Discovering Your Brand’s True Motivation: The Power of Archetypes in Storytelling
Hello, gorgeous!
In Balancing Acts, Daniel Lamarre writes, “What are your passions? Stay true to what motivates you, and always be on the lookout for ways to express it. That can result in some unexpected and hugely satisfying outcomes.”
Your brand is not just about the products or services you offer; it’s about how you make your audience feel. Your brand’s true power lies in the ability to stir emotions, create bonds, and help people feel understood and special. And this starts with knowing what motivates you, what makes your heart race, and what draws your customers in with a magnetic pull they can’t resist.
Identifying Your Archetype Through Motivation
Every brand has an underlying motivation, a reason for being that aligns with one of the 12 brand archetypes. These motivations guide how your brand interacts with its audience and the emotional bonds it creates. Here’s a quick look at each archetype’s core motivation:
- The Hopeful: Craves happiness and safety.
- The Explorer: Yearns for freedom and discovery.
- The Wise: Seeks knowledge and truth.
- The Hero: Seeks mastery by proving their worth through courageous action.
- The Disruptor: Breaks the standards and creates revolution.
- The Magician: Wants to make dreams come true.
- The Passionate: Seeks intimacy and closeness.
- The Entertainer: Aims to live joyfully in the moment.
- The Inclusive: Craves belonging and connection.
- The Protector: Desires to protect and care for others.
- The Visioneer: Yearns to create something of enduring value and seeks a safe future.
- The Sovereign: Wants control and stability.
Knowing which of these archetypes aligns with your brand’s primary motivation is the first step toward creating emotionally resonant content. This motivation, like the beating heart of your brand, drives everything from how you speak to your audience to the visuals you use.
From Motivation to Emotional Bonds
Imagine this: You’re scrolling through social media, half-heartedly, until you discover a brand that stops you in your tracks. Their content is striking—filled with soft colors that feel like silk against your skin, words that feel like a whisper in your ear, and images that give you goosebumps. You don’t know why, but you can’t look away. Your heart skips a beat. Your chest tightens with anticipation. That’s the power of an archetypal brand in action.
Just like in relationships, your brand’s essence needs to seduce and captivate, but for that to happen, you must first understand what truly drives you.
Now close your eyes for a moment. Imagine your brand as a physical presence—a room, perhaps. What does the air smell like? What do the walls feel like under your fingertips? Is the room filled with light or shaded by candlelight’s soft glow? When you identify your brand’s core motivation, everything becomes clearer, more vibrant, and more real. And with that clarity comes the ability to build a connection with your audience that is as strong as any emotional bond.
Your brand’s motivation is the heartbeat that fuels everything it does. Whether it’s creating content that resonates deeply, designing visuals that speak directly to the soul, or offering services that feel like a custom-made experience, this motivation is what makes your brand unique. Understanding it is the first step toward creating content that doesn’t just attract attention but leaves an indelible mark.
When your brand operates from this place of authenticity, everything shifts. The content you create no longer feels forced or formulaic. Instead, it flows with ease, authenticity, and purpose. Every word you write, every image you share, every interaction with your audience becomes an extension of that core drive, and this is how emotional bonds are built.
So, how do you start? Begin by asking yourself the same question Daniel Lamarre posed: What are your passions? What stirs your soul and sets you apart from the crowd? When you’re in tune with this, your brand will become more than just a business—it will become an experience, something your audience longs to return to again and again.
Now, I want to know about you. What drives you? Share your main motivation in the comments below!
See you soon,
Mil.