Founder story?

I am currently reading Stories that Stick by Kindra Hall. I just finished the chapter on the founder story. “Done right, the founder story does this. It taps into the desire that sits at the core of every human. No matter where the founder currently is on her or his quest for entrepreneurial success, the story of the early days reads like a fairy tale. Which is why you should tell it and never stop.” (pg.91-2) A childhood story can be a founder’s story as well. Well, I’m a founder. So what is my story?

Several stories pop into my head that are contenders for my “founder story.”

1.    When I was around 8 years old, my father was leaving work with a stack of files when a colleague stopped him. The colleague asked if he was headed home. My father said, “Yes.” The colleague was puzzled since my father was taking work home. My father explained that he had trained my sister and me not to bother him if the study doors were shut. This way we could have family dinner and he could still get work done.

2.   When I was around 10 years old, my maternal grandmother came to visit. The purpose of the visit was to tell my mom that she needed to choose between the job she had with long hours or her family. My mother quit the job. TBH, I don’t remember this visit.

3.    When I was pregnant with my daughter, I was told a newborn breastfeeds/bottle feeds every 2-3 hours for one hour. I figured 2 hours with the one hour for 3 hours. 8 X 3=24 hours. Then I did math (which was not my best subject in HS). If I slept for 6 of 8 then I got 12 hours of broken sleep and  I could use the other 2 of 8 to check email, do work (I was a freelance graphic designer), cook dinner, etc. My friends thought I was crazy until I put it into action and their emails were being answered and client work was getting done.

Each of these stories illustrates that the work/family relationship is hard. The first story shows that kids and adults need to compromise on family time. The second story shows that finding a job that fits your life is key. The third story shows that your math teacher was right when he or she said you would use math for the rest of your life. It also shows the importance of some sort of normalcy in the wake of a newborn. Especially in my case when this was my first (and last).

Why tell stories at all?

“They help us understand ourselves, others, and the world around us, allowing us to find empathy for them in their situations. They enrich our lives and guide us to make the right decisions. “Telling our stories is not an end in itself, but an attempt to release ourselves from them, to evolve and grow beyond them.” — Alex Nailath, Herren Project

Which story from the three above resonates with you most?