What Story are You Telling?

“The board doesn’t have a story — but you do.”

That statement may seem simple, but it carries profound weight in my work — both on the mat and on the stage.

As a martial artist, keynote speaker, and leadership coach, I’ve learned that the barriers people face are almost never physical. Whether it's a wooden board in one of my workshops or a major decision in a leader's career, the real battle starts long before the strike. It starts with the story they’ve been telling themselves.

And here’s what I know:

Our beliefs shape our behavior. And our behavior shapes our results.

🧠 Stories That Sabotage Success

Before someone breaks a board in one of my Board Breaking Experience sessions, you can almost see the inner narrative unfold in real time:

“I’m not ready.”
“What if I fail?”
“I’m not strong enough.”
“I’ve never done this before.”
“Everyone’s watching — what if I mess it up?”

These internal soundtracks aren’t exclusive to first-time board breakers.
They echo in leadership meetings.
They whisper behind podiums.
They repeat in our personal lives whenever we face something uncertain, uncomfortable, or unfamiliar.

The truth is, these stories show up everywhere — in boardrooms just as often as they do in dojos. And if we let them run unchecked, they become our default setting. Our reality. Our ceiling.

But here’s the beautiful twist:
Just as we created these stories… we can also choose to rewrite them.

📖 Stories Shape Our Lives

I’ve seen it countless times.

Someone steps up to the board — physically prepared, fully capable — and yet… they hesitate. Not because they can’t break it, but because a story in their mind says they probably won’t.

They pause.
Their shoulders tighten.
They replay past failures or rejections.
They brace for embarrassment instead of aiming for success.

And then… something shifts.

They take a breath.
They refocus.
They choose to let go of the fear and fully commit.

And in that moment — with clarity and intention — they break through.

The board breaks.
And so does the story that said, “I’m not enough.”

That transformation is more than physical.
It’s personal. It’s emotional. It’s lasting.

Because now they know:

“If I can break through this board, maybe I can break through that belief, that conversation, that fear I’ve been carrying.”

🖊️ Rewrite the Script

As a speaker, trainer, and facilitator, I help people uncover the limiting narratives they’ve unknowingly rehearsed for years. Because these internal stories don’t just hold people back — they hold entire organizations back.

• The leader who won’t delegate because their story says, “If I don’t control it, it will fail.”
• The manager who avoids hard conversations because they’ve bought into, “I’m not good with conflict.”
• The entrepreneur stuck in perfectionism because they believe, “I have to prove myself in order to be worthy.”

But once people recognize the story — and have the courage to challenge it — everything begins to change.

Because when you change your story, you change your strategy.
And when you change your strategy, you change your results.

This isn’t about just “thinking positive.”
It’s about choosing what’s true and empowering, rather than what’s familiar and limiting.

💬 What Story Are You Telling?

Take a moment to ask yourself:

• What’s the story I’ve been telling myself lately?
• Is it encouraging me… or diminishing me?
• Is it rooted in possibility… or fear?
• Is it still serving me — or is it time to write a new one?

The story you choose becomes the identity you step into.
So choose one that moves you forward.

🎤 Bring This Message to Life for Your Audience

This work — the uncovering and rewriting of limiting beliefs — is what I do in every keynote, workshop, and leadership retreat.

Through storytelling, interactive experiences, and my signature Board Breaking Experience, I help teams and individuals:

• Identify the hidden scripts that are blocking progress
• Create new, empowering beliefs aligned with purpose
• Take courageous action toward their next breakthrough

This isn’t about theory — it’s about transformation.
And your audience won’t just hear it… they’ll feel it.

📅 Let’s Help Your Audience Break Through

If you’re planning a leadership event, conference, professional retreat, or team offsite, and you want to offer something that’s truly engaging and impactful, I’d love to connect.

Let’s give your group the tools — and the mindset — to rewrite their story and step into their next level.

➡️ [Schedule a Call]
➡️ {Download my Media Kit}
➡️ [Watch my Speaking Highlight Reel]

Until next time — lead with courage, speak a new truth, and keep breaking through.

With respect,

Chris Natzke
America’s Breakthrough Sensei
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