August BSS: High Impact Leadership & Leveraging Change

Twice as dynamic with two for the price of one!  Motivational speakers Ria and Mack Story created a unique experience for Chamber members in attendance at the August Business Success Luncheon: “High Impact Leadership & Leveraging Change.”  Mack and Ria brought two very different backgrounds and styles to the seminar that was all at once very entertaining, informing, motivating and inspiring.  They had the right messages of personal and professional accountability and responsibility woven with personal anecdotes. 

Daniel Jackson, President /CEO of the Carroll Chamber and Carroll Tomorrow, informally polled attendees and found that they were both impressed by the seminar and the dynamic duo.  “Lots of good stuff.  Stuff we all know is important, and we stress to the local community every day,” said Jackson. “Things like soft skills, work ethic, character, and integrity.  As well as things like responsibility to and for others.”

The Storys stressed that the position held doesn’t define an individual.   Instead, individuals define the position, and their values will determine if people will follow them because they have to or because they want to.

Daniel said he wrote down one quote in particular that resonated with him.  “People get hired for what they know.  They get fired for who they are.”

Mack Story shared “taking responsibility as a leader means accepting responsibility for developing your character and then helping someone else develop theirs.”  Responsibility and accountability are significant components of leadership. It is acknowledging others for a job well done and then taking the blame and responsibility when things go wrong. “Don’t ask for a raise; ask for more responsibility.”  With more responsibility, comes greater influence and control in that area of your life whether or not it is personally or professionally and is one of the key talking points with the Storys. 

Change was a big part of this seminar.  Not everybody receives change in the same way.  Some embrace it; while others resist.  Their message was to find the balance between how an organization and its leadership can effectively motivate and empower others to want to change.  “The goal should be to motivate, not manipulate,” said Mack. But even more important according to Ria Story is to be resilient in accepting change as a result of adversity, “resilience is the ability to recover, to spring back, to thrive, and to become strong after, or in spite of, tough times.”  

Mack and Ria Story are certified speakers and trainers with experience speaking to all sizes of groups, large and small.  Mentored by both Les Brown and John C. Maxwell, they have worked with groups all across the US including Chevron, Southern Company, and Chick-fil-A.  They have published 20 books on leadership, resilience, change, transformation, communication, and personal/professional success.  The couple resides in Fayetteville, Georgia. 

The Storys will be in Carrollton again to present to the Carroll Chamber’s Junior Chamber students in spring 2019.

Available if interested are signed copies of their books: 

Leadership Gems and Change Happens        

1 book is $12.00 or the set of two for $20.00 

Please email donna@carroll-ga.org if you are interested in purchasing.