This post was inspired by a Julian Stodd post—
This is a reflective exercise.
You have 100 words to express your current story. This is your past and present story. Now, could you give it a title or a theme?
Write it once.
Put it away for a few days to a week, then write/edit it again.
Do that one more time.
This is the story of you…now.
Reflect
Now…reflect on it.
How does it feel to you?
Is it the story you wanted to be told?
Does it represent you on the inside?
Does it reflect your initial vision and mission?
Are you proud of your story?
Variation
Ask a friend, colleague, partner, or anyone to write your story from the theme.
Compare their story against your own.
What’s similar? What’s different? Why?
Next Reflection
What (if anything) would you change in your story? How would you change it?
Do you want to change or re-write it? How?
Your initial story was focused on Past-to-Present. Add a chapter to your story that reflects your vision for your future.
It captures your—
Essence
Goals
Experience
Aspirations
Hopes & Dreams
Visions
Make sure it’s compelling!
Your Epitaph
Jeff Bezos has said that your personal brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.
At the end of your professional journey, what do you want people to say about you and your story when you’re not in the room?
One final time, do you want to change your story? In what ways?
Put your pen down…and breathe. Internalize your story…letting it sink in.
Thank you to everyone who has considered this journey of envisioning and crafting your story.
Stay agile, my friends,
Bob.