What is Your Origin Story?

Hey Friend 👋
It’s been an eventful week.
Not just in world politics but also in our Orbit.

After attending a series of events this week I made a big decision.
To host a Creator Festival in Vienna next year for you to connect, create and collaborate.

Right now it’s not much more than a few notes but the next weeks are already full of appointments to turn this idea into reality.

If you want to get involved in any kind of way just reach out!

💛 Valentin

New in Orbit:
📺 How to Make YouTube Friends 
📝 Is it harder now to become a creator?

What is Your Origin Story?

You certainly have creators you love and some that leave you cold. When I look over my YouTube subscriptions or scroll through social feeds, a few stand out. Not just for what they make, but for who they are.

The creators I feel closest to have a clear origin story.
They’ve shown me where they’re from, where they’re going, and, crucially,
why they do what they do.
Their story shows up in everything they do and creates instant connection.

On the opposite side there are creators who have just as an engaged audience but I’m just not in the know of their journey to where they are now.
One example might be Kelly Wakasa, who you’ve recommended to me multiple times. I’ve watched a few of his videos, but I don’t feel that same connection.
He surely has an inspiring origin story, but it hasn’t come through clearly to me yet.

So How Do You Find Your Origin Story?

There are two simple ways to get you stared with uncovering yours.

1. Write a list backwards

Start with today.
Right now, make a simple list of memories, events, and phases that shaped who you are and led you to where you are now. I like to use bullet points for each entry, but you can write a few sentences or even paragraphs for each one.
Over time, you’ll see the pieces start to form a story.

1. Call a future YouTube friend

Every time you meet someone new in the creator world, it’s a chance to refine your origin story. When someone asks, ‘Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?’ try sharing a few defining moments instead of just what you do.
Notice which parts resonate with them. Not only will you refine your story over time, but you’ll also make a few new YouTube friends along the way.
For example, I noticed people always react to my years in New York. Because everyone has a connection to the city.
Now, I’m working on tying that experience into the story of Orbit

Finding a way to connecting all the dots can be challenging, but it’s powerful when done right. Luckily Erica of Theory of One recently shared a framework that’s easy to remember and perfect for creating instant connection.

The 3 Sentence Origin Story

Watch the whole video to see it’s power and examples but in short

Your Canon Event

A moment or Phase that changes the course of a character’s life
What was a turning point that set you on your path?

A Montage

How that character set out to change from that circumstances.
How did you set out to make things different?

And Now

The aftermath of that journey and how what they’ve learned impacts who they are now.
How does that journey shape your content and values today?

This format distills your story into something memorable.
So after finishing this newsletter I’ll be taking a minute to write a few versions of my story in this format. I hope you do to and share with me before next Friday, so I can include it in next weeks issue.

Not only will you have a clearer origin story, but you’ll be ready to bring it into every piece of content you create.

My favorite content this week

Casey Neistat in Conversation with Jon Youshaei

Becca Farsace showing off her every day tech

Lost in Admiration sharing her origin story

Any other channels I should know about?