Mastering Influence: The #1 SKILL That Will Define Your Future with Silicon Valley Legend Michael Margolis

How Can I help you? In this episode of the Legend Letters Podcast, host Howie Chan interviews Michael Margolis, CEO of Storied, Inc, a Silicon Valley storyteller, best-selling author and innovation expert. He’s a go-to advisor for top executives at Google, Meta, Salesforce, Uber, and NASA. His narrative frameworks are regularly used by those who want to master influence at scale – whether you need to get investment, buy-in, or alignment. Michael shares his journey as a misfit and disruptor. The discussion emphasizes why storytelling matters so much in this attention economy, especially with generative AI. They delve into the philosophy behind storytelling and what it can do for humanity, how to survive in this new world of work, and go the very practical route with a framework for leaders to influence at scale. Episode Breakdown: 02:43 The 4 waves of storytelling 07:39 The biggest challenge as you scale and grow a company 09:20 What is the role of technology and AI in our lives? 13:44 From lonely and awkward to working with big tech 17:31 Michael’s first career as a social entrepreneur 24:06 The gift and the curse of our time 26:37 People don’t buy the product, they buy the story 30:16 The greatest fundamental power that human beings have 31:55 The SFB Narrative Framework for leaders 39:28 Niching down in this attention economy 43:21 The 3 currencies for how to survive in the new world of work  49:41 Michael’s 500 days around the world 56:13 The long walk home 1:04:49 A letter to Michael’s younger self Resources Mentioned: Cartoons of the big tech companies org charts. From Our Guest: Website LinkedIn  Youtube  X Facebook  Instagram  Get instant access to the book for free, Story 10x. Legendary Quotes: “What people don't realize is that whatever story you choose to tell is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Storytelling is like fortune telling. So choose wisely.” – Michael Margolis 📩 Try the Legend Letters Newsletter Follow, subscribe, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review! Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.