So, this morning I was putting groceries away in my car when a plastic bottle bounced out of a bag, rolled down the parking lot, and came to rest under the rear wheel of an armored truck-manned by a dour-looking (and armed) driver waiting for his partner to return from the bank next door. As I pondered the predicament of retrieving my coffee creamer without jeopardizing life and limb, I thought, “Aah, this will be a fun story to tell.”We’re wired to love stories from the get-go, from bedtime stories to campfire ghost lores, Friday night movies to tales of the “good ol’ days.” Yet so often we think of stories as merely recreational, neglecting the power they have to shape our professional lives.

Often stories come into focus only when it’s time to change jobs, as we dust off our résumés and dread the process of “selling ourselves.” What did we do? How did we do it? What were the results? Couching our professional history in terms of success stories and accomplishments is a very effective way to communicate the value we bring to a potential employer-in résumés, cover letters, and interviews.

The trouble is, most of us wait until we’re unhappy with our work situation before we ever think to capture these stories. It’s a lot harder to catalog our accomplishments when we’re feeling despondent, downtrodden, and disillusioned.

What if, instead, you made an habit of creating success stories as you go? When you’ve completed a project at work, write it down in a paragraph or two. When you’re asked to do something out of the ordinary, write it down. When you come up with a great idea, write it down. The benefits to doing this go beyond having fodder for your next job search:

• Documenting your performance for an annual review
• Positioning yourself within your organization for a raise or promotion
• Justifying your contributions in the face of potential layoffs or downsizing
• Reinforcing your own value when you’re having a bad day.

Not to mention, it’s a lot less for you to remember when you do want to move on to something more rewarding.

The challenge is recognizing those accomplishments that seem like breathing to you, but demonstrate skills and talents that may be invaluable to someone else. Think about a specific task or project you’ve done recently (no matter how small or large), and how you brought your unique style to the job. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you craft your story:

• How did my task or project contribute to the organization?
• What obstacles or challenges did I face?
• How did I overcome these challenges to reach my objectives?
• What resources did I call upon to get the job done?
• How did this work align with the culture or values of my boss/team/company?
• What did I learn that I can use next time?

The best part is that, instead of “bragging” about yourself, you’re engaging in a process that others truly enjoy. Whether it’s a prospective employer, a current boss, or new teammate, sharing your stories gives them a taste of who you are, what’s important to you, and what it’s like to work with you. That’s why I like to include those last two questions about values and learning. It helps build rapport and demonstrates your capacity for growth.

But don’t just stop in the workplace. Capture your successes at home, in your relationships, as a parent, with your hobbies or passions. What you’re good at and what makes you uniquely you shows up in all areas of your life, and deserves to be documented.

So find a journal, save a Word file (or Excel spreadsheet if that’s your thing), carry a mini-recorder. Whatever makes it easiest for you to start logging the successes in your life. Not only will you find that these stories directly contribute to your professional growth, they help you more fully experience your life and remember what’s truly important to you. Plus they’ll make it a whole lot easier to write that résumé and conduct that interview if the time comes.

Well, I successfully mimed my request through bullet-proof glass to the dour driver, who rolled the armored truck forward three feet, allowing me to retrieve my coffee creamer and live to see another day. This story, while demonstrating both creativity and the ability to stay cool under pressure, may not make it into a cover letter or résumé… but then again, you never know. It made it into this newsletter.

What’s your story?