Oh, the allure of rags-to-riches transformations! We see this genre of messaging everywhere. Perhaps we’ve even surrendered our own histories to the template, running modest career moves and hard work through the wringer until we’ve disappeared from the subsequent tale. Ouch.

I’m here to tell you that the point of your story isn’t just to shock someone. It’s to connect, and to humanize, and to build trust. You don’t have to contort your narrative into a wildly provocative origin story to improve credibility. Sure, rags-to-riches storytelling captivates; it’s glossy, and it’s ubiquitous. But to what end? In this solo episode, I debunk its seductive but ultimately unsustainable charms and offer ideas to help you craft more relatable messaging.

In this episode, I cover:

• The unsustainable allure of rags-to-riches narratives,
• Using “micro-moments” to connect with your audience,
• Disentangling your story from a belief that your life’s purpose must be linked to your work,
• Abandoning the need to prove your professional capabilities ad nauseam, and
• Questions to help you craft a more convincing and relatable brand story.

Visit Pattern of Purpose for full show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.