A call to the brave
We call them the brave ones. The new misfits. The roundish pegs in the squarish holes. They’re leaders, executives and entrepreneurs who’ve accumulated their fair share of success along the way.
They’ve also experienced disruption as life is guaranteed to throw a few curveballs.
Either way, they’re at half-time. On a journey from success to significance. Which is why taking a pause on the road might seem a little crazy to everyone else. But not to them.
They’re willing to undertake the most adventurous journey of all. One of true purpose. Where the most urgent and complicated question, Who am I? can find an answer.
Are you one of the brave? Asking that complicated question?
The hero’s journey
Answering this question begins the hero’s journey, a form of story-telling we connect with in many books we read and movies we watch.
Think of Aragon in Lord of the Rings, Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games or Jon Snow in Game of Thrones. Each is challenged with the Who am I? question and embarks on an unknown journey to find the answer.
Their stories follow a circular structure meaning the hero’s physical journey ends where it all began, though their internal journey leaves them forever changed.
But what if the hero’s journey wasn’t meant to remain in the realms of our favourite books, movies and TV shows? What if the deep connection we feel to Aragon, Katniss and Jon reveals something about ourselves?
Perhaps the hero’s journey is something we must embark on to tell our story. Helping us to find our purpose.
The journey to purpose
The hero’s journey will always require a call to adventure.
It is a path that will cause us to face our greatest fears, doubts and limitations. Our Goliaths may not be the battle for middle-earth or a showdown with the Night King but they are very real challenges that come with being part of our modern world.
And now Mariah Carey’s Hero comes to mind:
There’s a hero| If you look inside your heart| You don’t have to be afraid of who you are| There’s an answer| If you reach into your soul| And the sorrow you know will melt away
There’s a sense that if we don’t answer the call (and Mariah’s voice in our ears!), we will miss the opportunity to pursue our purpose. At the end of the alternate hero’s journey is a life filled with regret.
And that’s probably the best case scenario.
What does this mean for you?
At Markd, we bring personal and company brand stories to life – starting with purpose.
Our Brand Purpose Model
Using storytelling techniques and brand building tools, we help you answer that complicated question, Who am I?
Somewhere between what you are great at, what you love doing, what the world needs and what you are paid to do – is purpose.
We then give you a practical marketing toolbox to help bring your personal brand story to life, which can be activated across offline and digital channels.
We believe meaningful change happens when people give themselves permission to tell their story and make their mark on the world.
So if you are one of the brave and willing to undertake your hero’s journey to building your personal brand, do reach out.
