Philosophy

Everybody is a storyteller

Stories create a common ground. There are shared meanings hidden within every tale. “Little red riding hood” tells us to beware of strangers. “Cinderella” tells us that being good-hearted pays off. “Beauty and the beast” encourages us to look behind appearances. The love of a parent, the call for independence, righteous anger, and hidden envy are experiences we all relate to. Finding those common truths means finding yourself. Sharing them means sharing the most valuable part of yourself.

Herociety means finding your voice. We all have a voice in one way or another. For most of us, it is as mundane as the lives we supposedly lead. Yet, neither the voice nor the lives we lead are mundane in the slightest. Failures and successes, hardships and hilarity, indifference and helpfulness are all part of our sometimes-daily lives. Herociety helps you to tell the stories, the big ones, and the small ones, in a way that inspires you and others.

Everybody is the s/hero of their own life.

Everybody faces challenges, fails, and tries again, but we all do so in a unique and personal way. You may think that your life is too ordinary to be able to find anything worth telling a story about. But even a trip to the supermarket, a fall off the bicycle, or the hug of your child can be turned into a tale as long as it means something to you. In the herociety program, you will work on your personal stories, discover their meaning, and practice telling them to see yourself as the s/hero of your own life.

The s/hero is a storyteller

Being a s/hero means sharing your experiences. The motto of Herociety is “live and tell.” That means a s/hero doesn’t only leave her/his familiar world behind and enters a realm of trials. S/He also returns to tell the tale. To tell an inspiring story from your own life, you first need to find out why you want to talk about a particular experience and what your audience will get out of it. This is why we learn and practice the art of storytelling. First, you find out which personal stories mean something to you. Then, you practice telling the tale. Then, you shake the world.

Here are your lovely sidekicks

Lavinia Knop-Walling is a blind freelance storyteller, author, blogger, and the word smith of the herociety venture. Lavinia found her voice for the first time when she played a very small, very green Marsian in a musical at age eleven. It was her teacher who, despite her stage fright, encouraged Lavinia to sing with the comforting words, “Do it! Do it, now!” Twenty years later and she still hasn’t shut her mouth. Whether it’s workshops, podcasts, or webinars, Lavinia tells stories. Everyone has an inspiring personal story to tell but not always the voice to do it. Lavinia’s goal is to show you how to use the greatest weapon a storyteller has — the s/hero’s voice.

Bjarke Walling is a transformational online coach. If herociety is a call to adventure, you can see Bjarke as your ‘fairy godmother’, the helpful spirit bestowing gifts on those s/heroes who answered the call. In the past, he worked as a consultant and software developer for many businesses. Some of those, he started himself. His role is to help you on your way to find your s/hero’s voice by establishing where you are on your journey, defining the obstacles in your way, and helping you to create a clear vision of your future.

Lavinia and Bjarke are currently involved in the greatest hero’s journey of them all. They are married. Most obstacles, they take in stride. The only thing they don’t enjoy doing together is the dishes. They draw straws.