Personal Storytelling: How I Ensure My Backstory and Bio Resonate With Others

“Tell me about yourself…” is such a common question that we receive as trusted voices in our industries, and even if you aren’t interviewed, you still need to learn to write a bio that connects with others — from your site, or from anywhere you show up (social media, an event, etc.)

Telling stories pulled from your personal, lived experiences can do that, but it’s hard to see how to take that generic question and give a more powerful answer. So we normally deliver something flat. Sharing our bios and backstories can feel like reading off a grocery list of items.

We can resonate deeper.

Today, a video about how I’ve learned to do that over time.

Below, please find the text from the Google Doc you see me share in the video.

HOW I LEARNED TO SHARE A BETTER BIO:

“TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF…”

Résumé rehashed

  • Wanted to be a sports journalist…

    • Sports blogs, student paper, local papers, Hartford Courant, ESPN

  • 08, bad economy, got into tech – ad sales

    • Google

  • Startup obsession + content marketing

    • Head of Content in 2 places: tiny startup + HubSpot

    • Community: Boston Content

    • NextView VC – VP of Content and Community

  • Indie work – at first

    • Unthinkable

    • Keynote speaking

    • Shows for brands

    • Book, Break the Wheel

  • Indie work – now

    • Creator coaching – become an effective storyteller + develop your personal brand, or public speaking, or podcast, alongside me

    • Creator membership – CK

(Separately) A mission, topical focus, or a premise

  • Mission

    • help you make what matters to your career, company, and community

  • Focus

    • teaching you to resonate deeper with others by becoming an effective storyteller

  • Premise(s)*

    • trust yourself, not blueprints (Unthinkable; Break the Wheel)

    • focus on resonance more than reach

    • problems with generalized expertise, and the path to creating work only YOU can

*specific, defensible purpose pulled from your personal vision for your audience 



A story or two from my résumé, which reflects my mission, or focus, or premise

  • Quitting Google (damn it, Erik)

    • Lesson: “I don’t want to make people want stuff. I want to make stuff people like.”

  • Worst advice (HubSpot manager)

    • Lesson: “Don’t be the best. Be their favorite.”

      • Secondary: “Can’t resonate with others if it doesn’t resonate with you. In the specific, we find the universal.”


Written Bios:

Written bio, no story:

Jay Acunzo is one of the world’s most sought-after business storytellers. He’s an author, speaker, and the host of the popular podcast Unthinkable. He’s developed or hosted original podcasts and other shows for brands like GoDaddy, Salesforce, Wistia, and Help Scout, and given keynotes in 26 states and 3 countries. He’s held media and marketing roles for ESPN, Google, HubSpot, a tiny startup, and a VC firm, and today, he runs a membership and delivers one-on-one coaching for expert creators and business owners who want to become the most trusted storytellers in their industries.

Written bio, with more personal story:

Jay Acunzo is on a mission to help others make what matters. After starting his career working in marketing for brands like ESPN and Google, he realized something simple but powerful: Marketing isn’t about making people want stuff. It’s about making stuff people want. Today, he helps others do just that. He runs a membership for elite writers, podcasters, and speakers to continually push themselves creatively, and he delivers one-on-one coaching for owners and entrepreneurs who want to become the most trusted storytellers in their space. The former head of content at HubSpot, when he’s not working behind the scenes with others, Jay writes books, gives speeches, and hosts the popular podcast, Unthinkable. His grandest aspiration and probably delusion is to become the Anthony Bourdain of the online creator space.

Jay Acunzo