There is power in our stories, and as Dr. Nancy frequently reminds us, sharing those stories connects us and helps us understand that the possibilities are endless if we support each other. Adam Torres also believes in the value of our stories. As co-founder of Mission Matters, a full-service media agency specializing in podcasts, publishing, social media and PR, he has made amplifying stories his life’s work.
An international speaker and author of multiple books on business and investing, Adam’s advice is featured regularly in major media outlets such as Forbes, Yahoo! Finance, Fox Business, and CBS to name a few. While today he may come across as what he describes as a “pretty corporate America” type of guy, there is more to Adam than meets the eye.
Emphasizing that success is often accompanied by challenges, Adam credits his parents, particularly his social worker mother, for instilling in him a sense of compassion and the value of giving back. Born and raised in Detroit, Adam grew up surrounded by nonprofit work, and gained firsthand experience in supporting high-risk youth. He credits his mother for his early training in conversation, humor, and storytelling, and tells how sharing his own story has led to new opportunities for him.
“I was an only child, pretty much having adult conversations since I was probably five,” Adam said. “My parents didn’t really shelter me about the world and what was going on around me.”
Sharing Authentic Stories
Both Adam and Dr. Nancy agree that everyone has a story worth sharing. Adam shares how writing a book opened his eyes to the impact of personal stories. After working in finance for almost 14 years, in what he describes as a “good corporate career” managing significant portfolios, his mentor told him to write a book, which by the way was something he didn’t want to do. In fact, he recalled that at that time he was against books.
“I’ll admit back then I had a little bit of a chip on my shoulder. I was this finance guy like, who writes books? Why would you do that? That was me. I’m not going to lie,” Adam said. “I didn’t really understand – until I crossed over to what I like to say is the publishing side, or once I was in ink, that’s when things started happening.”
Adam was blown away by people reaching out to him, saying that he helped them when he didn’t even know them. Adam said, “There’s nothing groundbreaking, just me being vulnerable, sharing my stories and my experiences. The people that read that book, the response I got back, and some of the opportunities that came with that were just unbelievable to me.”
Dr. Nancy pointed out that by being vulnerable and authentic, people can create connections and touch lives in unexpected ways. Adam agreed and they discussed the importance of having a “stump speech,” a concise yet powerful narrative that encapsulates your journey and resonates with different audiences.
When Dr. Nancy asked for his stump speech, Adam said, “I’m on a mission to get people to share their stories. I don’t care if they share it through a podcast, book publishing, PR, media. I don’t care if they use our company or somebody else’s. The main thing is – share your story. Don’t let it go to the grave with you.”
Women Connect4Good and Mission Matters Collaboration
Just like the power in our stories, Dr. Nancy and Adam discussed their shared passion for empowering individuals and amplifying voices, as well as the value of building a community of like-minded individuals who can provide support, guidance, and collaboration. By working together and sharing resources, people can achieve greater success and make a more significant impact. That’s why Mission Matters and Women Connect4Good are partnering on a new anthology of a select group of women built around “women helping women” theme. This book – only the second all female anthology Mission Matters has produced to date – is a follow up to Mission Matters Women in Business, which featured the stories of 18 women and covered everything from turning your passion into your life’s purpose to the importance of empathy in leadership.
Adam is excited about the collaboration with Women Connect4Good and said, “We’re going to create a great book that’s going to last. Something that people want to read and that they’ll benefit from long term. When we invite somebody to a book, it’s like inviting them to our dinner party, our little small table of people that we’re going to have a conversation with. Who would you invite to that dinner party? Only people you’d want at your table. I’m thrilled about this project and about what’s next.”
Listen to or watch this conversation to learn more about Adam’s insights on the power of storytelling, and his plans for the future of Mission Matters. To find out more about the upcoming book – and apply to be included as an author – email [email protected]. Learn more about Mission Matters at MissionMatters.com.
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