The LookUP List: Be the Director of Your Story
5 things to check out, a LookUP update, and a full resource list for this month
Hate the phrase ‘Personal Branding’? Us too, because the phrase is half the problem as to why so many of us have a blocker on telling our own story. It feels forced, professionalised, fake.
To develop our own perspective on how best to tell your own story we read, listened and dug a LOT this month. This is your chance to benefit from all of that work, with our top 5 recommendations; and a full resource list if you want to go further.
There’s also a LookUP update at the end, letting you know what we’ve been up to lately, and some interesting updates of what to come.
The List:
1. Read These: Stefanie-Sword Williams and Mark Leruste
As we said in our expert interviews, we found a lot of BS in this space, but there were two voices that stood out: Stefanie Sword-Williams and Mark Leruste. Their books are 100% worth checking out. Stefanie focuses on practical ways that you can learn how to promote yourself without hating the process; and Mark delivers on how to find your authentic story and embracing your imperfections.
Buy the book here
Buy the book here
2. Create this: turning your story into personalised music
Lotic wave is a unique music experience that turns storytelling into personal music. The company exhibited at SXSW showing how our soundtrack changes over time.
Check out the piece on AOL here
3. Be inspired by this: inclusive storytelling
Historic England is funding 56 projects on working class heritage; ensuring that the stories of the working classes don’t slip away.
Check out the piece in the Guardian here
4. Would you do this?: AI & personal story
In the realm of experimenting with all things Chat GPT and beyond, would you hand over your personal brand to the world of AI? Here’s some prompts if you want to have a play as you develop your story [our advice: nail your story before you get anywhere near this process!]
Check out the piece on Forbes here
Try this: Podcasting & your story
Fancy trying to tell your story in a new medium? Find out about the world of podcasting and how you can break into this space:
Book in for the event here
LookUP News:
Alongside launching our new Substack and many more expert interviews, we’ve been doing all kinds of storytelling sessions over the last couple of months, with media agencies, media owners and brands as clients.
We really love the opportunity to help individuals directly though, and have run sessions with Bloom (a women’s network in advertising) and CHIEF (a network for board level women in business) using our Be The Director approach.
Both businesses and individuals are learning the power of harnessing our personal stories, so get in touch if you want to find out more about these full day sessions at caroline@wearelookup.com
Coming soon….
Next month’s Substack Theme is ‘The Big Reset’: targeted at businesses and individuals who want to reinvent the concept of our ‘annual plans’. How do we make them visceral, real, but have a clear plan to get to our goals (importantly, stripping away what we don’t need in the process).
We are busy with a plan to launch free ‘Be The Director’ sessions to those who have experienced redundancy. If you can support us in any way, get in touch.
Soon to launch is our LookUP BookLab: a monthly opportunity to harness the brains of others to all read books around a theme. Contact us if you want in.
Look Deeper:
Here’s a longer list of resources if you want to go really deep on this topic:
Forbes - Exiting a personally led business
For business owners, there’s often a decision about the extent to which building a business too much around their own brand can be a risk. This interesting piece looks at how to exit your business even if it’s been built around your brand. Find the article here
How the World Sees You, Sally Hogshead
Focused on finding who you are, rather than trying to be someone else; and exploring what your ‘fascination advantage’ is. Find the book here
Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less, Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen and Roy Schwartz
Not entirely focused on your personal story, but a really good reminder & writing ritual of ‘stopping when you’ve finished talking’. Find the book here.
Reinvent Yourself: James Altucher
Focused on breaking free of the confines of your job title and experience. We liked the focus on your passions and how you work towards the with consistency and perseverance. Find the book here
The Confidence Gap: From Fear to Freedom - Russ Harris
Based on acceptance and commitment therapy, the key theme is ‘confidence is a practice, not a feeling’. You can build a confidence cycle rooted in the understanding that (most) fear is a natural response to feeling out of your comfort zone, and you need to turn that energy to positive practice. Find the book here
Integrity and StoryTelling: The Things Fell Apart podcast
Standards of integrity in personal storytelling are everything. This episode from ‘Things Fell apart’ , the Jon Ronson podcast series tells the story of Mikki Willis, who became obsessed at the same time by the hero’s journey, and by virology. Beware the power of your techniques, retain perspective in your story. Don’t use your personal story to take others’ stories away from them. Watch / listen here
Being inspired by true stories:
Fiction is often as good a resource as factual accounts when it comes to telling our stories, and here are some highlight references for the year’s best true story novels.
https://goodereader.com/blog/book-recommendations/top-5-books-based-on-true-stories-2024-rank
Being seen: Jen Gottlieb
This ones a pre-order for paperback, but the kindle version is available. Focused on avoiding imposter syndrome or over comparison to others; and an interesting premise that believing in yourself even 51% of the time is enough to generate action. Buy here
Crushing it: Gary Vaynerchuk
Love or hate Gary, you can’t deny his success in creating a brand that is known. What we liked was his focus on ‘documenting’ rather than ‘creating’ when it comes to your own content. Check it out here
Happy Reading! Remember to subscribe if you want more lists, expert interviews and full frameworks and live sessions