The major contention of this paper is that the best way to understand an individual's identity is through the story (or stories) that person makes of his or her life. The research looks at the ways in which the performance of business executives is rooted in both: (1) an executive's unique identity as an individual; and (2) a component of personality called agency. The life story of Dodge Morgan, a former chief executive officer of Controlonics Corporation, who, in 1986, sailed the 60-foot sloop American Promise on a record-breaking, nonstop, solo circumnavigation of the world is the focus of the research. The life story of Dodge Morgan is used to support the argument that identity is a psychological framework for both short-term and long-term goals; that it helps to determine how one approaches both tasks and interpersonal relationships; that it also helps determine the way one copes with stress; and that it has the potential for development over the lifespan, thus affording certain developmental opportunities for the executive. A lengthy bibliography is included. (DB)