Why it’s one of the most powerful things you can do for your business
When I was little, I loved superhero films. Supergirl, Superman, Batman.
I got completely lost in their worlds.
And then a few years later, something amazing happened: we started getting the prequels.
Do you remember when Batman Begins came out? We got to see what happened before he became Batman. Same with Wonder Woman, Iron Man, and of course Star Wars.
They were my favourite by far.
Why?
Because origin stories give us the “why” behind the hero. They show us what shaped them before they stepped into their power.
And if you run a business, you need one too.
When I unlocked my own origin story, everything shifted. I stood on the TEDx stage at the Brighton Dome and shared it in front of 1,500 people. That story went online, and over time, it’s evolved, as yours will too.
I’ve recorded a quick video sharing the most common mistakes I see when people write their origin stories, and I’ve shared the solutions too.
Here are some common mistakes I see, and how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Thinking your origin story is your entire life story
This is really common. Coaches, consultants, and business owners try to cram in everything, from the day they were born to every major milestone. Your origin story is a strategic selection of key moments that connect the dots between where you’ve been and what you offer today.
Think of it like a superhero prequel. We don’t need to know what Batman had for breakfast at age seven. We need to know what shaped him. Same for you.
Mistake 2: Not knowing what’s relevant
If you’re thinking, Where the hell do I start?, you’re not alone. Many people freeze because so much has happened that they don’t know what to include. So they either write nothing, or they throw in everything, which overwhelms both them and their audience.
Instead, ask:
Who am I helping right now, and what do they need to know about my journey to trust me today?
Mistake 3: Writing a word salad instead of a story
You sit down to write your origin story, and what comes out is a timeline of dry facts:
“In 2015, this happened. Then in 2018, that happened…”
Oftentimes, a whole load of words are used, when only a few will do too.
A story has structure, emotion, and movement. It makes people feel something. It follows a path. One of the easiest structures to use is a simplified version of the Hero’s Journey. I’ve broken it down into four elements that bring your story to life, without overwhelming you with detail.
So what can you do with a great origin story?
So much.
Once you’ve unlocked it, your origin story becomes a multi-use tool for visibility and connection:
- Use it in your keynote talks or TEDx pitch
- Share it in podcast interviews
- Put it on your website’s About page
- Share a short version on LinkedIn
- Turn it into content for days and weeks
- Use it to pitch speaking, writing, or media opportunities
If you need help, I have something for you:
Introducing: Unlock Your Origin Story
It’s a 2-hour, one-to-one deep dive where I’ll help you unlock and shape your origin story using a proven storytelling structure, complete with emotional arcs, keystones of wisdom, and golden nuggets for your audience.
We’ll start with the elixir, the purpose of your story, and reverse engineer from there.
I’ll help you weave the golden thread that links your past to your present mission.
You’ll walk away with a compelling, usable story, and a strategy to share it in ways that work for you.
You’ll also get two weeks of follow-up support from me to help you shape and share it across platforms and formats.
Sessions are available online or in-person in Brighton (just send me a DM if you’d like to meet face-to-face at Soho House). Spaces are limited over the summer, and I’d love to help you unlock this superpower.
Find out more and book here
https://helenpackham.com/unlock-your-origin-story/
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