Tell A New Story About Yourself in 2023

"Tell me about yourself." She asks.

Your reaction goes a little something like this...

Talking about yourself is hard. It feels icky, uncomfortable and unnatural.

But whether you are in a job interview, at a party or work event the question always arises, sometimes as "What do you do?" or "What's your story?"  

If only you could answer like they do in the movies - suave, flawless and effortlessly cool - with a perfectly pitched answer. It's time to make that dream a reality in 2023 with a brand new version of our story. To help us craft the best story possible I sat down with world class marketer and author of ‘The Hollywood Approach: Script Your Life Like a Hit Movie and Live Your Wildest Dreams’, Kristina Paider.

In order to tell new stories we need to craft a new narrative using Kristina’s tips, backed by neuroscience and decades of marketing, journalism, and Hollywood experience.

When did you stop being enchanted with your story?

The Angeles Arrien quote, “When did you stop being enchanted with your story?” is startling. You can never quite pinpoint when it happened. Was it college? That first job? That second promotion?  

Kristina explained that if you don't think the story you’re living and telling is important it’s time to get back to doing things that light you up. Sit with this question as it serves as a litmus to know when you need to refresh your personal experience.

Owning Your Strengths

Whether you’re telling your story socially, for business, or for your personal legacy, Kristina says the key is to be authentic.

"The world needs you to be the most you you can be. So, dive into your character DNA. That means analyzing your strengths and flawsomeness (combination of flaws and awesomeness) and how you've overcome obstacles to reach your goal in the story. How did your superpowers get you there?"

Three components shape the way you share:

• Audience - Know who is in your audience and what they want from you. Are you in a job interview? How does a specific strength translate to the job at hand?
• Time - Remember how long you have to tell your story, and get to the point quickly. Are you at a party? Stick to 60 seconds or less to keep it intriguing. You want someone to lean forward and say, "Wow really?! Tell me more about XYZ..."
• Tone - What feeling do you want to invoke? Adjust your tone to fit the message you want to get across. Are you networking at a work event? Keep it formal and professional.

Resumes & Bios

Even with years of experience, Kristina admits it’s hard to share your written story succinctly. That’s when you leverage your community.

“The most challenging part of writing is usually the one sentence logline, not the lengthy action scene. If you’re facing this, find a resume writers group, friends, or mentors to help you roll up your experience.”

To dig into your story forensics and get a better idea of how to succinctly tell your story, Kristina suggests reading Story Proof by Kendall Haven.

*Free* Guided Exercise: Does goal setting on your end leave you overwhelmed? Sometimes staring at a blank page and starting is half the battle! Kristina is helping us tackle our new story by providing us templates, guides and a 33 minute guided walk through of her own goal setting practices!

To access the guided program click here:

Writing exercise: If Stephen Spielberg called you to make a movie about your life, who would play you and what are they doing? Answering this question can help kick start 2023 goals, dreams or visions that you might not have thought of otherwise. *Tag Kristina and I in your answer on social! 

Stay connected with Kristina Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

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