Ep 77 - Secret Sauce: Run It Back

If you spend your life helping other people tell their stories, here’s an interesting question: What happens when you turn that same curiosity on yourself? Where did your story begin? Who gave you a break?

What experiences changed your direction? What looked insignificant at the time—but turned out to be a pretty important dot on the map?

In this episode of You Gotta Hear This!, Paul Steven Forrest challenges you to run it back and take a fresh look at the people, opportunities, successes, mistakes and unexpected turns that helped get you where you are today.

You’ll also learn how to create a simple Journey Map—a practical exercise designed to help you connect the dots, rediscover things you may have forgotten, and uncover clues about what might be next.

Whether you’re just beginning your creative journey or wondering how to reinvent yourself for the next chapter, sometimes looking backward can help you see forward.

IN THIS EPISODE: Why your earliest interests may contain clues about who you’re becoming How people, opportunities—and even mistakes—shape your journey A simple way to create your own Journey Map Why someone who knows you well may see dots you’ve forgotten How looking at your past can uncover possibilities for your future

THE TAKEAWAY: You’re not looking backward because you want to go back. You’re looking backward so you can understand what’s been moving you forward. Grab a pencil. Make your Journey Map. And run it back.

For more ideas about becoming a better visual storyteller, visit PaulStevenForrest.com. And check out Paul’s book, You REALLY Gotta See This!—stories and lessons about using pictures, words and music to tell stories that engage and connect.