37. Rewrite Your Story to Rewrite Your Habits with Connie Kwan

Connie Kwan on story habits, identity, and building a new writing routine Erika Parker Price interviews Connie Kwan, a builder and storyteller whose career spans product leadership, AI-powered prototyping, teaching storytelling, and now writing a book called STORYHabits. This conversation is both an origin story and a practical coaching session, as Connie walks Erika through her STORY framework for changing habits through identity and motivation.We discuss how habits shape career transitions, why identity is the missing piece in habit change, and how to make a goal small enough to actually stick. The episode also explores how AI is changing engineering team habits, code review, and norms faster than most organizations can adapt. Key topics Connie Kwan’s path from corporate product leader to portfolio career as a builder and storyteller The origin of Story HabitsConnie’s thinking on habit change was shaped by her work at a smoking cessation company. That experience gave her a scientific lens on motivation, behavior change, and what helps habits actually stick. She later connected that with her storytelling work and realized identity and story were missing from the habit-change conversation.  Why identity matters more than streaks in habit building Workshop: Erika’s writing habit The S T O R Y frameworkS - Set the right goal T - Ten values O - Overlay the habit onto a value R - Run the test Y - Evaluate whether the story worked or needs revision Connie uses Erika’s own values to find an anchor that supports the writing habit. How to think about confidence and motivationThe goal should feel 90 percent achievable. Connie emphasizes keeping both confidence and motivation above roughly 90 percent throughout the process. Small wins matter because they create the loop that makes the habit repeatable. How AI is changing team habits Timestamps 00:00 - Introducing Connie Kwan and the purpose of the episode  01:46 - Why Connie fits both sides of the show’s mission  05:14 - Connie introduces herself as a builder and storyteller  06:23 - From smoking cessation to the origins of Story Habits 08:00 - Why identity is the missing piece in habit change 10:57 - How habits can rewrite your life one step at a time 13:16 - Inherited habits, hacked habits, and chosen habits 16:43 - Choosing Erika’s writing habit to workshop live 18:08 - S T O R Y begins with setting a realistic goal 20:50 - Defining values as anchors for habit change 22:27 - How connection becomes the strongest writing anchor 24:50 - Using courage as a possible motivation, then ruling it out 27:04 - Why creativity is central to Erika’s identity as a writer 30:10 - Future-focused fiction and the pressure to “get it right” 33:07 - Purpose as a deeper reason to write the book 34:42 - What Erika does instead of writing and why 36:25 - Moving from story work to logistics and calendar design 39:21 - The “because” that gets Erika to the desk 41:23 - Reviewing the S T O R Y framework and running the test 43:28 - Small goals for career change and skill building 48:41 - How team habits are changing in an AI-driven workplace 53:49 - Why teams need to rebuild norms around AI use 57:51 - Where to find Connie and what’s next for the follow-up 58:19 - Connie’s closing thought: rewrite your story to rewrite your habits “Rewrite your story to rewrite your habits.” Ready to get support on what's next? Check out erikaparkerprice.com and book a free call. Questions? Comments? DM Erika on LinkedIn