Hey Greenb-ers!

(Doesn’t work quite as well as G-blasters. I’ll keep workshopping nicknames).

I had a request from LinkedIn this week:

I posted about how telling my story helped me get on a podcast (read here if you give a shit about getting on podcasts).

Amira wanted to learn about the “story structure” I mentioned:

My “Founder Story Structure.”

*Note: this can apply to anyone, not just startup founders or entrepreneurs.

First off:

Why do you need something like this?

Because in business, your story is currency.

Actually, let me amend that:

YOUR STORY is an ASSET, like a stock or piece of real estate:

Once you OWN it, it will work FOR you, and make you money.

Telling your story, again and again, will get you clients, potential investors, speaking opportunities, partners, podcast invites, job offers, and more.

I know, because it happens to me every week:

Ok, enough with the sales pitch. If you’re still reading, you’re convinced.

Here it is:

The Founder Story Structure

Like many good stories, this one is told in three acts:

1. Childhood Origin

2. Youth Awakening

3. Adult Choice

Let’s break it down:

Childhood Origin

This is where we start our story (or, I should say YOUR story):

We start in childhood for a few reasons:

• People love childhood stories

• It immediately humanizes you

• We can’t really understand you if we don’t know your origins

• It makes you memorable (cause not many people do it)

• All great characters in film, movies, TV, get introduced in - or have flashbacks to - their childhood

It just works.

To find your Childhood Origin, try to answer the question:

“What was unique about my childhood that explains why I do the work I do today?

It could be:

• where you were born & raised

• what kind of a family you had

• an early obsession with something

• a strong personality trait

• or even childhood trauma (for Dax Shepherd, host of my favourite podcast Armchair Expert, this is how he often starts his story)

Whatever you decide on, just remember, it should be:

1. Unique to you (don’t worry about “relatability”)

2. Specific (“I lived in a small town” vs “I grew up in Timmins, a small town in North Ontario”)

3. Interesting / High Stakes

4. True (do I need to say that??)

5. And relevant to your work today (you can draw a line from there to here)

After you establish your Childhood Origin, it’s on to the:

Youth Awakening*

Here is the TURNING POINT and SECOND ACT of your story:

To find this section, answer the question:

“What happened to me as a young person that woke me up to a new reality?”

This can be:

• traveling somewhere

• witnessing something eye-opening

• getting a unique opportunity

• an historic event (9/11, Covid, etc)

• or a loss, injury or trauma of some kind*

*(Sorry to keep bringing up tragedy, but if you’re like me, you can’t tell your true story without talking about the most difficult parts of your life.

These are the events that really shape us. Including them allows people to get to know the real you.

This is up to your comfort level, but I’ve learned that sharing about the dark, painful stuff is what makes for real connection.)*

As long as your Youth Awakening section is:

• impactful

• signals a change

• and helps further explain your current work

… then you can move on to your:

Adult Choice

This is like the CLIMAX of the story:

The moment where all of your experiences come together, to reveal your life’s purpose.

If that sounds too grandiose, you’re not thinking deeply enough about it.

This is the moment you decided to:

• become an entrepreneur

• start your current venture

• quit your old career

• leave a toxic workplace

• or finally let go of old baggage

Whatever it is, it should feel like a release of the tension built up by the first 2 sections, a satisfying conclusion to your story:

The hero emerging victorious.

So, here’s where you can add what you’ve achieved since your Adult Choice:

• impressive clients

• revenue

• projects

• awards

• and emotional wins (“happier than ever,” “living my purpose” etc)

This wraps up the story for your listener, and allows them to feel like they KNOW you better, and will then TRUST you more.

After this, you can build a real relationship with them, built on connection, and everything is easier in business with human connections.

🎤

THAT’S IT for this one! (And sorry for being an hour late!)

I didn’t want to make this one too long, and now I feel like I did. But lemme know:

Was this too long? Not enough?

Please REPLY with HUMAN, FORWARD to your friends, and as always..

Greenblast, out 🚀