As writers, we have learned to not focus on our opening lines when we first draft our story or article. Because if we dwell too much on how we start a piece, it can hinder us from advancing. We also realize that once we draft our piece, sometimes our opening lines come to us later. That’s why a writer’s craft is not so much the writing, but the editing.
Drafting our brand story can be done similarly. Sometimes to get us started, we need to write out answers to specific questions to help us home in on the principal theme, the crux of the story.
The purpose of our brand story can help us elaborate on all the important elements of our reason for existing. The purpose is not necessarily the opening lines, but it acts as the undercurrent to all the other pieces of our story that merge as a whole. Knowing the purpose of our story catapults us toward the overarching theme of who we are and what we stand for.
In uncovering our purpose, we answer specific questions: Why did we start our company or organization? Why did we write our book? What is our passion and driving force? What changes do we seek to make?
Let’s break these questions down.
What is your passion?
Whenever we begin our story, it should always start with our passion. We started our organization, our business, our book, our craft, for specific reasons. Somewhere within us lies a burning passion that was ignited by something.
First, what is your passion?
Second, what ignited that passion? Why did you start your company, or organization, or your book?
The “why” is the all-important word here. “Why” is what moves us to act.
Once you figure out your “why,” your passion, your reason for taking action, this will help you move deeper.
What is the need?
Your passion drives you to fulfill a need that others have. What is that need? What need does your product or service satisfy that otherwise did not exist?
Often we hear stories from inventors and other creators that tell us the product they invented came about by accident, such as penicillin and smoke detectors. Who knew items we rely on today were oopsies? (7 Momentous Inventions Discovered by Accident | HISTORY)
Perhaps your need was discovered by accident. Maybe you learned something about yourself and your own needs that once you put your product or service into practice, you realized others could likewise benefit.
The point is you have something you learned about yourself and what others could use that you can now share.
What change(s) do you seek to make?
The change you want to make is what lit that fire under you, again, your passion. What are those changes? Do the changes involve something external or internal? Do people have to physically do something? Are you changing their appearance or the way they think about something? What are you bringing to others’ lives?
You know best the change you are after because of the reason why you started your company. You saw what others needed because you needed it.
All of the above are the driving force to uncover the purpose of your brand story.
The purpose of your brand story is a key element in shaping your entire brand story. It can help us elaborate on all the important elements of our reason for existing. Knowing the purpose of our story catapults us toward the overarching theme of who we are and what we stand for. By answering what our passion is, the need we can fulfill, and the change(s) we seek to make, will help us uncover our story’s purpose.
(Photo by Edward Jenner from Pexels)
Need help telling your business or author story? My brand storytelling training helps you recognize your story and how to effectively use it to build better engagement and increase sales. Find out more here and book a call with me!
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