The Life Beneath the Work

Somewhere along the way, having an origin story became part of the job description.

But for most people, that story doesn't feel neat or particularly narrative. It feels lived. It emerges from experiences, losses, interests, and relationships that shape the work long before the work itself exists. The business is rarely where the story begins.

Take this, from a snack company’s About page:

Our story started at the kitchen table… 

We spent years perfecting our almonds.

We hope they bring you as much joy as they bring us.

Friendly enough, but it might belong to almost anyone.

Farther down the page, however, I found this:

A young person’s death changed everything… 

Time with the ones you love is precious. 

So we started a business together.

Suddenly the company comes into focus. It reveals something that happened, and it explains why this business exists in the first place. I find that the most interesting part of a business is often the life that existed before it. The child who spent afternoons turning over rocks in tide pools. The teenager who first discovered the night sky through a handmade telescope. The person who remembers what it felt like to need help. Sometimes the influences are obvious. More often, they're hiding in plain sight.

The next time you find yourself thinking about your story, start here:

What experiences continue to shape the way you see the world?

By the time the business exists, much of the story has already been written. ✦

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