Be the Hero of Your Own Story

Be your own hero.

Joseph Campbell famously believed in one essential story—the hero’s journey—positing that most stories fall into one well-known variation or another. The well-known branding tome, The Hero and The Outlaw, follows Campbell’s lead, revealing the archetypes from these tales and applying them to companies (you may recall we told you how to apply this to your personal brand). So how will you tell your hero’s journey? Maybe in a bio, a LinkedIn profile, a resume (if they even exist anymore), a mini memoir...how about your very own “About Our Founder” web page? Whatever format you fancy, we give you the prompts to get started on your own epic tale.

Put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard).

This is the hardest part for most of us (yes, even Verse writers). Even Hemingway, who encountered the odd writer’s block, noting, “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.” If that doesn’t do the trick, a timer set for 15 minutes usually does. Either way, in 15 minutes, you’ll be further along than you were before.

Start simply.

Describe your ordinary world—your capabilities, your true nature and what your outlook on life is. In other words, what makes you, you. People identify with heroes who are human, after all.

Call to adventure.

What called you to pursue your current path, career or otherwise? What is calling you now? This is a hero’s journey after all, so there has to be some adventure. Who mentored you along the way?

Bravery test.

Every hero is challenged at some point, or there wouldn’t be much of a story. Write about a big challenge you had along the way and how you overcame it. What skills did you use and what did you learn about yourself? How has it changed your outlook?

Revel in the reward.

Describe a time when you “seized the sword,” in Campbell parlance. Think of your biggest win—why was it such a win? What went into creating the magic? Who are you at your best? What tools did you develop? Any lessons-learned?

The road more traveled.

Write about what all of your accumulated wisdom and experience has done to bring you back to yourself and what you really care most deeply about. What is your powerful statement of your personal mission and your superpowers?

Put it together and you’ve got yourself a true tale (and yes, you’re a hero).