105. How to use Storytelling for Values Based Leadership

<p>Many of us have those “special” family stories—you know, the ones you’ve heard a million times that have been passed down from generation to generation.</p> <p> </p> <p>For me, the one that always comes to mind is when my grandfather traveled to New York and met the Rebbe, one of the most influential Jewish leaders of the 20th century. </p> <p> </p> <p>My grandfather was born in Russia during the communist regime, and in 1979, he and his wife fled to Israel. There, he worked three jobs just so that he could save extra money and one day go to New York to meet the Rebbe, who was instrumental in helping them escape.</p> <p> </p> <p>After months of hard work, my grandfather had finally saved enough money and traveled to New York during the High Holidays that year.</p> <p> </p> <p>When it finally came time for my grandfather to meet the Rebbe, the Rebbe asked him if he had bought his wife a gift. Dejectedly, my grandfather replied that he had spent all his savings to come to New York and couldn’t possibly afford to bring anything home.</p> <p> </p> <p>Without pause, the Rebbe gave my grandfather the name of a jeweler where he could buy a gift—and when the Rebbe tells you to do something, you listen.</p> <p> </p> <p>When he returned to Israel, my grandfather gifted my grandmother a set of precious pearls he had bought from the jeweler the Rebbe had recommended. She wore those pearls proudly until her very last day, and after she died, they were passed down to my mother.</p> <p> </p> <p>When I was a kid, the tale of my grandfather’s journey to New York was just a story, like the ones I read in books. At the time, the only special meaning it held was that it was about my family.</p> <p> </p> <p>It wasn’t until I became an adult that I came to realize the value in the story and why my family chose to repeat it again and again: showing love  and appreciation for the ones we care for.</p> <p> </p> <p>You see, storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to influence, teach, and inspire—not just in your family, but also