Brand Building 101: The Origin Story

If you are a comic book nerd like me, you love a good origin story. You get to see the seminal event that causes an ordinary person to become a hero or a villain. In business, it’s that light bulb moment when an idea hits you, and motivates you to create the solution to fulfill the needs of the consumer.

In both cases, the origin story is the foundation of what happens next.

As an athlete, your origin story is the foundation of your personal brand. Your origin story is the narrative of how you became who you are today. It defines your identity, shows your motivation, highlights your passion, humanizes your brand, and facilitates an emotional connection with your audience.

So how do you create an origin story? Let’s take a look at the steps you should follow:

1. Reflection: What sparked your interest in sports? Was there a pivotal moment that let you to pursue a specific path? Take some time to think about these questions and write down your thoughts.
2. Obstacles: What challenges did you face along the way? Overcoming adversity is often the most engaging aspect of your story.
3. Mentors: Who are the people who played a significant role in your journey? Paying homage to your mentors can inspire others to seek guidance as well.
4. Share Your Victories: What have you achieved as an athlete and as a person?
5. Lessons Learned: What lessons did you learn from your experiences? How have they molded your attitudes, work ethic or approach to competition?

As you can probably guess, this process can take some time. But answering these questions will help you create an origin story that will allow you to define your unique, personal brand. Once you complete your origin story you can share it with others through social media to offer support and inspire others facing similar challenges. You can use it as self-motivation during challenging times to remind yourself of how far you’ve come and the strength you possess.

And finally, your origin story creates a sense of authenticity for you and can create an instant emotional connection with your audience. This makes your journey unique and highlights what makes you stand out from the rest.