Trace your scars

Hi Storytellers!

Today, I’d like to show you how you can find and use your origin story to connect, build trust and credibility with investors, clients, readers, or potential employees.

Let’s dive in!

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The origin story is the one that gets neglected by founders and leaders the most. It can easily slip into reciting their CV or introducing their team. They are missing out. Big time.

Some out of fear of revealing vulnerability, and some because they find it difficult to pick the right words and connect the dots.

Your superpower stems from your roots

Everything about your business can be copied. Your why and origin story can't. Investors don’t fund ideas, they invest in founders they believe in. Your product/offer can change and pivot 1,000 times. But your origin story prevails.

Let’s have a look at how to write your own.

How can you find your origin story?

I say find, not create, for a reason. The origin story is not made up, it is found looking back to your childhood, teenage years, or early career. It is something that keeps showing up in different forms. Your goal is to go beyond the superficial (the forms it shows up as) and dig for the reason why.

There are several ways to find your origin story:

1. Look for the cracks (they hide gold)

Kintsugi is a Japanese way of putting broken ceramic pieces together with gold. The cracks turned into golden lines are clearly visible, making the item unique by showing its imperfections. It is often connected to Japanese philosophy wabi which translates to the beauty of simplicity and flaws.

When looking for memories that could form your origin story — learn from the Japanese — look for the cracks. For the shaping experiences. These can be childhood or teenage memories of struggle, pain, injustice, loss, etc. Find those emotionally-charged experiences by looking for the blood, sweat, and tears.

• When I was a child/teenager/early graduate, what were the moments I struggled with the most? Why was that? In which ways did that influence my life path? How does that make me different from others?

• What am I fighting for/against?

• What motivates me to push forward?

Important note! When we look at most superheroes, their shaping experiences are mostly rooted in trauma. It doesn’t have to be like that for you. Struggle can also be financial, social, or spiritual.

2. The firsts when time stopped

Great joys, moments when you totally immersed yourself into an activity, people that formed your beliefs or your firsts. First day in a new school, first love, first science project, etc.

• How did it feel when you first (e.g. touched a paintbrush, read a book, built LEGO)?

• Who was that special person that made you curious and showed you something fascinating?

3. Chance or a unique combination of circumstances

Sometimes, all it takes is a combination of our interests/skills and being at the right place at the right time. You meet your co-founder on campus or learn about a specific problem because people from your close circle are affected.

• When did it feel like I was incredibly lucky? In the right place at the right time? (e.g. think about people, opportunities, hobbies, etc.)

How to write your origin story in 7 steps

There is no one way to do this, but the following framework might help.

1. THE IMMERSION = describe an experience when you lost track of time: (explain how it felt in a vivid way, choose a specific moment, and avoid generalizations like “I always loved painting”)

2. THE OBSTACLE = But then… (add tension - explain the struggle, e.g. society's expectations, parents’ opinions, limiting beliefs, your failures)

3. THE FEELING = Because of that I felt… (show us your inner world)

4. THE TURNING POINT = One day… (the aha moment - describe the moment of realization as an action scene)

5. THE GUIDE = That’s when I met… (show us who helped you)

6. THE CHANGE = From that moment on … (reveal how it changed you)

7. THE RESULT = Today, I help people do…, because (your purpose)

When to introduce your origin story in your pitch?

It depends. (I know people feel meh about this answer, but it really does).

The context of the conversation (investor pitch, sales call, podcast interview) also impacts the length and how you frame your story (be clear about your goal - is it to be relatable, be seen as an authority, etc.)

For the sake of simplicity, let's take the investor pitch example. Here are some options regarding the timing:

1. When you start with the future vision, you can continue with the origin story (and explain why it matters to you) - this is very effective. It creates a curiosity gap because investors understand where you are going and where you come from but not how you are going to get there yet (your product/offer).

2. At the beginning of your pitch to break the pattern and connect with the audience/investors - most founders jump straight into numbers, which builds resistance. Start with a connection instead.

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Talk next week,

- Dominika