Is Your OLD Story a ROADBLOCK to Your GROWING Content?

If your content feels stale, flat, or out of sync with who you are now, you’re not alone. I spent years “feeding the social media beast” because that was the rule book I learned to live by.

Lately I realized the rules changed around me — and so did I. In this livestream I walked through how an old story can become a roadblock, and three practical moves you can make this week to get back into flow.

Share

Three key takeaways (what to do first)

• Name the old story. Ask: “What story about who I have to be am I still running?” Give that story a label.

• Spot where it sneaks in. Reflect on the past week and find one moment where you defaulted to an old habit (overdelivering, guilt about not posting, saying yes to the wrong things). Journal it. Awareness breaks the loop.

• Choose your new story — and an anchor word. Pick one word that will guide decisions and content (examples: ease, impact, joy, sovereignty). Use that word as a filter for what you publish, say yes to, or let go of.

Why this matters for service-based businesses

As coaches, consultants, and creators, our content is the vehicle for our message — and that vehicle needs to reflect the driver.

If you’re in a new season (midlife, a career pivot, a values shift), your audience, tone, and offers may need to shift with you. Trying to fit back into an old narrative wastes energy and leads to inconsistency, burnout, and content that doesn’t connect.

When you update your story, you make clearer decisions about platforms, what to say, who to serve, and how to show up without the guilt and hustle that used to drive you.

Quick, practical next steps

1. Today: write down one “old” story you keep telling yourself about your business or content.

2. This weekend: think over your week, choose and journal one moment when that old story showed up — what triggered it and how did you respond?

3. Now: pick one anchor word (ease, impact, joy, etc.). Use it as your content filter for the next 30 days.

Want to go deeper?

I created a short, focused lab called SecondActStory — a four-week program to help creators over 40 rework their story and produce aligned video content.

We’ll meet one hour per week in October to do guided exercises, worksheets, and real-time story work. Learn all about this coworking event here:

Second Act Story

Watch the replay or join the conversation

Want the full conversation and examples? Watch the replay and make sure you subscribe to catch future livestreams on the Substack app or on YouTube youtube.com/tanyasmith

Get more from Tanya Smith in the Substack app

Available for iOS and Android

Get the app

You can find more of my posts and resources at: https://streamlikeaboss.tv

If you’re building in the service space, you get to define who you are and who you serve. You don’t have to keep showing up to someone else’s rulebook. Name the old story, notice the loops, and choose a new anchor word that brings ease and clarity to your content and your life.

Warmly,

Tanya Smith

P.S. Hit reply and tell me your anchor word — I read each response.

About the Author

Tanya Smith is the CEO of Get Noticed with Video LLC and host of Stream Like a Boss® TV, where she helps podcasters and livestream creators turn crickets into clients—without chasing algorithms or losing their authentic voice. Through practical strategies and proven workflows, Tanya empowers creators to grow their audience, build authority, and monetize their message with confidence.

🎯 Want to know your unique livestream personality type?

Take the free quiz now: streamlikeaboss.tv/quiz