Tell Me About Yourself: Six Steps for Accurate and Artful Self-Definition

by Holley M. Murchison

Own Your Story


Sometimes you get only one chance. A good introduction can create connections and open doors. A bad one can make conversation fizzle and opportunities fade. What you need is a story that tells who you are—authentically, compellingly, and concisely—and can be adapted to fit any situation. Created for dynamic beings constantly redefining themselves, their work, and the world around them, Tell Me About Yourself pairs interviews and case studies with a simple, scalable framework, helping you craft and deliver comprehensive, compelling, and generally kick-ass introductions and personal stories for yourself, your team, or your company. In an ever-changing innovation economy and a climate that demands we put our best foot forward to create change, there’s no better time to learn how to articulate your usefulness to the world.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Communication, Business, Psychology, Personal Development, Social

120 pages, Paperback

Published September 18, 2017

Reviews

[Dave Irwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is less a book and more a programme individuals can use to develop a personal story that is engaging and to the point. The book is short and easy to read but it does require stopping and starting, instead of reading it through as I did. As I said, it is a programme, with some interesting case studies from the author used as proof that the programme can make your successful.

I won’t be utilizing the programme myself but it may be extremely useful for others, and there are certainly some practices that I will take into my own storytelling format. It is worth noting that while this is a book, it does require homework. The author outlines tasks that they expect the reader to undertake in order to get the most form the book. I personally just read it through, as I like to see the whole overview of any programme before I consider taking the steps to complete it. I did not experience the book as the author intended and that may have coloured my own rating.

If you are looking for a development book that will help you craft a compelling narrative you can use in pitch meetings, networking events, and speaking engagements, this this programme may be the right one for you. Storytelling is as much a practice as it is an art, so I can see the value in breaking down the process to this framework.

I will give this a 3 star rating, because it didn’t resonate with me but that does not mean it is badly written or not valuable.

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story-building methodology the entire book is premised on I didn't work for me. I found it cumbersome and that it was easier to build my story with digital notes in a text file than it was to use the post-it notes recommended by the author. It gets some points for encouraging you to think about how you tell your story- to consider your goals, and then use them to shape the narrative you want to tell, and to be sure to highlight your traits that support your aims. Chapter II, which introduced the process, wasn't bad. But the rest of it left me unimpressed.

A quick read, but it could have been shorter (I estimate about a fifth of the book was eaten up by self-promotion).

[Lorraine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really this is a brochure padded into a booklet. There are six steps, but as usual with these kinds of books, it's really multiple steps within each. There are helpful nuggets of questions to consider in crafting one's introduction, but I found there's not enough explanation of how to take the ideas generated in the steps into the narrative that the author is selling as "the thing." I listed my personality traits, my skills, my passion, etc, but where I need help is in weaving this into a cohesive story. The book expects you to just know how to do that. And then practice it infront of the camera. There are many "case studies" in the book (ie, the padding), but they are not examples of people's own introductions (only one or two are), but rather the author's own success stories of how she helped clients, and/or promotions about these clients. She sings their praises in a way that makes me think her alternate aim is to give them sponsorship, but they don't help "little old me" in my humble introduction. I'm not looking to be global or world changing. Just articulate who I am better. Her company might do that, but the book doesn't quite get me there: it's a base hit, not a home run.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly enlightening and insightful. The framework is extremely helpful in gaining clarity. The vignettes were very good! Just hearing the elevator pitches and responses sounded like poetry. The author's slight NYC accent made it sound like I was in a Poetry Slam.

My only con is that having listened to the book twice, I don't think I quite know how to go through the 6 steps to generate my intro/talk.

And I guess that is the point. At the end of the day, it may very well be an awesome brochure for the workshop/course/coaching. It was a very short-listen (~ 2 hrs). Following up with the workshop/coaching would definitely provide the in-depth practice and guidance on how to apply the TMAY method.

Highly recommend consuming this book AND going through the exercises!

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

After hearing Murchison speak, I read her book-if you can call it that. This feels much more like a workbook due to the activities included.

While I’m not sure the content was the practical for me as an individual, I can see how working to hone storytelling as a skill is useful. As a recruiter, I spend much of my time reviewing the career narratives of others. If you lack confidence in your ability to tailor your “elevator pitch,” in a way that allows you to be authentic and read the room concurrently, this handbook is for you!

[Emmy Nota · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent (audio) work book with decent guide lines to creatie your story. Also some good practices to make for stronger pitches. The book ends with examples and success stories, they were a bit boring actually. So my advice is to focus on the first part of the book.

Still very recommended for a good outline to create your story for job interviews, networking etc.

[Massanutten Regional Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kurt, Central patron, July 2019, 4 stars:

Short yet practical guidance on reflecting on what makes you you. Good foundational thinking before engaging with others in work and beyond. A bit rough in layout, which needlessly distracts from an otherwise strong book.

[Kimball · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 I didn't get much from this book except that if you want to get better at telling about yourself, you should practice doing it.

All of what we know in life is rooted in the cultural currency - storytelling.

[Mark Stapel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 notes in note

[laura]

I met Holley at a conference this week. She's a total badass and I eagerly scooped up a copy of her book before it's official release. I strongly recommend it to anyone who hates answering the question: "so why do you do?" Filled with tips, guidance, and love.