Ron Macklin and Deb Dendy
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The episode kicks off with Ron and Deb unraveling what it means to hold a fundamental story about oneself. Ron describes these stories as long-held beliefs that one sees as absolute truth, which then govern how one perceives their capabilities and worth. Deb chimes in with personal anecdotes, illustrating how these narratives shaped her self-view, particularly in her early career when she was hired as part of a government quota. Mistakenly believing her hiring was solely due to her gender, Deb’s story illustrates the deep impact such narratives can have.
Deb provides insight into how she grappled with the story of not belonging in engineering—a story reinforced by a college professor. This story shaped her career path, impacting her perception of competence until real-world challenges began to shift that narrative. As she found herself solving complex problems her male peers couldn’t, Deb started questioning the validity of her long-held story.
Ron, too, shares his journey of transitioning his bedrock story from one of inadequacy in his career and football to recognizing his leadership capabilities. His narrative reveals the transformation catalyzed by confronting his fears and accepting praise that defied his internal dialogue. The powerful change occurred when Ron started asking himself, “What if I am enough?”
Both Ron and Deb acknowledge the crucial role others played in changing their narratives. Support from teammates, mentors, and peers who saw their potential helped them question and eventually dismantle their limiting beliefs. By accepting that their stories were self-made constructs, both Ron and Deb illustrate how one can rewrite their internal dialogue through self-reflection and external affirmations.
Deb and Ron delve into techniques for identifying and transforming these stories. They emphasize the importance of asking questions that challenge the status quo, such as, “What if this story isn’t true?” Through self-observation, one can expose the inaccuracies in a bedrock story, creating space for new, empowering narratives.
The duo concludes by encouraging listeners to reflect on their own foundational stories. They emphasize that changing these narratives is a human process that often involves discomfort and the courage to embrace the possibility of being wrong. However, through such transformations, one opens the door to untapped potential and growth.
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