At Build Your Story Pills (BYSP), the Documenting Club at the TD Community, we believe that everyone has a story worth telling. The challenge isn’t about finding the story—it’s about structuring it in a way that’s meaningful, relatable, and impactful. That’s where our ICC Framework comes in, helping you break down your experiences and transform them into a narrative you can be proud of.
Whether you’re documenting for self-reflection, personal branding, or simply to keep a record of your growth, this framework makes the process easy, organized, and purposeful.
What is the ICC Framework?
The ICC Framework is a simple yet powerful method for documenting your journey. It focuses on:
- Incident: The events or moments that shaped you.
- Connection: Tying those moments to something larger—a place, person, or occasion.
- Closure: Reflecting on what you learned and how it impacted your growth.
Let’s break it down step-by-step, so you can start documenting your story with clarity and intention.
Step 1: List Your Incidents
The first step is to identify the key moments in your life. These could be small wins, big challenges, or even moments of quiet reflection. To organize them better, group them into six categories:
- Failures: Times when things didn’t go as planned.
- Learnings: What you gained from those moments.
- Mistakes: Missteps that taught you valuable lessons.
- Milestones: Key achievements in your journey.
- Realizations: Eye-opening moments that shifted your perspective.
- Achievements: Proud accomplishments, big or small.
Action Step: Create a list of 15 incidents under each heading. Don’t overthink—just jot down whatever comes to mind.
Example:
- Failure: “Didn’t get selected for the college debate team.”
- Learning: “Realized the importance of consistent practice after attending a friend’s debate session.”
- Mistake: “Tried multitasking during my finals prep and ended up burning out.”
- Milestone: “Hosted my first college event and received great feedback.”
- Realization: “Not all criticism is bad—it’s often a tool for growth.”
- Achievement: “Won first prize in a photography contest.”
Step 2: Build a Connection
Every incident has a deeper layer—something or someone that made it significant. This is where you establish a connection with one of the following:
- Place: Was there a location tied to this moment?
- Thing: Was there an object that symbolized the moment?
- Person: Was someone instrumental in shaping this experience?
- Incident: Did this event connect to a past or future moment?
- Occasion: Was it part of a bigger event, like a festival or competition?
Action Step: For each incident, pick one connection and explore it. This will add richness to your story.
Example:
- Incident: “Didn’t get selected for the college debate team.”
- Connection: Person – “My mentor helped me understand that failure is part of the learning process.”
Step 3: Create Closure
The final step is reflecting on each incident and connection to find the closure—what you learned, how you grew, and why it matters. This step transforms your experiences into meaningful insights.
Action Step: Write 2-3 sentences summarizing the impact of each incident and connection.
Example:
- Incident: “Didn’t get selected for the college debate team.”
- Connection: “My mentor helped me understand that failure is part of the learning process.”
- Closure: “This experience taught me resilience. I started practicing harder and eventually became confident in public speaking.”
How to Use the ICC Framework for Your Storytelling
- Weekly Journaling: Use the framework to reflect on key incidents from the week.
- Personal Growth: Track your progress by revisiting older incidents and seeing how your perspective has changed.
- Content Creation: Share these reflections in blogs, social media posts, or personal branding efforts.
- Community Sharing: Use the ICC Framework to inspire others in your network or community by sharing relatable, impactful stories.
Why the ICC Framework Works
- Structured: It organizes your thoughts, making it easier to identify and share meaningful stories.
- Relatable: By tying incidents to connections and closures, it makes your story more engaging.
- Actionable: The framework doesn’t just help you document—it teaches you to reflect and grow.
Take Your First Step Today
Grab a notebook, open a notes app, or use a journaling tool. Start with one category—maybe “Failures”—and list 15 moments. Pick one, build a connection, and write your closure.
Your story deserves to be told, and the ICC Framework makes it simple, organized, and impactful. Start today, and let your journey inspire not just yourself, but those around you.
What’s the first incident you’ll document? Share it below or tag us when you do!
Cheers to building your story, one step at a time! 🚀