294. A Business of Packing Adventure and Passion Into Your Life Story
Rye Taylor
Sitting on a porch swing, listening to complaints about Aunt Eunice’s bunions, Rye’s childhood adventures in the bush of Africa’s Zambesi River Valley were a distant memory. He realized he’d made a terrible mistake in the trajectory toward his life’s passion. Something had to change.
Rye Taylor is a story architect and podcast launch strategist for many of today’s New York Times bestselling authors, influencers, and businesses. He is a contributing writer for the Huffington Post among other publications. His motto is: “Build a Better Business by Telling a Better Story.” When he isn’t helping others craft amazing stories, you can find Rye speaking about “storytelling in business” and creating his own unforgettable audio over at www.ryetaylor.com. He lives in Kansas City, MO with his wife, Mandy and sons, Blaze and Teak.
How Did You Start Using Your Talents?
As the son of a long line of ministers, Rye first experienced adventures with his family as a child, when his family was deployed to the mission field in Zimbabwe, Africa. “We went out into the middle of nowhere. We weren’t living in a city but near the bush of the Zambesi River Valley. That was a pivotal moment in my life, and it changed my perception of culture, thinking, of worldview…in everything. It gave me a sense of adventure. Let’s face it, everything I’d known in America was comfortable, and safe. But in Zimbabwe I was forced into a situation as a boy that the only thing I could do was discover the adventure and live it.”
The Most Impactful Turning Point?
As a young pastor of a local church, Rye recalls, “I was sitting on someone’s porch, swinging back and forth as they were complaining about Aunt Eunice’s bunions. I realized I had made a terrible, horrible mistake on the trajectory toward my life’s passion. I know it sounds silly—and I’ve changed the name of Aunt Eunice to protect the innocent—but I realized at that point that what I was doing, and the way that I was serving, was not what I was called to do. I knew I was called to live an adventurous life and help others tell their own adventure stories, to inspire them to action. I wasn’t doing that on a daily basis. I knew at that point that something had to change.”
The Most Powerful Lessons Learned?
Sometimes things just take time. One of Rye’s favorite authors, J.R.R. Tolkien, wrote, “Not all those who wander are lost.” That resonated with Rye. “I realized I couldn’t just up and quit everything. I had a wife and a little baby. I didn’t know how I could explore my talents and passions. It was a matter of researching and stumbling through some things, and at times, that’s what I felt like I was doing. But I wasn’t lost. I knew my goal. I wanted to be a storyteller, and I wanted to help others craft their stories and share them. I just needed to find a way to get there. It just took a little while.”
Steps to Success from Rye Taylor
1. Find ways to serve others, but learn how to value yourself.
2. Life and work can be woven together into one life. Work to make that happen.
3. Reconnect with your sense of adventure and love of discovery. Children can help you do this.
4. Make it safe for others to share their intimate stories with you. Too many stories go untold.
On His Bookshelf
The Call of the Wild, by Jack London
Connecting With Rye Taylor
Email: rye@ryetaylor.com
Website: www.ryetaylor.com
Twitter: @ryetaylor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ryetaylor
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ryetaylor
Free Gift
40% off Rye’s next storytelling mastermind. Go to www.storypopstudios.com. Use the code: discoveryourtalent for your discount.
