My friend Michael Margolis has just come out with the terrific new book, Believe Me: Why Your Vision, Brand, and Leadership Need a Bigger Story. In addition to being fun and easy reading (even a slow reader like me can devour it in a single sitting), the book offers free bonuses in the back said to be worth $265. These bonuses include a Story Engagement Index, a Believe Me Action Guide, a subscription to Michael’s Story Mojo newsletter, and a free telephone strategy session.
The cover proclaims Believe Me to be “a storytelling manifesto for change-makers and innovators.” I was curious about why Michael felt such a manifesto was needed. Here’s what he told me:
It seems like everybody I know is in some state of reinvention (including
me). Change, innovation, adaptation are the new business as usual. I wanted to write a book that framed storytelling around these larger archetypal themes. The topic also reflects the personal path that I’ve walked as a social entrepreneur, business storyteller, and “arm-chair” cultural anthropologist. Makes for a lot of threads to tie together. There was a real creative tension that I tried to balance throughout. I didn’t want to dumb down the topic and insult the reader. And yet it was important for me to make the book “pop culture” accessible. My goal is reach really smart people who maybe don’t have “storytelling” on their radar as a strategic mindset. The Manifesto attempts to introduce readers to the greater possibilities of story in an expansive and integrated fashion. Of course, its far from complete or authoritative. It’s meant to be a spark of light, the bright yellow cover being a metaphor for the sun and the power we have to create our own reality.
Coming up: Over the next two days, I ask Michael two more questions about the book and offer my thoughts on it.