451 Pivot Point: I’m On the Right Track featuring Kristen Peairs
“…And I just watch their whole body relax and their faces would light up even more.
For me too, because while this was a wonderful day for so many reasons, I love my vendor tables, I love speaking, and I love interacting with people one-to-one.
It was the trifecta. I had all the pieces and I had my place to sit. And honestly, I mentioned earlier that I was in a beautiful space.”
For Kristen Peairs, this was a pivotal moment, the realization that her work over the past many years brought her to exactly this point in time. Through trial and error, she recognized exactly what she needs to feel successful, to know she’s making an impact and is on the right track.
Before her keynote speech she and her assistant set up a vendor table at the conference. The space was beautiful, full of light, and the other vendors seemed to get the same message: Make space that’s welcoming, safe, intriguing.
Before she spoke, a handful of people wandered by her table, some stopped to glance at the greeting cards she creates. But after her post-lunch keynote, back at her table, people came over and really engaged. They bought cards, and many picked up a “standing in the question” story card and read it out loud. Kristen guided them in what the question might uncover for whatever is feeling stuck for them, and they’d light up with wonder and insight.
Like many of us, Kristen can be very outgoing in certain situations, and this was one of them. Also like many of us, she was exhausted after a full day of being “on”. At the same time, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just experienced something important to her.
Now, looking back and sharing the story, she knows what it was: A pivotal moment when the pieces seemed to just fit together, telling the story of how far she’s come and what that means for her future.
Listeners, now it's your turn:
What will you take from this conversation?
Did any memories come up for you, a time when you suddenly realized you were in exactly the right place in that moment?
Did you notice your own body’s response to Kristen’s joy in describing where she was? Did you feel that light, that sense of awe she felt as she described it?
Will you take a moment to notice the energy you’re sharing as you tell a story? Is it positive? Is it energetic?
Episode Highlights
Pivotal Insight: A conference keynote revealed Kristen Peairs' true joy comes from deep, 1-on-1 connections at a vendor table, not the speaking itself.
"Constellation of Joy": This insight led to the "constellation of joy" framework—a personal ecosystem of people, spaces, and support (e.g., AV tech, food) that enables thriving.
Podcast Story: The episode will focus on the conference story, contrasting pre- and post-keynote vendor table interactions to illustrate the power of connection.
As always, thanks for listening to your stories don't define you, how you tell them will.
About Kristen:
Kristen Peairs, MS, ACC, is a professional speaker, stick figure artist, and ICF-certified coach who helps entrepreneurs and professionals find clarity when they feel stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure of what to do next.
In 2022, she created the Standing in the Question Navigational Tool to illustrate how we can sustainably move forward during times of hardship and uncertainty. Her work is a reminder that humanity is not separate from business success - it is often the foundation of it.
Kristen holds degrees in Hospitality Management and Nutrition and has spent more than 20 years studying leadership, communication, and personal wellbeing. Her fascination with the energy underlying human connection has led her to explore Human Design, the ways people influence one another, and the role our relationships and environments play in how we thrive. She also hosts a growing YouTube channel focused on energy, relationships, and how we can begin shifting our experiences before ever saying a word. Connect with her on LinkedIn and let her know you heard this episode!
Lately I’ve been focused on brief, less than 20-minute episodes that keep your attention while still offering insights and entertainment.
What you’ve been hearing is a brief story of a pivotal moment, and then a thread pulled to generate insights about it.
I have two goals for you:
One – to uncover your related story for you to add to your collection to practice and have ready when the opportunity presents itself.
And two – to demonstrate storytelling in a practical, approachable way so you hear how I compose my words, phrases, and use tone-of-voice to add dynamics and meaning.
I’ve often said that your stories don’t have to be epic, they need to be meaningful. My point is that everyday moments of joy, grief, and humor, can be far more relatable than the “I almost died” or celebrity sighting stories.
But there is a time and a place for an epic story, for the entertainment value, and for the long tail it generates of meaningful moments in the days, months, and years afterward. The lessons you learned, the evidence of resilience you carry, and the relationships that grew and changed as a result of that epic experience.
After more than 430 episodes of this podcast, I was recently inspired to change the format of the show.
The new format for my show aligns with what I’m learning about narrative identity (how the stories we tell about ourselves internally and externally influence our identity) and demonstrates what I’ve been teaching for years: Sharing a story to reveal who you are and what matters to you.
My hope is that future episodes will offer more clarity about great storytelling and how to find and explore pivotal moments to demonstrate who we are.
About Sarah:
Sarah is a Montana based workplace communication trainer, TEDx speaker, DisruptHR speaker, public speaking coach, professional storyteller, musician, and podcast host. Her workshops and coaching packages with teams and their leaders are known to address and reduce miscommunication – the most common cause of tension and stress in the workplace. Using the team’s results from the StrengthsFinder assessment, she guides teams in learning to speak each other’s “language”, learning to value each other’s strengths and connecting with each other through enhanced self-reflection and effective listening.
Sarah’s nearly 20 years working in government agencies inspired her to complete her MBA and to achieve her StrengthsFinder certification to improve work environments for others, guiding teams toward increased satisfaction, productivity, and happiness.
Visit her website to purchase her book, Your Stories Don't Define You in paperback or audiobook.