The Problem With “Look at Me…” Origin Stories

I read an article this morning in one of those big-time business magazines about “how to create an unforgettable origin story.”

It was kinda forgettable. 

It contained lots of dos and don’ts…

…be honest…

…don’t just list a chronology of events…

…include specific details…

…describe a vivid moment…

…and so on, and so forth. 

But there was one critical piece missing in this article: Any mention of the prospect or client. 

Follow this article’s formula, and you’ll dish out yet another “Look at ME…” origin story. 

Maybe you’ve already published such a story. 

Here’s the problem:

No one cares about YOUR origin story unless your journey reflects theirs. 

When you dish out another “Look at ME…” origin story, prospects will turn off, tune out, and move on.

And then what? 

Story Power Marketing Principle #1:

Keep the focus on prospects’ emotional journeys. 

On Tuesday, during my weekly meeting with VIP members of my Content Transformation Academy, I shared this advice with a member who’s struggling to create an origin story: 

Don’t sweat it. Your “legendary origin story” can wait. Most of the client-attracting stories you write will have nothing to do with your “origins.” 

Discover what makes your prospects and clients tick. Where are they now? Where do they want to be? Discover the journey they wish to take – and how you can enable that journey. 

Scan your past for personal stories that reflect your prospects’ journeys.

Those stories are about you AND about your clients. Those are the stories that prospects will remember. 

Notice I said “stories,” not story. 

You can have multiple origin stories.

I do. 

You don’t have to come up with that ONE story, that one moment, or that one BIG BANG to describe when your origins. 

The moments that shaped you, the events that shaped your business, the lessons you learned that are relevant to your audience – those are spread over time. 

This month, I’m polishing the final draft of my upcoming book. It opens with two origin stories – one that starts when I’m a teenager, the other that happened when I was a 45-year-old business owner. 

Both are relevant to you, dear reader…

…if you want to transform your content from boring to brilliant and turn marketing from frustrating to fun. 

Want a sneak peek? 

I plan to publish the book later this year. But if you’d like an early look, I’ll share with you one of those origin stories – along with a video explaining why I chose this story and how I constructed it. 

Just reply to this email and say: Gimme the origin story.