📈 Using Your Origin Story

Read time: 4 minutes

One of the most effective post formats I’ve seen on LinkedIn recently is the personal transformation story.

This post by Simmy Dhillon has over 4,300 reactions and is still climbing.

This format helps you build true fans by making people feel connected to your story.

It works because everyone is going through their own challenges and when we see others come through them, it gives us hope.

Here's the framework and how you can apply it to your own story.

The Personal Transformation Framework

This format follows a hero's journey - starting with a low point, showing the messy struggle, and ending with hope that feels earned.

Here's how to structure a transformation post that lands:

1. Hook with specific dates and build a timeline

Don't say "A few years ago." Say "March 2019: Got fired via email."

Show the messy middle, not just the before/after:

2020: Left Amazon to build my first startup

2021: Worked 70+ hours week…

2022: Left my company and tried again…

2023: Started Fluently (AI startup)

2024: Got into Y Combinator

• 2020: I left Amazon to build my first startup. (8,963 likes)

It is important that the first two lines show the struggle.

2. Include specifics that make it real

• "5 full time offer. Covid hit, offers canceled."

• "Worked 70+ hours weeks…"

• "20+ investor rejections…"

Raw data, stats and numbers make the challenges tangible.

• My Career Journey (5,818 likes)

3. Lead with failure, not credentials

Lead with your failures: "Failed to get a tech internships" hits harder than "YC-backed founder."

This disarms skeptics and builds trust.

• 2015: ''I was unable to find a job'' (116,662 likes)

4. End with hope that feels earned

Close with external proof (first $10K month, TED talk invite) then pivot to encouraging others:

"If you're in year 2 of struggling, you might be 6 months from breakthrough."

• 2013: Move to London. Couldn't speak English (185,089 likes)

5. Include a visual with 2 images - before and after

Put the before image on the left and the after image on the right.

Visually show the contrast - 5 years ago, you were tired and struggling and now you’re in a much better place.

Simmy’s post shows the contrast really clearly.

One More Thing

You don't need massive success to use this framework.

Yes, posts tend to perform better when the gap between your low and high point is bigger - but it's not necessary.

You can apply this to any meaningful shift, even if you're still in the middle of it.

For example, in 2020 I could have written:

• Low point: Struggled for 5 years in finance, felt stuck and unfulfilled.

• High point: Got into Stanford, now chasing my dream of becoming an entrepreneur.

The transformation doesn't have to be complete. It just has to be real.

Try this framework this week. Document your last 3 years.

You’ll be shocked how many people see themselves in your story once you show them the full picture.

See you next time,

Will

P.S. Two things:

• I found all the posts for today’s newsletter in Saywhat’s inspiration database. Try it today for free.

• I just dropped a new YouTube video on the four things I did to grow my LinkedIn from 3,000 to 410,000 followers in 20 months. Watch it here.

Will McTighe

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