How to... craft your origin story
Go into yourself and see how deep the place is from which your life flows.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Writing your origin story is a valuable exercise for anyone to do.
But it’s a must-have if you’re a business owner or leader.
The origin story is foundational to all other story types and forms the core of your personal brand identity.
It tells people:
Who you are
What you’re made of
Why you do what you do
How you got to where you are.
Here are some tips to help you create yours.
Get clear on the purpose
Stories become alive when we share them with others. Before you begin, think about your audience, what they need from you and what you hope to receive in return. Is your goal to inspire others, to promote your idea or ask for support? Understanding this will help you shape the narrative with focus and confidence.
Tip: Simon Sinek’s talk is a good watch for anyone who wants to understand purpose.Define your voice
Your origin story is uniquely yours. Think about your natural tone, language and style and weave in these elements to convey your story in a way that feels authentic, engaging and is appropriate for your audience.Timeline your life
Think back on your life and identify the key moments & events that have been significant in shaping who you are today. Start with easy things like school, friends, career milestones, and layer by layer, add other memories of struggles and triumphs.Build your story.
Once you’ve identified your key moments, it’s time to build your origin story. There are no rules here, choose an approach that feels most natural to you.
So, you might tell your origin story chronologically, starting with your earliest memories and moving forward in time. You could begin by choosing a specific experience as a jumping off point. Or you might imagine looking back on your life from your deathbed and recounting your journey.
Tip: Check out Indra Nooyi sharing her origin story powerfully here and how it led to her work developing PepsiCo’s “Performance With Purpose” movement.Grace of Space:
Give yourself the grace of space to edit and revise. Once you've completed a draft of your origin story, walk away and let it settle.
When you come back to the page, look for areas where you can clarify your narrative, strengthen your language, add depth and detail to your experiences.Share your story
One of my favourite books on storytelling is ‘Do Story’ by Bobette Buster. She says “The only way stories have any power is if we share them with each other.”
Now it’s time to share that story spark with others. Whether you publish it online, create a key note or share it with your team, your story has the power to build bridges of meaning and connection between you and your audience.
Don’t waste that opportunity.
For each of us, understanding the life experiences - highs and lows, people and places that have shaped us into the person we are, brings greater self awareness, compassion and focus for the future.
The origin story is literally the OG story. The wellspring for everything else.
Take the time to honour and craft it.