What kind of main character are you?

When I read a book, I like complex characters who can both succeed and fail, and who grow and develop through their own character arcs. But in the real world, we mistakenly expect our heroes — e.g., business and nonprofit leaders — only to succeed, and never to fail. Because we can’t conceive of them passing through their own character arcs, some can’t conceive of it for themselves, and thus they don’t.

For about two years I’ve been working on a memoir of the six years I spent in China during the country’s emergence on the global stage, from 2002 to 2008. In the process I’ve read at least 30 books on writing, and I’ve listened to at least 30 more.

Most of these books agree that a good story doesn’t revolve around the plot; it revolves around character. The events in the plot only have value if they support the development of the character, helping him or her work through their demons, weaknesses, and limiting beliefs.

I’d argue that the same is true in real life. Yes, you can hit various plot points and milestones in your external professional life, but the more valuable story is what’s happening on the inside:

• Are you facing your demons?
• Are you overcoming your weaknesses?
• Are you growing as a person as you move through the successes and failures of your professional life?

In my work as a facilitator, I pay attention to the plot and to the characters. In peer groups, this means helping people become more successful at work while also developing as people across all aspects of their lives. In organizational settings, this means helping a group find tangible opportunities to improve profit, impact, efficiency, etc., while also helping them break through the beliefs and behaviors that hold them back.

What kind of main character are you? I’d bet that you have an inner life that is just as full and just as fascinating as that of any protagonist in a well-loved work of literature. Make space to explore it, and live your story.