To Differentiate, Explore Your Past

This week, my Strategic Narrative Workshop participants are starting to document and explore their origin story.

Curious to know why and how this might help you too? Read on.

Your origin story is the written or spoken account of the series of events that explain why and how you started.

In this sentence, and depending on the context, the word “you” may refer to several subjects. It can be your company, your organization, your project, your product, your team, or yourself as a person.

When you take the time to write your origin story, 20% of the benefit is to improve how you articulate the purpose of your work both in a live and unscripted situation and in your communication material. 80% of the benefit is to explore your purpose when you started and how it continues to evolve.

Indeed, your purpose is not static. It’s not just a statement on a poster that nobody pays attention to. Instead, your purpose evolves gradually throughout the life of your organization, business, practice, or during your career.

One of the main applications of your origin story is differentiation. Of course, there are many others, but let’s focus on this one for a moment.

There is only one of you, so if you show up authentically, by definition, you’re doing something new and different.

When you’re competing with others for business, talent, or investor money, this is how you stand out. No one else has your story. No one has your unique experience. No one went through the exact things you went through in the same way you did.

The original reason why your business exists matters more than ever. People need to feel your difference to decide if they will work with you or buy from you. It needs to resonate with them.

It is worth exploring your past to figure out how you will continue to stand out in the future.

“Why should we look to the past to prepare for the future? Because there is nowhere else to look.”

James Burke