The Most Powerful Person in the World

It might not be who you think it is, but it is AI's biggest threat. I might have a healthy obsession... ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Renegade, I’m creating a team of world class storytellers. It’s the ultimate rocket fuel for a brand and insurance for a career as we look to the future. AI will never replace the power of human-led storytelling, which for centuries has proven to create an emotional connection. This is the exact type of connection that converts and compounds over time. My entire career has been built on the back of telling stories, [like this one.]( (In a rush? Scroll down for my top storytelling tips.) Last week, my team and I were sitting with a Fortune 50 Renegade corporate client discussing the perfect storm dynamics at hand and how we're navigating them. The art of storytelling is a key ingredient of our strategy. But first let’s level-set and map the highly-advantageous situation on our hands. We’re juggling: AI, Multi-generational workforce, hybrid work, macro economic pressures, mental health and burnout … and again, did I mention the elephant in the room? Yep, AI. Ok. Let’s start there. But what do the opportunities provided by emerging tech have to do with storytelling? In fact, a lot. Steve Jobs said “The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller”. Stories drive everything. They’re even responsible for the genesis of media and its evolution. First, the spoken word became the written word, (theater), then came the press, telegraph, telephone, radio, tv, internet, email, video on internet, social media, voice recognition, machine learning, blockchain, AI … it all stems from communicating a story that delivers value to create a conversion. Whether that “conversion” is online or offline, it can come in many forms: an emotional response, entertainment, persuasion, delivery of education, behavior change, action taken, sale generation, investment secured, meeting secured, email acquisition, landing a job interview, etc. Stories are the vehicle to get you to where you want to go as quickly as possible. I’ve been in this game for a while and I’ve never seen a time where having a strong personal brand is more important. When it comes to growing your personal brand, all roads lead back to one place: Storytelling. Why invest in storytelling: - It’s been proven that the quickest way to persuade and change someone’s behavior is through a humanized story. Data can be powerful and it’s a must but if it’s not wrapped into an emotionally-charged narrative, it loses potency and effectiveness. Stories backed by data drive action. Numbers, graphs and data that sit alone collect dust in decks if they’re not activated and translated by a storytelling vehicle. - Your company or career trajectory can substantially change from one presentation, speech, interview, pitch or conversation with a key stakeholder. If you’re not connecting and convincing right out of the gate, you’re leaving money and opportunity on the table. - Stories differentiate you and they offer value. A good, relevant story will make your X factor shine. Nobody else can tell a story like you can, let alone a story you lived and gained experience from that you’re willing to share. You can’t argue experience. - It gets you to where you want to go quicker and it’s usually enjoyable for all parties. Who doesn’t love a good story? Three tips to level-up your storytelling skills: (We have an entire section at [Renegade]( in our curriculum and programming on this one skill. It’s intense and interactive real-time learning –while doing.) - Share your story in present tense as if it were happening right now. Bring the audience into that moment with you and light-up the neural and physiological responses that story brings as if it were a reality happening NOW. Our brains don’t distinguish between pretend or reality well when our bodies feel like something is happening. Get them to feel. Practice the same story over and over. Try it out with your Uber/Lyft driver. If you’re not excited about the story, you absolutely cannot get someone else to be. Choose wisely. - Keep it tight. Make ONE point with the story. The length should be anywhere from 1-3 minutes. You’re sharing a slice in time, not a life history. Our attention spans are shrinking by the minute. If you’re watching a movie and a character goes from the grocery store to their home, the director doesn’t need to show the drive home. That’s called a jump-cut. Do this in your story. Our audiences are very used to filling in the blank, let’s give them credit. If you have a story that’s four minutes long, cut it to two minutes and make it 200% more powerful. - Make your story modular to give it more miles. The same exact story could be wrapped up in a bow with three different points in three different situations. There are usually countless lessons or points baked into a good story. Choose one at a time but you can use the same story in different scenarios with different points delivered at the end. Repurpose this. Reverse engineer more points after you get the story down. There are no rules. It’s YOUR story. Give it legs and save yourself time. Get good at ONE story and use it over and over with different outcomes. Don’t create many mediocre stories that don’t land or persuade. Need Inspiration? [Listen to my conversation with Jason Mraz]( one of the best storytellers in the game. He shares his approach and tips to the art of storytelling. If you want more resources, [subscribe to Why Not Now?]( and hear from 300 of the best storytellers out there. (I make each guest tell a story!) Also, check out [Renegade]( where we teach, practice and apply this skill. We’ll be sharing more Renegade “Go To Stories” on [LinkedIn]( and [Instagram]( and too. The historical playing field is being leveled in many ways when it comes to hard skills. Your differentiating factor will be your personality, interpersonal skills, leadership, likeability and ability to persuade. I for one am obsessed with the opportunity emerging tech and AI are providing. Human connection will become indispensable when communicating information. With a seemingly unlimited amount of access to information, the best storytellers will remain king and queen – they will stand out from the automations created by AI. If you haven’t started sharpening your storytelling skills and building your personal brand yet, now is the time. May the most powerful storyteller win, Ajo [Instagram]( [iTunesPodcasts]( [Linkedin]( Sent to: {EMAIL} [Unsubscribe]( Renegade Global, Inc., Austin, Austin, TX 78739, United States