that can be tough.

Right after you climbed out of the hole, everything is fresh. It’s easy to talk about the struggles you’ve overcome. But that’s not usually when you talk about it, because you’re not an expert yet. At best, you’re a survivor. 

It takes moving beyond the point, learning more about it and (almost certainly) helping other people do the same before you can genuinely claim any type of authority on the subject. And that’s when you start finding it difficult to remember exactly what it felt like being who you used to be. 

The solution is obvious

Or at least obvious enough for a storytelling newsletter: as soon as you can, find and craft the stories of what you did and how. The things you said, the things you thought and felt. And, as soon as it makes sense, tell them. 

Those stories will capture a moment in time you’ll need to get back to over and over again. Could you wait to do that much later? Sure. It’s just harder. Not everyone can remember well something that happened years or even months before. Hell, can you really remember what you did a few days ago? Most people can’t. 

You may be special now, but if you want to be seen as an expert, you need the stories of when you were still in the inferior seats.

I know it sucks to go back there… 

But that’s how you make other people special too 🤘

-Francisco 

Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1. Getting clarity through your story to stand out from all the other coaches, speakers and entrepreneurs out there 

2. If you dream of speaking on the Red Dot, take this Scorecard and instantly discover how likely your idea is to be accepted by a TED-style organizing committee

3. If you (or your team) got any storytelling challenges, I’m sure there’s something we can do together ;-)

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