Your story is the secret that magnetizes the people you’re meant to serve. By identifying your core message—the authentic thread woven through your own experiences—you’ll create content that resonates, offers that connect, and an energy that aligns with your purpose.
Why Your Core Message Matters
Generic tips and motivational quotes rarely move the needle. What truly sparks engagement is raw honesty—sharing the times when your back was against the wall and you found a way forward. That vulnerable truth builds trust and invites your audience to lean in.
Your core message isn’t a catchy tagline; it’s the version of you who:
- Faced burnout, overwhelm, or loss and learned to push through
- Googled solutions at 3 AM and craved real guidance
- Wished someone had spoken the exact words that would have helped you
When you speak from that place of hard-earned wisdom, you give others permission to own their stories too.
The Timeline Exercise
1. Create your timeline — Grab a sheet of paper and turn it sideways. Draw a horizontal line with an arrow pointing to the right—this is your life’s timeline.
2. Mark your pivotal moments — Look back over the last 3–10 years and mark the moments when you felt completely stuck or under pressure (e.g., financial stress, grief, health challenges, overwhelm as a parent, business setbacks).
3. Document the details — Next to each moment, note:
- What you felt in that moment
- What you learned to move through it
- What support or words you needed but didn’t have
Patterns will emerge. Those patterns point to your unique story—and to the audience you’re meant to serve.
Serving One Specific Person
Trying to speak to everyone often means speaking to no one. Instead, focus on the one person who mirrors your own journey—your “future client self.” Ask:
- What are they searching for at 2 AM?
- What frustration or fear haven’t they voiced out loud?
- What words might finally make them feel seen and understood?
Answering these questions reveals the language, topics, and solutions that will attract your ideal audience.
Your Action Steps
1. Complete the Timeline Exercise — Draw your timeline and document 3–5 pivotal moments along with their lessons and unmet needs.
2. Identify who you’re called to serve — Which timeline moment resonates most?
3. Draft your core message sentence — In one line, capture who you help and how you help them. For example: “I help overwhelmed moms rediscover calm and confidence through simple, science-based self-care.”
Use this sentence as your compass for every piece of content and offer you create.
Identify Your Core Message
1. Your Timeline
Draw your life’s timeline and mark key “back-against-the-wall” experiences.
2. Lessons & Needs
For each experience, note what you felt, what you learned, and what words or support you needed.
3. Your Transformation
Which version of you appears most—and what did you overcome?
4. Your Person
Based on your story, who do you feel called to serve, and what struggles are you facing now?
5. Core Message Sentence
Write the one-sentence version of your core message.
6. Visual Reminder
Place your core message on a sticky note and keep it where you’ll see it daily.
By grounding your work in your own journey, you’ll naturally attract the clients who need your unique experience and insight. Begin today, and let your story lead the way.
