Before the Book:
Three Questions That Clarify the
Story Behind Your Work
A short guide to help founders and leaders think through the story they may one day want to tell.
Many founders and leaders eventually feel a pull to reflect on the story behind their work.
Sometimes that reflection leads toward writing a book.
Sometimes it begins simply as a question, “Is there a story here worth telling?”
You may already have considered writing your story.
Perhaps you’ve even gathered notes -
- Fragments of memory
- Moments that mattered
- Decisions that shaped what you built
Or the idea may be entirely new.
Either way, stories rarely become clear simply because you begin to write them. They take shape when the deeper meaning behind them becomes clear.
That is how this short guide will help..
Before the Book
This reflective guide helps founders and leaders clarify the meaning of their story before deciding how to share it.
Inside, you will explore three questions to help focus your story:
- What in your story must remain accurate and undistorted
- Who the story is truly for
- What would allow it to remain meaningful ten years from now
These questions will help you identify what is most important in your story.
Once you gain clarity, decisions about structure, message, and format become much easier.
About Bobbie Ann Cole
I’m Bobbie Ann Cole, author, journalist, and story specialist.
Many founders and leaders eventually feel a pull to reflect on the story behind their work.
Sometimes that reflection leads toward writing a book.
Sometimes it begins simply as a question, “Is there a story here worth telling?”
You may already have considered writing your story.
Perhaps you’ve even gathered notes -
- Fragments of memory
- Moments that mattered
- Decisions that shaped what you built
Or the idea may be entirely new.
Either way, stories rarely become clear simply because you begin to write them. They take shape when the deeper meaning behind them becomes clear.
That is how this short guide will help..
Download the guide to begin reflecting on the three questions that will help clarify your story.
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Copyright © 2026 Bobbie Ann Cole
