What Do You Want Your Story to Be?

Now there’s a question I wish someone had asked me earlier in my career.

Not about my goals, or how fast I wanted to grow my career, or income milestones: What do you want your story to be?

It’s a thought-provoking question that can reshape the way you think about your work, leadership, and your legacy. It creates a powerful from–to shift:

• From ambition to intention
• From resume to reputation
• From what you achieve to how you’re experienced

And now, in the context of AI, it assumes a whole new significance. It’s no longer a philosophical question but a leadership imperative.

The Question Behind the Question

When I ask leaders this today, it’s not meant to be a reflection on retirement, but as a design prompt. Whether we realize it or not, we’re already writing our story every day, every meeting, and every moment under pressure. In each of these interactions, people walk away thinking, That’s what they are like.

Your story isn’t about what you say, it’s how others describe you when you’re not in the room.

• What did you make better?
• Who did you help grow?
• What did you tolerate?
• What do you lose patience with?

And over time, what do you stand for?

Why This Matters Even More Now

In executive roles, decisions do more than guide strategy. They shape the stories about what matters, what gets protected, and how people feel under pressure. The half-life of these stories is far longer than any objective or key performance indicator (KPI).

In the era of AI, the value of repeatable knowledge is dropping, as is the illusion of control, and the ability to hide behind what we know.

What’s rising is what only humans can uniquely do, for now.

• Ethical clarity
• Emotional resonance
• Narrative Leadership
• Trust
• Judgement
• Meaning

While AI can automate performance, it can’t author our presence. It can’t shape culture, understand nuance, or empathize with someone’s fear when change comes fast. That’s on us.

The leaders who thrive will be those who bring clarity in chaos and stay uniquely human, while others chase efficiency. That becomes the story.

Your Next Move

Ask yourself, and ideally your team, a different set of strategy questions:

• What do you want people to say about you at the end of your time in this role?
• What would make them feel you made things better?
• What are you known for under pressure?
• What would they miss when you’re gone?

As a deeper, more personal reflection, ask yourself:

• How do people experience me?
• How do people experience themselves when they experience me?

Closing Thought

This isn’t a thought exercise; it’s a leadership practice. You don’t need a perfect plan, but you do need to start.  Remember, if you don’t write your story, someone else will, and it may not be the one you want to tell.

In an age where AI can process, produce, and replicate content at unimaginable speed, your story, your impact, and your way of leading may be the most human and most valuable thing you leave behind.

So what story do you want to be remembered for?

Let’s unlock better – together.

Kevin