Welcome to this week’s deep dive. Paid subscribers get access to the video version, along with our entire coaching catalog. Click the button below to sign up:
In Tuesday’s article, we explored how blind spots can quietly sabotage your pageant journey.
The truth is, constructive criticism is the quickest way to grow, but you will never get it if you only surround yourself with “yes” people. That is why I invited you to send in your paperwork for critique.
Heather Walker stepped up. She shared her paperwork and headshots, and in this week’s deep dive I walked through her submission as a case study. What makes Heather’s example so useful is that it highlights something I see again and again: contestants treating their paperwork like a résumé.
Here is the problem. Paperwork is not judged like a CV. Its real purpose is to guide your interview. Judges often skim and latch onto whatever stands out first. If you fill your paperwork with every achievement, you are letting them decide the direction. If you are intentional, removing distractions and keeping only what points back to your core story, you control the questions.
The second lesson from Heather’s paperwork is that facts tell, but stories sell. A list of bullet points makes you blend in. A story creates emotional connection, lowers defenses, and makes you memorable. Heather’s platform is powerful, but the way it was written did not explain the “why.” That is where storytelling transforms paperwork from a list into a persuasive tool.
For our paid subs who watched the video, you will know we went line by line into Heather’s document. Even if you did not, you can still take away two things:
Your paperwork should be designed to guide, not impress.
Your platform should read like a story, not a list.
These are the core principles, but they come to life when you see them applied in real time. Below are some of the key moments from the session.
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