Tell Us Your Origin Story (on Clubhouse)
Stories about the journey you've taken to where you are today
As you probably know by now, the majority of my time is spent helping people tell an impactful personal story. And while there are many versions of such stories (from the lessons we’ve learned, to the adventures we have experienced, and insights we gained) I’m always fascinated by the category commonly known as origin stories.
These are the stories of how we got to where we are today. Stories that have often been told around campfires for thousands of years, but now find a home on stages and even in boardrooms. People not only want to know who we are today, but how we got here.
Based on my continued interest in hearing these personal narratives, I hosted another Storytelling with Impact room on Clubhouse that featured a collection of friends who shared their origin stories with the audience. I had met two guests (Brian and Paulina) in real life, as they were speakers at my TEDxSanDiego events. But those other three - Jay, Nilormi and Laura - are virtual friends who I recently met on Clubhouse. So what did they reveal to our audience?
Jay Demetillo - abandoned as a child, his escape became art, yet no one around him provided support until a professor convinced him to pursue an education in design. That path ultimately blossomed into an extremely successful career as a designer.
Brian Keating - Brian talked about origin within a framework of five key subjects:
1) origin of the universe, 2) origin of matter, 3) origin of time, 4) origin of life, and,
5) the origin of consciousness. From bacteria to Bach, he wants to know it all.
Paulina Lis - followed her heart from Poland to California. And while the romance didn’t work out, she became the director of an organization supporting sustainable building practices, then went on to gain a masters degree in Sweden. What’s next?
Nilormi Das - her culture had expectations, but she decided to follow her heart and passion for how technology can seek inspiration from the importance of nature for benefiting the human species, combining a love for mythology, meditation and AI.
Laura De Los Santos - co-moderating many of the Storytelling with Impact rooms, Laura is an author and screenwriter in her own right, as well as a teacher on every aspect of narrative structure and storytelling that will touch an audience. Brilliant.
Like fingerprints, no two origin stories are the same, in fact, not even close, and they could hardly have been guessed at based on where each of them is in their life today.
So what about you? Have you ever sat down and written your origin story? Even if it won’t be shared on a stage (either virtual or physical) the process is revealing. If you dare go below the surface - which involves revisiting your story and editing as you discover new details or storylines - you will see yourself and the world differently.
I hope that you enjoyed this post. If so, please share your wisdom and insights below. And don’t forget to subscribe. You can also find me on LinkedIn and Twitter, or even drop me a line with any thoughts or questions you may have about your storytelling.