Simplify Your Story
Tom Suddes | August 22, 2008
“SUMMARIZE YOUR LIFE IN 6 WORDS.”
I came across references to a really cool little book in a newspaper article in early July. I meant to write something but didn’t. This morning, I read something again in Ode magazine on the same book. I love the concept and wanted to share it with you.
NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING: 6-WORD MEMOIRS BY WRITERS FAMOUS AND OBSCURE by Larry Smith and Rachel Fershleiser challenged people in a kind of unusual memoir project. Supposedly inspired by the legend that, when challenged, Ernest Hemingway wrote a half dozen word story:
“For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn.” Short. Succinct. Six words. (Sad.)
On a much more positive note, challenging ourselves to write our own 6-WORD MEMOIR is really interesting.
Michael Sean Symonds who is a kind of meditation instructor in Canada actually posted a short piece on the ODE bulletin board asking, “If you had to write the story of your life as it was, is and as you hope it to be, in 6 WORDS OR LESS, what would you say?”
Symonds, Smith and Fershleiser give us a wonderful place to start around this idea of “6 WORDS…”
- What are your “6 WORDS…” that would represent your LIFE STORY???
- What are the “6 WORDS…” that would represent the STORY/MESSAGE for your FOR IMPACT ORGANIZATION???
Note: If you’re a For Impact follower, you’ll know that we always start with your MESSAGE ON A NAPKIN! A lot of that is visual but also includes a few words. This is just a different play on this same idea.
For what it’s worth, here are my 6 WORDS, which I’ve had for probably the last 15 years. They’re my 6 L alliteration.
LIVE. LOVE. LAUGH. LEARN. LEAVE LEGACY.
Special Note: I can turn this very easily into my ‘EIA’ (Eulogy in Advance)
He… LIVED. LOVED. LAUGHED. LEARNED. LEFT LEGACY.
Take a moment and share with us your 6 WORDS on LIFE and/or your 6 WORDS on your MESSAGE. Click here.
P.S. Here are some interesting, funny ’6 Words’ from some people to help you get going.
- “Well, I thought it was funny.” Stephen Colbert
- “Despite disorders, jafroed yewboy gets girl.” Michael Eisner
- “Revenge is living well without you.” Joyce Carol Oates
- “Dropped out. Got out. Lucked out.” Ben Kweller
- “Dad died, mom crazy, me, too.” Moby
What are your 6 words or your org’s 6 words?
22 Comments So Far
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We help "nonprofits" fund their visions through training, coaching and consulting based on 25+ years of experience and $1Billion+ raised directly and $1Billion via coaching/training. For Impact is also our message, our commitment and a movement.
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Linda - August 22nd, 2008 9:01 am
Grandchildren way more fun than children!
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Nick Fellers - August 22nd, 2008 9:07 am
For Impact | The Suddes Group:
Cast Vision. Staff Vision. Fund Vision.
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Terri - August 22nd, 2008 9:58 am
Off the top of my head, my “personal” six are: truth seeker, change agent, light bearer.
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Katie - August 22nd, 2008 10:02 am
God’s Daughter. Much given, to give.
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Sarah - August 22nd, 2008 10:32 am
My personal six I came up with: Tripped, fell, got up, took flight
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Robert Price - August 22nd, 2008 4:11 pm
For our Continuing Care Retirement Community it is: Faith Based Abundant Living for Seniors
For myself: Passion for creative serving of others
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Ramananda - August 23rd, 2008 4:20 am
blinded by darkness – guru torchlight knowledge
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Dave Allburn - August 23rd, 2008 11:14 am
It (cannot) SHALL NOT Happen Here!
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Randi Rubin Rodriguez - August 23rd, 2008 11:27 am
The passion, the challenge, the glory!
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Judith - August 23rd, 2008 3:40 pm
Gorgeous, Broke. Good Sex in Between.
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Christ's Haven for Children - August 25th, 2008 11:28 am
God’s unconditional love introduced, healing initiated
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Kathy - August 26th, 2008 6:38 pm
Brought joy, encouragement, comfort to many.
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Ben Myers - August 27th, 2008 10:53 pm
Accept the gift, receive the gift.
From a book I recent finished that has had a profound IMPACT on the For Impact view I have of my For Impact organization.
Book: Adam by Henri Nouwen (ISBN-13: 978-1-57075-133-2)
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Dave - August 28th, 2008 3:17 pm
Started poorly,light entered,ending well
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Pat Jacobs - August 29th, 2008 8:15 am
Confused no more. Money at door.
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Sharon Daugherty - August 29th, 2008 9:03 am
arrived as love….still the same.
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AP - August 29th, 2008 3:54 pm
the beloved farmhouse was his mistress
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Juliette Calandra Ferguson - September 11th, 2008 2:59 pm
My personal life mission reduced to 6 words…….
Passion – Inspire – Philanthropy – Community – Connecting – Happiness
(Juliette Calandra Ferguson)
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Juliette Calandra Ferguson - September 11th, 2008 3:01 pm
Success– Seniors – Creating– Growing – Respect – Cameraderie
(The Carmel Foundation)
This is what I came up from our mission and vision – however, this is ‘not’ official – just what I feel, as a new employee, what our mission is ‘in a nutshell’
Juliette Calandra Ferguson
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Rev. Jay Moyers - September 22nd, 2008 4:16 pm
Offering, Accepting Shalom: Everyday, Everywhere, Everyone.
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forimpact.org » Blog Archive » » Simplify By Thinking In Threes - March 30th, 2009 9:17 am
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Simple Message(s) – Powered By Group – Powerful Visual | forimpact.org - December 3rd, 2009 8:55 pm
[...] out this tool at nytimes.com. Choose one word (not six) to describe your [...]