What is Your Story?
If you’re new here, there’s something you should know: I love talking about stories and the job they do for us as human beings, both in our professional and personal lives. Over the last few weeks, I have been sharing my own personal origin stories about the variety of ways I show up in the world that capture the life I have the privilege of living.
You may be thinking,"While that's great for you, Andrew, I don't have any captivating stories to share!"
That’s where you’re mistaken! Most of us, if not all of us at times, underestimate the power of presence in our own lives. We can choose to unwrap our present like a gift that is unfolding moment by moment. And, just like that, the tiny stories that weave the fabric of our lives come alive, for us and for the people around us!
As an example, I tell the story of me becoming a performance poet. Who cares about my poetry, you ask? Well, YOU DO, but only if I can share a genuine story compelling enough to connect you to me as a human. And, you can do the same!
An origin story is a powerful tool for making an impressive first impression and forming instantaneous connections with the people you come into contact with. It helps you stand out and positions you as a trustworthy, sincere and credible human being without sounding like you’re reading your resume or relaying the story of your life (in too much detail).
The origin story framework helps you answer three questions:
Who were you before?
What created a change?
Who are you now?
These questions create the world’s simplest story structure:
An ordinary world exists. We briefly illustrate what our world was like.
Then, something extraordinary happens. We highlight an event or something that we realized or decided.
And a new world emerges. We describe what our new world looks like.
Hint: start at the end! What life do you have the privilege of living now and how did you find your way there?
Try it out, we look forward to being a recipient of one of your origin stories in the near future!