Your Story, Your Power: How to Turn a Lifetime of Experience into a Brand That Inspires

Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash

This is Part 1 of 4 in the Origin Story Foundations series.

The Power of a Story with Many Chapters

I don’t know about you, but when I hear a young entrepreneur in their 20s or 30s talking about the trials and tribulations they conquered on their way to building a seven-figure business, there’s a teeny, tiny part of me that wants to scream this:

Tenor.com

But then I remember something important: Every story unfolds in its own time and in its own way.

While these young entrepreneurs don't have as many chapters in their stories as we do, it doesn't take away from what they've accomplished. In many cases, their stories are incredibly inspiring.

On the flip side, because those of us who are 50+ have substantially more chapters in our stories, we bring something uniquely valuable to the table — something deeper. We’ve navigated career shifts, raised families, weathered economic storms, and maybe even reinvented ourselves a time or two. All of this allows us to bring the kind of perspective and wisdom that can only come from decades of real-world experience.

The beauty of having more chapters in your story is that it gives you more ways to connect with people of all ages.

Whether you're serving clients your age or those who are much younger or much older, your depth and breadth of experience creates trust and understanding that transcends age.

Writing an Origin Story that Sets Your Business Apart

In today's noisy marketplace, where it seems like everyone is starting a business, your authentic origin story isn't just another marketing tool – it's your secret weapon.

It's not about where you went to business school (though if you did, that's great!). It's about the real-life MBA you've earned through decades of experience.

Your origin story shows people not just what you do, but why they should trust you to do it.

In this issue of The Shorter Runway, we’re going to talk about how to weave the intricate and meaningful chapters of your life into an authentic origin story that sets your business apart.

Step 1: Identify Key Moments in Your Journey

Grab your favorite notebook or laptop and a cup of your favorite beverage. We're going on a little journey through your life's highlight reel. (And this includes moments you might not consider "highlights" at first glance.)

Start by asking yourself:

• What challenges have shaped who you are today? (That divorce in your 40s? The career switch at 51? They count!)

• When did you first realize you had a knack for what your current business (or business idea) offers?

• What problems have you solved that seemed impossible at the time? (Not just business problems — life problems.)

• Which life roles have taught you the most? (Being a mom, a daughter, a manager, a volunteer?)

• What lessons did these life roles teach you?

Pro Tip: Create a "life map" rather than a simple list. Draw a timeline and mark both professional and personal milestones. Often, the most powerful parts of your story emerge from unexpected connections between different areas of your life. For example, maybe the organizational skills you developed as a PTA president directly influenced how you now structure your consulting practice.

Step 2: Connect Your Experiences to Your Business Values

Now, let's connect those life experiences to the values that drive your business today. For example:

• Did raising three kids while working full-time teach you extraordinary time management? That's why efficiency is now one of your core business values.

• Did caring for aging parents while managing your career show you the importance of compassionate service? That's why empathy is at the heart of your customer care approach.

Make a list of your top 3-5 business values (e.g., sustainability, transparency, integrity, innovation, etc.) and write down the specific life experiences that led you to embrace each one. These connections make your brand values more than just nice-sounding words that appear on your website – they make them authentic and believable.

Pro Tip: Think about the phrases people have used to describe you over the years. Are you "the one who always finds a solution" or "the person who makes everyone feel heard"? These recurring themes often reveal your core values in action. Write down 3-4 of these descriptions and consider how they translate into business principles.

Step 3: Frame Challenges as Growth Opportunities

Here's where we turn those "despite" moments into "because of" triumphs. Remember, your audience doesn't just want to hear about your successes; they want to know how you got there.

Instead of saying: "Despite starting my business at 55..." try this: "Because I started my business at 55, I brought 30 years of problem-solving experience to every client interaction..."

Share how specific challenges taught you:

• Resilience (like bouncing back from a layoff)

• Innovation (finding creative solutions with limited resources)

• Empathy (understanding what your customers really need)

• Wisdom (knowing the difference between trendy and truly valuable)

Pro Tip: When sharing challenges, follow the "Rule of Three": for every challenge you mention, include (1) what you learned, (2) how you grew, and (3) how your clients now benefit from this experience. This transforms potentially negative stories into powerful examples of your expertise.

Step 4: Highlight Unique Insights from Your Life Experience

This is where your age becomes your superpower. What insights have you gained that give you a unique perspective in your industry?

For example:

• If you're starting a wellness coaching business, how has your own health journey informed your approach?

• If you're launching a consulting practice, what patterns have you observed over decades in your field that younger consultants might miss?

• If you're opening a retail business, how has being a consumer for 50+ years shaped your customer service philosophy?

Pro Tip: Create what I call a "Wisdom Bank" — a list of 5-10 unique insights you've gained that younger entrepreneurs simply couldn't know yet. For instance, if you've worked through three recessions, you have an invaluable perspective on building resilient businesses. These insights make excellent content for your marketing materials.

Step 5: Craft Your Story Arc

Now, let's put it all together. Here's your template for a compelling origin story:

1. **The Beginning**: Set the scene with relevant background (career path, key life roles, early influences)

2. **The Catalyst**: Describe the moment you realized you needed to start this business

3. **The Challenges**: Share the obstacles you faced and why they didn't stop you

4. **The Transformation**: Explain how these experiences prepared you for entrepreneurship

5. **The Resolution**: Connect your journey to how you serve your customers today

Example Structure:

"After 25 years in corporate training, I thought I knew everything about professional development. Then, while helping my daughter navigate her first job, I realized something: the workplace had changed dramatically, but training hadn't kept up. That's when I knew..."

Pro Tip: Record yourself telling your story out loud before writing it down. We often speak more naturally than we write, and this technique helps capture your authentic voice. Plus, you'll notice which parts of your story generate the most emotion or energy. Those are usually the parts that will resonate most with your audience.

Bonus Pro Tip: Test different versions of your story for different situations. Create a 30-second elevator pitch, a 2-minute networking version, and a longer version for your website or speaking engagements. Your core origin story stays the same, but the details you emphasize might change based on your audience and the time available.

Your Origin Story as a Business Asset

Your origin story isn't just about looking back – it's about leveraging your rich life experience to build trust with your audience.

It's the foundation that makes everything else in your brand more credible and compelling.

When you share your journey authentically, you're not just telling a story; you're showing potential clients why your life experience makes you the perfect person to solve their problems.

Remember: Every gray hair, laugh line, and hard-won lesson is part of what makes you and your business unique.

Own your story.

Share it proudly.

Use it to connect with others who see themselves in your journey.

---

Coming up next in our Foundations of Brand Storytelling series: How to Use Your Origin Story to Connect with Your Ideal Clients

Your Turn:

What key moment in your journey sparked your business idea? Share your story in the comments below. I'd love to hear how your life experience is shaping your entrepreneurial path.

---

Not much of a reader? Here’s a “picture book” version of how to create a powerful origin story for your business:

---

Need a little help getting started with creating your origin story? Consider using AI as your brainstorming partner! Copy and paste the prompt below into ChatGPT or Claude and let the ideas flow!

Caveat: While AI tools can be fantastic brainstorming buddies (think of them as your creative sidekick), they can't capture the magic that makes you, well, you. At the end of the day, your unique voice—with all its warmth, wisdom, and wonderful quirks—is what will make your story resonate with others.

INSTRUCTIONS
How to Use the AI Prompt to Craft Your Origin Story

1. Choose an AI Writing Assistant

• Open your favorite AI tool (like ChatGPT or any other AI writing assistant you prefer).

2. Copy the Provided Prompt

• Highlight and copy the entire AI prompt from this newsletter.

3. Paste the Prompt into the AI Tool

• In the AI assistant’s text box, paste the prompt you’ve copied.

4. Start the Conversation

• Hit ‘Enter’ or click ‘Send’ to initiate the session with the AI.

5. Interact and Reflect

• The AI will guide you through a series of questions and exercises based on the prompt.

• Take your time to think deeply and provide honest, detailed responses.

6. Take Notes Along the Way

• Keep a notebook or a digital document open to jot down key insights, phrases, or ideas that resonate with you.

7. Review the Output

• Once you’ve gone through all the steps, read over the AI’s responses and your own reflections.

8. Craft Your Story in Your Own Words

• Use the insights and ideas generated as a foundation.

• Write your origin story, ensuring your unique voice and personality shine through.

9. Refine and Personalize

• Edit and adjust the story as needed.

• Remember, the goal is to create a narrative that feels authentic to you.

10. Save Different Versions

• Consider crafting multiple versions for different settings (elevator pitch, website bio, speaking engagements).

A Few Friendly Tips:

Be Authentic: Use the AI as a brainstorming buddy, but let your true self be the star of your story.

Enjoy the Process: Have fun with it! This is a chance to celebrate your journey and the wisdom you’ve gained.

Protect Your Privacy: Share only what you’re comfortable with. You control the narrative.

THE PROMPT: Help Me Create My Entrepreneurial Origin Story

I am a woman who is 50 or over embarking on or running my own business. I want to craft a compelling origin story that authentically represents my journey and resonates with my audience. Please guide me through the following steps:

1. Identify Key Moments in My Life Journey:

• Assist me in recalling challenges that have shaped who I am today (e.g., career changes, personal milestones).

• Help me identify when I first realized my knack for what my business offers.

• Explore problems I’ve solved that seemed impossible at the time, both in life and work.

• Highlight life roles that have taught me significant lessons (e.g., parenthood, caregiving, leadership roles).

• Summarize the key lessons these experiences have taught me.

2. Connect My Experiences to My Business Values:

• Help me list my top 3-5 business values (e.g., integrity, innovation, empathy).

• For each value, connect it to specific life experiences that led me to embrace it.

• Reflect on phrases or descriptions others have used about me that showcase these values in action.

3. Frame Challenges as Growth Opportunities:

• For each significant challenge, guide me to articulate:

1. What I learned from it.

2. How I grew as a result.

3. How my clients or business now benefit from this experience.

• Assist me in transforming “despite” statements into “because of” statements to highlight the positive outcomes of my challenges.

4. Highlight Unique Insights from My Life Experience:

• Help me create a “Wisdom Bank” of 5-10 unique insights I’ve gained over the years that provide a unique perspective in my industry.

• Emphasize how these insights set me apart from younger entrepreneurs and add value to my business.

5. Craft My Story Arc:

Assist me in organizing all the above elements into a compelling narrative using the following structure:

• The Beginning: Set the scene with relevant background information.

• The Catalyst: Describe the moment I realized I needed to start this business.

• The Challenges: Share the obstacles I faced and how they propelled me forward.

• The Transformation: Explain how these experiences prepared me for entrepreneurship.

• The Resolution: Connect my journey to how I serve my customers today.

Help me phrase the story in my authentic voice, suitable for various contexts like elevator pitches, networking events, or detailed presentations.

6. Final Touches:

• Provide suggestions on how to adjust the story for different audiences or time constraints.

• Encourage me to record myself telling the story to capture natural language and emotional highlights.

Women Who Inspire

Thanks for reading this far! Don’t forget to share which key moment in your life sparked your business idea in the comments below. I can’t wait to hear what yours was!

Michele