A Simple Way to Find the Happy Ending of Your Personal Brand Story
We spend 50% of our waking hours of any workday on... well, work.
Based on a 78-year lifespan, that's 30% of our lives.
For some, especially executives, leaders and entrepreneurs, work might consume more than 50% of their day. That's a lot of your life.
With all that effort–ink stains, sweat, and tears… wouldn't it be helpful to know what you're aiming for?
Begin At The End
When I consult clients on telling an effective personal brand story, I urge them to know the ending first. In business lingo, this has become known as your "Vision."
From a storytelling POV, it's the happy ending to your personal brand story. The place, role, mission, and bright future you want your network to associate with you.
It anchors your story in an outcome and makes clear which pieces of your vast experience you should share.
Example: You want to end up as head of a Fortune 500 company in a COO role.
When introducing yourself, you can tell people that so they know where you're going. And also, build a case around why this is a clear trajectory for you by highlighting the operational roles, skills, and experience you have for companies of increasingly larger sizes.
No more wondering if your summer course in Linguistics matters. Unless communication & language are also part of your brand, it does not.
Finding The Happy Ending
This is easier said than done, of course. People spend thousands of dollars and hours getting to the root of where they want to be.
Not you, though.
With the chart below, a blank sheet, and a pencil, look at each section below and list what you'd most love for each.
1. Environment
Close your eyes. Fast forward five to ten years from now, and write what you see:
What physical space would you like to work in?
What does working in this space look like, feel like, and sound like?
Who else is there?
TIP: If you’re having difficulties visualizing, look at your current work environment. Take note of the things that are currently working and the things you’d take away, and what would you replace them with?
2. Behavior
What do you already love to do and would want to do more of?
If you could bring some new action or behavior to your work, what would it be?
What about people whose work you admire and would like to model? What things do they do that you’d like to do too?
TIP: Get on Google and grab a bunch of images of people “working” that you think could be cool. Those are clues as to what you’d like to be doing next.
3. Skills/Capabilities
Make a list of the strengths/skills you love the most about yourself.
What do you think they are? Write down at least five.
In the future, what skills are you using or have you learned?
What natural capabilities are you exhibiting?
What steps did you take to learn those skills or exhibit those capabilities?
What’s the most audacious thing you can see yourself doing in the future (that you don’t do today)?
TIP: If you’re not sure about your strengths/skills and weaknesses, don’t be afraid to ask around. Send and email & get feedback from your close friends & colleagues.
4. Beliefs & Values
To become the person that works where they work, does what they do in 5-10 years:
What beliefs did you have to hold to make this a reality?
What evidence do you have in the present to support these future beliefs? These will be the seeds of those beliefs?
How do you act on these beliefs?
What positive values helped shape you into the person you are now? How do they show up at work?
What values would you want to share with the people/company you work with?
5. Identity
What label is on your business card or resume?
What words will other people use to describe you?
What’s the most epic label someone could assign you?
Is there an image, word, or song that embodies this future identity?
6. Purpose/Mission
Take some time to reflect on how you’re currently helping people.
Whether it’s your expertise that guides others when they turn to you for questions…
Or your amazing ability to deliver products on time…
What are you (or your business) constantly contributing to everyone around you?
How is your role/job/business helping the people you interact with on a regular basis?
What is the butterfly/ripple effect of your work?
Think bigger. What's this all for? Who are you serving with your work? What are you helping them with?
That's it, baby. BAM! Your vision in a nutshell. The happy ending to your story.
Does that clarify what your next steps are?
And what kind of role you need to go for next?
Good!
Now that you’ve named it, go out now and get it.