7/17/2026 THE STORY AUDIT: EVALUATING THE GAPS IN YOUR MESSAGE

EPISODE 1826

“The story reveals only what the story teller wants revealed and that’s not always what the hearer wants or needs to hear.” J Loren Norris 

The Story Audit: Evaluating the Gaps in Your Message

Dr Caroline Leaf says “You make a lousy someone else.” 

A self-assessment framework to critique corporate storytelling should be applied for consistency in brand and mission. 

Brand: what people say about you (your company) when you walk out of the room. 

Mission: the assignment, purpose or direction which announces, then determines your tactics and strategies of operation. 

Identifying where the current mission statement loses people is essential to understanding the gaps which need to be addressed in your storytelling. The best way to accomplish this is to ask questions of your recent customers. 

Here are a few examples to consider:

1. What expectations did we fail to meet in the products and services we provided?
2. What expectations did we fail to meet in the products and services we promised?
3. What expectations did we SURPASS in the products and services we PROMISED?

Nothing damages a brand like UNMET UNSPOKEN expectations. 

Use your STORY to set expectations. “I don’t prepare speeches as much as I prepare speech givers.” j Loren Norris - Pineapple Sqeezer

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

🚀 Book Your Private Story Audit with J. Loren: https://pci.jotform.com/form/222696275293163 

🎙️ Listen to the Leading Leaders Podcast: Leading Leaders Podcast by StoryPowerAcademy.com Studio with Host and Coach J Loren Norris

ABOUT J. LOREN NORRIS

J. Loren Norris is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, US Air Force Veteran, and the Founder of StoryPower Academy. With 30+ years of experience speaking to audiences of up to 40,000, Loren helps leaders and influencers tell better stories, better.

CONNECT WITH LOREN:

🌍 Website: jlorennorris.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jloren

🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/jlorennorris

#StoryPower #LeadershipCommunication #PublicSpeaking #JohnMaxwellTeam #ExecutiveCoaching

Copyright Tell it Like It Is, Inc 2026

7/16/2026 POSTERITY OVER AUSTERITY: INVESTING IN WHAT LASTS

EPISODE 1825

“Having been raised with a poverty mindset, I deeply understand the complexity of redrafting the perception surrounding wealth.” J Loren Norris 

Posterity over Austerity: Investing in What Lasts

There is a dramatic contrast between a culture of fear-based cost cutting and legacy-minded investing.  There is also a dramatic contrast of belief about whose role it is to manage wages, prices, productivity and profits. 

Some research done for you: https://youtu.be/zxVoCw3P1Gc?is=eEFSIfSDR0wGek_N

Consider the advice of Robert Reich vs Thomas Sowell when making decisions about your financial strategies. Consider Cash Flow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki or Money Master the best Game by Anthony Robbins. 

Leaders safeguard the future of their organization during tight seasons. One way they do this is building the legacy of their people.  Strengthening posterity, the hope of those who will become your successors, this is the greatest return on investment possible. 

IMHO If the government is given that choice, if the government makes the investment, the government expects the rewards. If the people make that investment, the people should get the reward. Whoever takes the greater risk should receive the greater benefit. Become your own best benefactor. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

🚀 Book Your Private Story Audit with J. Loren: https://pci.jotform.com/form/222696275293163 

🎙️ Listen to the Leading Leaders Podcast: Leading Leaders Podcast by StoryPowerAcademy.com Studio with Host and Coach J Loren Norris

ABOUT J. LOREN NORRIS

J. Loren Norris is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, US Air Force Veteran, and the Founder of StoryPower Academy. With 30+ years of experience speaking to audiences of up to 40,000, Loren helps leaders and influencers tell better stories, better.

CONNECT WITH LOREN:

🌍 Website: jlorennorris.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jloren

🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/jlorennorris

#StoryPower #LeadershipCommunication #PublicSpeaking #JohnMaxwellTeam #ExecutiveCoaching

Copyright Tell it Like It Is, Inc 2026

7/15/2026 THE WEALTHY MINDSET: THINKING LIKE A LEGACY BUILDER

EPISODE 1824

“Before the bank account will grow, a leader must grow themselves, their people skills and then grow their people.” J Loren Norris

The Wealthy Mindset: Thinking Like a Legacy Builder

To possess a wealthy mindset in leadership means you have the skills and abilities to access and perceive the most valuable assets, investments and opportunities. Often that means ways for your money to make babies. More often it means investing in the right people. The more we engage tools, the fewer people we may employ. This means the selection process must be even better. 

Investing in IQ, EQ and PQ will prove to be essential in coming years as AGI attempts to refashion EQ. Focus on resource stewardship, long-term vision, and building people over profits.

As Paul Martinelli says often “Most people don’t have a resources problem, they have a resourcefulness problem.” 

Wealthy is less about accumulation and more about execution. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

🚀 Book Your Private Story Audit with J. Loren: https://pci.jotform.com/form/222696275293163 

🎙️ Listen to the Leading Leaders Podcast: Leading Leaders Podcast by StoryPowerAcademy.com Studio with Host and Coach J Loren Norris

ABOUT J. LOREN NORRIS

J. Loren Norris is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, US Air Force Veteran, and the Founder of StoryPower Academy. With 30+ years of experience speaking to audiences of up to 40,000, Loren helps leaders and influencers tell better stories, better.

CONNECT WITH LOREN:

🌍 Website: jlorennorris.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jloren

🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/jlorennorris

#StoryPower #LeadershipCommunication #PublicSpeaking #JohnMaxwellTeam #ExecutiveCoaching

Copyright Tell it Like It Is, Inc 2026

7/14/2026 GENERATIONAL IMPACT: LEADING PAST THE CURRENT QUARTER

EPISODE 1823

“If you want to lead well, you will focus on building people, profits and policies designed to out live you .” J Loren Norris

Generational Impact: Leading Past the Current Quarter

I want to take a moment to challenge short-term business thinking. Like scalability, leading an organization that lasts generations takes vision and commitment on the part of the founder and those who come after. 

All leadership creates a ripple effect that impacts the next tier of incoming organizational builders. Some leaders are so focused on their own success and notoriety they fail to plan for those who come next. 

Great leaders create this ripple effect intentionally with direction, progression and succession. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

🚀 Book Your Private Story Audit with J. Loren: https://pci.jotform.com/form/222696275293163 

🎙️ Listen to the Leading Leaders Podcast: Leading Leaders Podcast by StoryPowerAcademy.com Studio with Host and Coach J Loren Norris

ABOUT J. LOREN NORRIS

J. Loren Norris is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, US Air Force Veteran, and the Founder of StoryPower Academy. With 30+ years of experience speaking to audiences of up to 40,000, Loren helps leaders and influencers tell better stories, better.

CONNECT WITH LOREN:

🌍 Website: jlorennorris.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jloren

🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/jlorennorris

#StoryPower #LeadershipCommunication #PublicSpeaking #JohnMaxwellTeam #ExecutiveCoaching

Copyright Tell it Like It Is, Inc 2026

7/13/2026 THE RESILIENCE MUSCLE: DEFEATING TEAM BURNOUT

EPISODE 1822

“Every word spoken carries either venom or antidote, life or death. Use every word wisely .” J Loren Norris

The Resilience Muscle: Defeating Team Burnout

I want to share a super simple refueling technique for teams under heavy stress. StoryPower is an incredible tool to master for every level of leadership. 

Coaches do it at half time. Politicians do it at election time. Parents do it at meal time, bath time and bed time. A well prepared, well crafted speech can move mountains in the minds of those we lead. 

My journey in basic training was a first hand case study on how a I leader can use narrative to pivot a team out of emotional exhaustion and apparent defeat. Stories well selected, well crafted and authentically delivered are powerful tools for transformational leadership. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

🚀 Book Your Private Story Audit with J. Loren: https://pci.jotform.com/form/222696275293163 

🎙️ Listen to the Leading Leaders Podcast: Leading Leaders Podcast by StoryPowerAcademy.com Studio with Host and Coach J Loren Norris

ABOUT J. LOREN NORRIS

J. Loren Norris is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, US Air Force Veteran, and the Founder of StoryPower Academy. With 30+ years of experience speaking to audiences of up to 40,000, Loren helps leaders and influencers tell better stories, better.

CONNECT WITH LOREN:

🌍 Website: jlorennorris.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jloren

🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/jlorennorris

#StoryPower #LeadershipCommunication #PublicSpeaking #JohnMaxwellTeam #ExecutiveCoaching

Copyright Tell it Like It Is, Inc 2026

7/10/2026 THE ATTITUDE HACK: RE-ENGINEERING TEAM CULTURE

EPISODE 1821

“There’s only one thing more contagious than a common cold… and that one thing is mostly responsible for your organization’s culture.” J Loren Norris

The Attitude Hack: Re-Engineering Team Culture

Attitude Hack is a mental framework for shifting low-performing mindsets. By listening to the common phrases, conversations and flippant expressions an astute leader can determine under lying attitudes and address them swiftly. 

I would like to provide just a few concrete exercises leaders can use to audit and adjust team morale.

1. Make a list of expressions and phrases used repeatedly by team members. 
2. Make specific note of phrases used by multiple people and multiple teams. 
3. Use the Attitude Hack checklist to identify prevailing attitudes which drive your organization culture internally and brand externally. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

🚀 Book Your Private Story Audit with J. Loren: https://pci.jotform.com/form/222696275293163 

🎙️ Listen to the Leading Leaders Podcast: Leading Leaders Podcast by StoryPowerAcademy.com Studio with Host and Coach J Loren Norris

ABOUT J. LOREN NORRIS

J. Loren Norris is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, US Air Force Veteran, and the Founder of StoryPower Academy. With 30+ years of experience speaking to audiences of up to 40,000, Loren helps leaders and influencers tell better stories, better.

CONNECT WITH LOREN:

🌍 Website: jlorennorris.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jloren

🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/jlorennorris

#StoryPower #LeadershipCommunication #PublicSpeaking #JohnMaxwellTeam #ExecutiveCoaching

Copyright Tell it Like It Is, Inc 2026

7/10/2026 THE ATTITUDE HACK: RE-ENGINEERING TEAM CULTURE

EPISODE 1821

“There’s only one thing more contagious than a common cold… and that one thing is mostly responsible for your organization’s culture.” J Loren Norris

The Attitude Hack: Re-Engineering Team Culture

Attitude Hack is a mental framework for shifting low-performing mindsets. By listening to the common phrases, conversations and flippant expressions an astute leader can determine under lying attitudes and address them swiftly. 

I would like to provide just a few concrete exercises leaders can use to audit and adjust team morale.

1. Make a list of expressions and phrases used repeatedly by team members. 
2. Make specific note of phrases used by multiple people and multiple teams. 
3. Use the Attitude Hack checklist to identify prevailing attitudes which drive your organization culture internally and brand externally. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

🚀 Book Your Private Story Audit with J. Loren: https://pci.jotform.com/form/222696275293163 

🎙️ Listen to the Leading Leaders Podcast: Leading Leaders Podcast by StoryPowerAcademy.com Studio with Host and Coach J Loren Norris

ABOUT J. LOREN NORRIS

J. Loren Norris is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, US Air Force Veteran, and the Founder of StoryPower Academy. With 30+ years of experience speaking to audiences of up to 40,000, Loren helps leaders and influencers tell better stories, better.

CONNECT WITH LOREN:

🌍 Website: jlorennorris.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jloren

🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/jlorennorris

#StoryPower #LeadershipCommunication #PublicSpeaking #JohnMaxwellTeam #ExecutiveCoaching

Copyright Tell it Like It Is, Inc 2026

7/9/2026 STRATEGIC TIMING: THE UNSEEN VARIABLE IN EXECUTIVE DECISIONS

EPISODE 1820

“You’ve heard it said: don’t get the cart before the horse. I say don’t strap your cart to a wobbly foal either. ” J Loren Norris

Strategic Timing: The Unseen Variable in Executive Decisions

Let’s dive into the "when" of leadership through the lens of communication. 

One of the key strategies for reading the room, timing organizational pivots, and knowing when to wait includes honestly and humbly knowing when you’re ready for NEXT and knowing when to wait a beat. 

Initially, many of my clients are anxious to get on the big stage, be a podcast guest on a big show, hire a booking agent or a PR firm, write a best selling book, before they have fully worked out the initial narrative. “Who do I help and how?”

It’s hard to put the chimney on before the fireplace is built. Yet many people have facade like chimneys with no fireplace at all. 

Like launching on the highway from a dead stop momentum isn’t instant in most cases. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

🚀 Book Your Private Story Audit with J. Loren: https://pci.jotform.com/form/222696275293163 

🎙️ Listen to the Leading Leaders Podcast: Leading Leaders Podcast by StoryPowerAcademy.com Studio with Host and Coach J Loren Norris

ABOUT J. LOREN NORRIS

J. Loren Norris is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, US Air Force Veteran, and the Founder of StoryPower Academy. With 30+ years of experience speaking to audiences of up to 40,000, Loren helps leaders and influencers tell better stories, better.

CONNECT WITH LOREN:

🌍 Website: jlorennorris.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jloren

🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/jlorennorris

#StoryPower #LeadershipCommunication #PublicSpeaking #JohnMaxwellTeam #ExecutiveCoaching

Copyright Tell it Like It Is, Inc 2026

7/8/2026 OVERCOMING THE NOISE: AMPLIFYING YOUR CORE MESSAGE

EPISODE 1819

“Leaders keep the main thing the main thing. They do this by learning to articulate the stories which compel and propel the main thing!” J Loren Norris

Overcoming the Noise: Amplifying Your Core Message

The challenge of organizational distraction is rooted in too many notions, ideas or convictions about what this organization is all about. Conversations driving conflict of start of the small disagreements or discrepancies. A leader who understands why each department must have their own stories of success and motivation must craft those varied stories into an organizational narrative.

Here are some actionable tips on keeping your central message consistent across multiple platforms.

1. Speak in the terms of mission - who do we help and how? Every post or conversation should see the world through this lens.

2. Help department heads delineate their “customer” between internal and external services.

3. Craft statements, stories and phrases which tie together cohesively to a mosaic narrative which represents and reflects all departments constantly with the organizations public mission.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

🚀 Book Your Private Story Audit with J. Loren: https://pci.jotform.com/form/222696275293163

🎙️ Listen to the Leading Leaders Podcast: Leading Leaders Podcast by StoryPowerAcademy.com Studio with Host and Coach J Loren Norris

ABOUT J. LOREN NORRIS

J. Loren Norris is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, US Air Force Veteran, and the Founder of StoryPower Academy. With 30+ years of experience speaking to audiences of up to 40,000, Loren helps leaders and influencers tell better stories, better.

CONNECT WITH LOREN:

🌍 Website: jlorennorris.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jloren

🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/jlorennorris

#StoryPower #LeadershipCommunication #PublicSpeaking #JohnMaxwellTeam #ExecutiveCoaching

Copyright Tell it Like It Is, Inc 2026

7/7/2026 NARRATIVE ARCHITECTURE - BUILDING STORIES THAT SCALE OPERATIONS

EPISODE 1818

“Narratives drive subconscious behavior in a way discipline and reward simply miss.” J Loren Norris. 

Narrative Architecture: Building Stories that Scale Operations

Teaching leaders how to use story-driven hooks to connect with stakeholders is an everyday challenge. It is my assignment and I accept the challenge. I am up to the challenge. 

Shifting critical communications from dry data to memorable narratives that stick with a team is a worthy cause.

It takes a few sessions before some leaders can recognize the application of personal stories. For some, the delay is a reluctance to be transparent, authentic and vulnerable.  For others, the delay hides in the apparent simplicity of storytelling as a leadership tool. If it’s that easy, why isn’t everyone doing it. 

Stories of past failures and stories of past successes both have a distinct place in the organizational chart and the history books. 

Success and failure both leave clues- like a map to a hidden treasure. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

🚀 Book Your Private Story Audit with J. Loren: https://pci.jotform.com/form/222696275293163 

🎙️ Listen to the Leading Leaders Podcast: Leading Leaders Podcast by StoryPowerAcademy.com Studio with Host and Coach J Loren Norris

ABOUT J. LOREN NORRIS

J. Loren Norris is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, US Air Force Veteran, and the Founder of StoryPower Academy. With 30+ years of experience speaking to audiences of up to 40,000, Loren helps leaders and influencers tell better stories, better.

CONNECT WITH LOREN:

🌍 Website: jlorennorris.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jloren

🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/jlorennorris

#StoryPower #LeadershipCommunication #PublicSpeaking #JohnMaxwellTeam #ExecutiveCoaching

Copyright Tell it Like It Is, Inc 2026

7/6/2026 THE 3 MINUTE BLUEPRINT - HOOKING YOUR AUDIENCE FAST

EPISODE 1817

“We live in a modern world full of TikTok attention spans trying to respond to leadership challenges with Harry Potter answers.” J Loren Norris 

The 3-Minute Blueprint: Hooking Your Audience Fast

Five years of working with the Dale Carnegie team Introduced me to a concise communication framework which Dale affectionately called “the Magic Formula”. It has served me well for two decades and is one of the foundational principles of StoryPower Academy. 

Leaders who are willing to do the work, can distill complex visions into high-impact, 2-3 minute messages that drive rapid action. 

Any leader can communicate any topic to any audience IF THEY ARE INTENTIONAL ENOUGH. 

The big challenge is this: most leaders communicate in data, facts, information and commands. When they want to convey something more “personal” they default to safe stories, quote books, anecdotes which are tired and over used. 

The StoryPower Method encourages and equips leaders to identify, qualify and apply lessons they have personally learned. By crafting the aha moment into stories and those stories into an applicable narrative, metaphor or illustration; team members, board members and customers will better understand the context and the content of information delivered. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS VIDEO:

🚀 Book Your Private Story Audit with J. Loren: https://pci.jotform.com/form/222696275293163 

🎙️ Listen to the Leading Leaders Podcast: Leading Leaders Podcast by StoryPowerAcademy.com Studio with Host and Coach J Loren Norris

ABOUT J. LOREN NORRIS

J. Loren Norris is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, US Air Force Veteran, and the Founder of StoryPower Academy. With 30+ years of experience speaking to audiences of up to 40,000, Loren helps leaders and influencers tell better stories, better.

CONNECT WITH LOREN:

🌍 Website: jlorennorris.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jloren

🐦 X (Twitter): https://x.com/jlorennorris

#StoryPower #LeadershipCommunication #PublicSpeaking #JohnMaxwellTeam #ExecutiveCoaching

Copyright Tell it Like It Is, Inc 2026