Rising from Adversity: The Life-Changing Magic of Origin Stories

Origin stories tell the tale of how people, good and evil, transformed into what they are today. You may have heard the subject arise in your favorite podcasts. It allows two people to quickly get to know somebody and to better understand their experiences and struggles. It’s pretty inspiring to hear that Jay-Z started out selling CDs on the street and is now a billionaire. The rags to riches framework is a favorite of listeners and story-tellers alike, since it allows the listener to relate with the main character of the story.

Storytelling Frameworks

Have you ever heard of the framework called the hero’s journey? Author Joseph Campbell talks about it in his 1949 book, “The Hero with a Thousand Faces.” It’s a framework that storytellers have been using since “The Epic of Gilgamesh” was written four thousand years ago. The hero sets out on a journey, faces trials and challenges, a victory, and a return to home. This may sound familiar, if you have seen Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or hundreds of other movies.

Your Origin Story

Let’s pull all of this together and craft your own origin story. You know how you always meet somebody and they say something like, “and what do you do Dwight?” Well, instead of saying that you run an agro-tourism business, you could say, “I started out as local paper salesman. Then I inherited my families beet farm and now I run one of the fastest-growing agro-tourism businesses in Pennsylvania!” Your origin story will provide much more information than the usual one-liner. This will make you more memorable and easier to engage.