Written by: Silke Harvey, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
“Come, sister! Draw up a chair, pour yourself a coffee, and join me by the fireside. I want to tell you a story!”
Women are natural storytellers. It is in our genes. Research into prehistoric cultures, and particularly the Celts, is uncovering more and more evidence that many ancient women were respected equals in society. They were the storytellers, healers, mothers, and homemakers. But they were also warriors and, according to recent studies of bone findings, even hunters.
Throughout history, there have been powerful female storytellers, one of the most famous being Scheherazade, author of The 1001 Nights (circa the 1100s-1200s). But there came a time when the patriarchy, scared of the power these women held, tried to erase the memory of them, alongside burning thousands of innocent females because of the ancient wisdom they still carried within them.
The Burning Times were so brutal and profoundly horrendous that women carry the ancestral wound to this day. In order to survive, women started to shut up and put up, accepting the subservient role in society that condemned them to the hearth and home, where they were regarded as not much more than servants to their male masters. Women lost their identity and standing.
When you type the words “female publisher” into Google, you won’t find any entries much earlier than Eliza Haywood (c. 1693 – 25 February 1756). The reason why is that until that time, women were forbidden to own publishing presses. They were also banned from writing books and had to take on male pseudonyms if they wanted to get their stories out into the world.
Thankfully, the tide has started turning, and women are once again taking their rightful place as great storytellers. Modern pioneers include big names such as Louise Hay and Sylvia Beach, to name but a few.
But What Does This Have To Do With Women In Business Today?
Storytelling is still as powerful as it was in prehistoric times. Stories are everywhere – on TV, radio, podcasts, and social media, in books, newspapers, and magazines; our world lives and breathes stories. They are still in the very fabric of human nature. Stories evoke emotions, sometimes very powerful ones, and they make us identify with the storyteller.
There is something intrinsically human about stories, and that is why they work so well in marketing and advertising. The quickest way of establishing a brand is to associate it with a clear story. A powerful story is a customer magnet.
So why is storytelling so important for female business owners? After all, everyone can tell a story, and they are equally important to male-run enterprises.
Stories give women a powerful voice in the market. They give them the confidence to speak their truth and take up their rightful positions amongst their peers. The ancestral wound still runs deep today. It is all too common for female entrepreneurs to suffer from self-doubt, impostor syndrome, poverty mindset and generally negative thoughts about their own skills and abilities. The fear of asking money for services they provide is very real for many women. All too many women fail in business because they are too scared to step up and speak up.
This is where storytelling can help. Instead of engaging in direct marketing, which feels “salesy” and “slimy” to many women, telling a story is something that comes naturally. It is what you do when you are sitting in a cafe or in front of Zoom with your bestie. Yet by telling these stories, a brand is born, and ideal clients find their way to the seller. Instead of the seller asking customers for sale, customers ask to engage with the seller – and there is nothing slimy or salesy about that.
There is an increasing movement of women who have realized the power their stories hold. And on this wave, a host of new publishing houses owned by women is being born as we speak. These women are picking up on the work of those female pioneers and continuing to provide a platform for powerful female stories to be told and heard.
Inner Hippie Books
I founded Inner Hippie Books because I am passionate about giving women the voice they deserve. When researching how to publish my first book, I was unhappy about how the still male-dominated publishing world works. Getting a traditional publishing deal is like winning the lottery and takes years – if ever, vanity presses charge outrageous amounts of money for very little service. Self-publishing is only as successful as your social media following. It might work if you are a mega influencer with a huge fan base. Everyone else can count themselves lucky to get a handful of sales.
When I first came across the multi-author book format, I was fascinated. It is ideal if you want to become an author but do not have the time or money to write, edit, format, and publish a whole book. Authors write one chapter each, and there are typically around twenty authors in a single compilation. The editing, formatting, and publishing are taken care of by the publishing house, and the success of the book in the bestseller lists is guaranteed because of the massive synergies created when a large group of authors comes together and networks.
Multi-author books are ideal for entrepreneurs as they create a great platform for improving business and sales. The title of “author,” and even better, “bestselling author,” opens doors in business. From speaking engagements to podcasts, press coverage, and even TV and radio – everyone loves to work with a bestselling author. This title automatically elevates the entrepreneur to an expert in her field. It makes her stand out from the crowd and helps to cut through the noise on social media. A wisely chosen story underlines the brand message and attracts ideal clients who are willing to pay to work with the entrepreneur.
Strong and Free
At Inner Hippie Books, I provide a virtual fireside, a platform where inspirational women can follow in the footsteps of the female storytellers of old and tell their own powerful stories.
In my upcoming book STRONG AND FREE – Stories of women who are living their dream after breaking up with society’s expectations, successful female entrepreneurs and businesswomen tell the world in their own voices what it takes to overcome adversity and to break with society’s expectations to lead aligned and purposeful lives. They are shining examples of how much you can achieve if you are determined. You will get an insight into what it took these women to stand up and speak their truth. These stories are touching, emotional, devastating, and funny. You are invited to come to their circle, sit down, grab yourself a coffee and listen to some wonderful storytelling.
There are still some author opportunities left. So if you feel called and inspired to write your own story and see it published in a bestselling book, go to www.innerhippiebooks.com and reserve your spot.
Join me by the fireside sister, and tell me your story!
If you’d like to find out more about working with me, follow me on Facebook, Instagram , LinkedIn. Join my Facebook Group and visit my website.
Silke Harvey, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Silke Harvey is the founder of the Inner Hippie Club and Inner Hippie Books, radio presenter, international bestselling author, Senior Level Executive Contributor at Brainz Magazine, Brainz 500 Global 2020 and 2021 honoree and CREA Global Awards 2022 nominee. Her mission in life is to make the world a better place to live for generations to come.
Drawing on her colourful past as an energy healer, Rock’n’Roll bass player, corporate employee and freelance financial translator, she has compiled her wealth of personal and professional knowledge into the Inner Hippie Club to help other women find joy and purpose again.
Inner Hippie Books is a natural extension of the Inner Hippie Club, providing inspirational women, thought leaders, visionaries and change-makers with a platform, a virtual fireside, from which to create a movement of authentic storytelling that lights a path to a brighter future for humanity.
Silke is also a certified Reiki Master, Reiki Drum and Seichem Level II practitioner, a graduate of the Diploma in Chakra Dancing and Creative Meditation, HAO Diploma in Animal Healing and HAOK9 Massage, and a member of the Healing Animals Organisation.
She lives in the UK with her wonderful husband and rescue dog and splits her time between her cosy home by the coast in North East England and her beautiful country cottage in Bulgaria where she is planning to run retreats.
