Leadership Story Talks | Jerome & Julienne Discuss When the Story No Longer Serves Us

In this debrief episode, Jerome and Julienne reflect on a powerful insight sparked by a conversation with Lata Hamilton: sometimes the problem isn’t you—it’s the environment you’re in. Recognize that truth takes courage, honesty, and listening.
Lata’s story becomes a springboard for a wider conversation about energy, fit, and the quiet signals that tell us when a story we’ve been living no longer serves us. Jerome and Julienne explore what happens when capable, vibrant people begin to shrink—not because they lack skill or value, but because they’re trying to survive in spaces that slowly diminish them.

Look for moments of transition: when you sense you are in the middle of a new chapter but can’t yet see the end. Uncertainty often creates fear, hesitation, and self-doubt—especially when the future feels blurry or hard to imagine.

Jerome and Julienne emphasize the importance of listening: listening to trusted guides, to one’s own internal signals, and to the stories emerging beneath the noise of fear, judgment, and expectation. From that listening, new possibilities begin to take shape.
You’ll Hear:
- Is It You—or the Environment? — Julienne reflects on how often talented people internalize struggle, rather than questioning whether the system around them is draining their energy.
- Energy as a Signal — A discussion about noticing what gives you energy and what takes it away—and why that awareness is often the first clue that change is needed.
- Being in the Middle of the Story — Jerome explores why moments of transition feel so destabilizing, and how not being able to “see the future” keeps people stuck.
- Telling the Future as If It’s Already Happened — A practical storytelling insight into how imagining and articulating a desired future can help people regain clarity and agency.
- Beyond Skills and Résumés — Julienne shares why foundational story work—values, purpose, and core gifts—matters more than listing credentials, especially during career pivots.
- Listening as the Work — Jerome emphasizes creating space to vent, name fears, and surface internal obstacles—so deeper, more honest stories can emerge.
- Changing My World, Not the Whole World — A grounding reminder that meaningful impact often begins with what we can shape, control, and influence right now.

Here's a reminder that growth doesn’t always come from pushing harder—it often comes from listening more deeply. When people are supported in hearing themselves clearly, they don’t just find their next move—they reconnect with the story that gives them energy, purpose, and direction.

Narativ’s online course in partnership with New Mexico State University Global Campus:
Lead With Your Story (self-paced, on-demand course)
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Learn more about how to leverage Narativ’s storytelling method for your pitch and sales team: Download our free e-book, or you’re welcome to schedule a free 15-minute call with Jerome.

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EMAIL Jerome@narativ.com
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