What’s the Big Deal?! Telling Your Unique Story, Part Deux
In the last blog, we covered the importance of storytelling and how it should be a part of all types of communication for engagement and relatability. Now we’re going to go over telling your unique story, and how that will help to define your personal brand.
There’s a lot of general, surface storytelling out there. That’s okay, but it throws you into a big pile of general, surface storytellers. The point of sharing different stories is to separate yourself from other experts offering similar services.
Everyone has certain things in common. Getting out of high school at a certain age. Possibly getting a degree or certifications. Doing an internship or apprenticing. But other experts in your industry will have had similar experiences.
The gems are in your personal stories. Now don’t go rolling your eyes at me. We have all had experiences that are unique to us. The situation, how you handled it, what you learned. That one incident that clarified what you wanted to do with your life. How you named your business. Why you chose theatre over sports as a kid, or vice versa. That award you won once for blowing the most bubbles from the same piece of gum. These are individual incidences that nurtured your perspectives.
Let’s think about your values. Most values crossover from personal to professional. Where did they come from? Someone who was a role model in your life? From navigating through certain challenges and investing in certain outcomes? Or a simple lesson one of your grandparents instilled in you? These are all things specific to how you got to where you are.
But there’s a nuance to this type of storytelling. There’s a fine line between memoir and marketing. You do not have to disclose all of your dark, personal secrets. It’s more about lessons you’ve learned, people you’ve met, and how these things have influenced your perspective and how that shows up in your work and life.
This is not about you, really - it’s different than confiding in a friend or partner for support and understanding. This is about your audience connecting to you because of some quirky characteristic, a belief or value that strikes a nerve for them, or just something that you found funny that they do, too. For them to relate to you on an equal human level, which is part of the “know, like, trust”
process, you need to share these types of things.
Want some examples? Of course you do.
• I live and die by humor. We joke a lot at home, I love to be snarky with my kids. There’s something to chuckle about in everything. I find that humor can lessen heaviness and stress, and help people relax a bit and open up.
• I hate dresses and stilettos. I’m a funky trouser and chunky heel type of girl. High maintenance undergarments and foot pain do not interest me. And I want to be able to flee a scene when necessary, a true strength in my eyes.
• The magic has always been the B side of records for me. I lose interest in top 40 hits pretty quickly, and love those under the radar songs. I’m not someone who fits in to the general public’s consensus of what qualifies as top hits.
• After birthing and raising three kids, I have felt my share of fear and discomfort. And cold water is high on my list of uncomfortable. Don’t like it. Don’t want it. And I reserve the right to say NO to white water rafting.
These are just a few of the gems that make me Beth Knaus, a copywriting and brand message consulting expert. But they don’t mention business. They show that I’m a real human, possibly with flaws. (Let’s not get carried away, here.)
You can do this, too. I know you have some awesome stories and situations that opened your mind to something that helps you do your work in a really cool way.
But if you’d like some help, I’d love to connect. Let’s chat and see how we can create your unique stories. Schedule a call here