Storytelling in the Digital Age
The Most Compelling, Transformative, Actionable
Learning Event on Storytelling
Convene with the World’s Leading Storytelling Experts on April 16-20 and Learn
How to Use Powerful Storytelling to Supercharge Your Message, Broaden Your Influence, and Change the World
(Without Selling Your Soul)
Introducing the largest ever virtual gathering of marketers, change-makers, and creators who recognize storytelling as the secret to reinvention.
Yup, we exist: entrepreneurs, visionaries, and heretics…who are transforming business, culture, and society – all while living life on our own terms. Join us for some subversive fun.
5 Days. 20 Speakers. 500+ Participants.
Summit Speakers
Debbie Weil
Debbie is a Web pioneer and veteran blogger, marketing strategist and digital publisher. She is the author of The Corporate Blogging Book, one of the first and most definitive books about business blogging. She is founder of Voxie Media.
Rohit Bhargava
Rohit is a marketing expert focused on how to bring more humanity back to business. He is SVP of Strategy, Ogilvy and best selling author of Personality Not Included, a guide to building a brand personality through storytelling. His latest book Likeonomics releases in May.
Margot Leitman
Margot’s off beat, brutally honest, fearless comedy has earned her the title of Moth Grandslam Champion , two ECNY “Best Female Stand Up” nominations, an ECNY “Best Storyteller” nomination and the “Joke of the Week” in Time Out NY.
Jeff Gomez
Jeff Gomez is the world’s leading producer of transmedia entertainment properties. As CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, a New York-based digital production company, Jeff transforms intellectual properties into global franchises that successfully leverage an array of media channels and mass audience touchpoints.
Kahlil Ashanti
An actor and award winning performance storyteller with a business brain. Building stories, live performances and character development are my meat and potatoes. Selected for Cirque Du Soleil as a physical character actor in 2010.
Bo Eason
A former NFL standout, acclaimed Broadway playwright and performer, and Presence/Story Coach to some of the most successful people in the world. Bo’s play, Runt of the Litter which is written and performed by Eason, has toured over 50 cities nationally. Runt opened in New York to rave reviews.
Robert Richman
Robert is the product manager of Zappos Insights, the Zappos Family company dedicated to helping businesses with their cultures. As an intrapreneur, Robert built the model from the a proof of concept web site, to a thriving business helping over 1000 people every month.
Jim Signorelli
Jim is the founder and CEO of esw Story Lab, an advertising agency named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing independent companies in the U.S., the last three years straight. He is also author of Story Branding: Creating Stand Out Brands Through the Power of Story (2012).
Jonah Sachs
Jonah is an internationally recognized storyteller, author, designer and entrepreneur. As the co-founder and creative director of Free Range, Jonah has helped hundreds of social brands and causes break through the media din with campaigns built on sound storytelling strategies.
Marie Forleo
Marie is a marketing and lifestyle expert who teaches entrepreneurs to live Rich Happy & Hot. Her company delivers kick-ass small business & personal development programs that are easy to consume, outrageously fun and get results.
Mike Koenigs
Mike is the “2009 Marketer of the Year” winner, entrepreneur, filmmaker, speaker, author and holds a patent in “Cross-Channel” Marketing Technology. He is CEO, “Chief Disruptasaurus” and Founder of Traffic Geyser and Instant Customer.
Dan Mezick
Dan coaches organizations and is the author of The Culture Game (2012), the tutorial and reference guide for company leaders, change-makers and culture hackers. The book describes 16 organizational learning patterns derived from Agile software development, and how to actively socialize these patterns.
Robert Tercek
Robert is one of Hollywood’s most prolific creators of interactive entertainment. He is the former President of Digital Media for Oprah’s OWN Network and former Creative Director at MTV. He has produced hit titles on every digital platform, from TV to games to online and mobile devices.
John Capecci
John is co-author of Living Proof: Telling Your Story to Make a Difference (2012). As a trainer and educator, he’s helped thousands of advocates and hundreds of organizations share their stories in compelling and engaging ways in order to increase awareness, educate or raise money.
Corbett Barr
Corbett is founder of Insanely Useful Media, which publishes blogs including Think Traffic and Expert Enough to an audience of over 100,000 monthly visitors. Through his courses and consulting, Corbett has helped students and clients launch or grow over 1,000 blogs and websites in the past three years.
Timothy Cage
Tim is co-author of Living Proof: Telling Your Story to Make a Difference (2012). As a trainer and educator, he’s helped thousands of advocates and hundreds of organizations share their stories in compelling and engaging ways in order to increase awareness, educate or raise money.
Oren Klaf
As Director of Capital Markets for investment bank Intersection Capital, Oren oversees business development and product development and is responsible for the firm’s flagship product, Velocity. He also sits on the investment committee at Geyser Holdings where he has been a principal since 2006.
Slash Coleman
NPR calls award-winning writer/performer Slash Coleman, “Extremely provocative and entertaining,” and WGBH Boston says, “Slash has the power to change the way people think.” He is Best known for his PBS special and Off-Broadway one man show, “The Neon Man and Me.”
Casey Hibbard
Leading business-to-business (B2B) and technology companies rely upon Casey Hibbard and her company – Compelling Cases Inc. – to capture customer success stories and case studies that earn trust, land million-dollar sales deals, earn major PR in industry publications, and secure funding.
Create Your Story
You have an important message to share. Yet it feels lost in translation. You’re ready to change or reinvent the storyline. You need to explain who you are in a fresh way to the listening world. Your company, cause, or career depends on it.
Meet your tribe
This event is for influential marketers, change-makers, creators, bloggers, entrepreneurs, and experts who believe in the power of storytelling. Create your next story surrounded by like-minded peers and collaborators.
Grow your Business
Getting your new story figured out and telling it in a compelling way is often the missing key to the growth of your business or cause. When you have the right story, you immediately attract more customers, donors, partners…and opportunities.
You’ve probably heard it a thousand times before:
“The stories we tell ourselves shape our lives and our world… Hey, you need to tell more stories… Stories influence the decisions people make…”
If you’re reading this, then chances are you already know and understand the power of telling authentic stories that inspire and help bring about positive change in the marketplace and our planet.
If you’re a marketer, change-maker, or creative… perhaps you’ve begun to use some storytelling magic in your work and are helping others with it.
But you want to learn more and go much deeper. And given everything you’re busy with, it’s not like you have the time to more fully develop the skills you need to fight the status-quo and bring about positive change.
You want self-awareness and presence, key factors that affect how much impact your stories can have.
You desire to find your voice, attract your tribe, and spread your message compellingly and persuasively, far and wide.
But how do you do it?
- Perhaps you’re tired of self-sabotaging your chances personally and professionally whenever you’re asked about your story and you find yourself tongue-tied. (You know, that awkward moment during a date or work meeting that screws up your “flow”?)
- Maybe you’re feeling unclear and want step-by-step guidance on how to gather a tribe for your brand, cause, product, service or message.
- Maybe you’re an aspiring author who wants to self-publish or traditionally publish transformative content and stories you feel called to share.
- Or maybe you’re curious about how to use non-complicated tech to break down barriers and facilitate cultural change.
Regardless of your challenge, we all have the same frustration…
“If only I could get others to see, care, and believe in the same things I do!”
And guess what?
You’re not alone. Many others like you are dealing with similar issues, and increasingly, there’s an important realization that’s spreading.
In today’s increasingly crowded marketplace of ideas and decreasing attention spans, gimmicks, tactics, and the usual psychological triggers can only take you so far.
To be an authentic, inspiring and influential leader in this day and age requires mastery of what has always worked for thousands of years throughout human history: good storytelling.
Unleashing Your Inner “Super Hero”
For generations, storytelling was the privilege of a concentrated few. The digital age is changing all that. What once was the purview of the shaman and elder, or in modern times – the clergy, politician, and media, is now available to each and every single one of us.
We no longer have to give our power away! In fact, succeeding in your career or in business demands that you learn how to tell your own story.
But because of this fundamental change, all of a sudden we’re finding ourselves in the spotlight without the ability or skills to tell compelling stories, because most of us have never been taught how to do it. Let alone do it with specific aims in mind like:
- Gathering, inspiring and leading a tribe through the power of storytelling.
- Applying proven storytelling wisdom from the worlds of psychology, screenwriting, advertising, neuroscience, viral marketing, mythology, and social media.
- Overcoming self-sabotaging behaviors that prevent you from truly connecting with your audience
- Learning how to transform ordinary fundraising and sales into irresistible, undeniable, compelling offers
- Discovering your hidden story and how to make it accessible and relevant to your effort.
- Connecting with a tribe of like-minded mavericks who can help you get out of isolation and play a bigger game.
The good news is, you can learn these things quickly and achieve a lot with powerful storytelling.
Better yet, you’ll discover your inner “superhero” abilities and get clearer on your purpose and what makes you unique.
And with those critical elements no longer hidden from your view, you’ll be able to unleash your inner change-maker.
The Comeback of Storytelling
In recent years, we’ve seen more and more marketing, PR and communications experts talking about the old dying paradigm, and encouraging us to engage more in authentic storytelling.
It’s no surprise then that storytelling has become one of the hottest trends in business, marketing, and communications. But there’s a real lack in comprehensive actionable offerings on this critical topic. And this why the storytelling Reinvention Summit 2, is being convened by Michael Margolis, founder of Get Storied.
In 2010, the first Reinvention Summit saw over 500 participants come together with 37 of the world’s leading experts and teachers on storytelling for a memorable educational experience. The speakers included Nancy Duarte, John Gerzema, Annette Simmons, John Elkington, Steve Denning, Julien Smith, Alexis Neely, Lance Weiler, and dozens more.
Out of our first summit, participants walked away with profound insights, business connections, and learnings that have helped them take their work to the next level, and helped us as a community rise to meet new challenges with more readiness.
This year, the conversation continues with Reinvention Summit 2 – chock-full of new speakers, insights and valuable content.
- Want to raise some money? Oren Klaff, author of Pitch Anything, joins us from Silicon Valley where he’s raised more than $400 million for startups by leveraging psychology of storytelling.
- Why is likeability the secret to trust? Rohit Bhargava, brand humanist, Georgetown professor and upcoming author of Likeonomics will share some surprising reasons why so many brand storytelling efforts fail, and teach you to be more believable.
- How do you create a “storyworld”? Jeff Gomez, legendary transmedia producer will help you apply the power of transmedia storytelling to your community-building effort.
- How do you launch a successful infoproduct? Mike Koenigs is a master internet marketer who will teach you how to turn customers into the heroes of your story.
- Want to find your inner superhero? Bo Eason, former NFL player and Broadway star will teach you how to be more confident with your personal story mojo.
- Need to decode the culture? Robert Richman of Zappos and Dan Mezick, author of Culture Game, will breakdown narrative secrets to corporate culture change.
- Want a more authentic brand? Jim Signorelli, author of StoryBranding, will teach you a breakthrough model to find and build an identity that resonates.
- What makes for a story well told? Margot Leitman, a Moth Grand Slam Winner, will show you how to map and organize a show-stopping story performance.
- Want your cause to go viral? Jonah Sachs, author of Winning the Story Wars, and cofounder of Free Range will teach how to reframe issues that go viral on the web.
- How do you craft a social personality? Marie Forleo and Corbett Barr will show you how to create a super-engaged audience with story-driven blogging and social media.
- How do you turn adversity into an ally? Khalil Ashanti, performer, actor, Cirque de Soleil will reveal how tell the story of struggle from a place of self-empowerment.
- Want to find your true believers? Tim Gage and John Capelli, co-authors of Living Proof, will teach you how to become an advocate and evangelist for your message.
- Want to be a published author? Debbie Weil, founder of Voxie Media, will tell you how to take advantage of the self-publishing revolution.
- How do you get others to believe in your story? Casey Hibbard, Author of Stories that Sell, will teach you how to use customer stories to build credibility for your message.
Who this is Meant for:
Truth be told, good storytelling should be a skill that everyone ought to master. It’s not only beneficial in business and transformation, but also in personal life.
So yeah. Everyone welcome. But specifically, the Summit is designed for a key audience in mind.
- Marketers, content creators, and influencers who want to enhance their persuasion
- Change-makers, advocates, and nonprofits who want to improve the world (or a small slice of it)
- Storytelling professionals who want to make a real living teaching others
- Filmmakers, producers, and writers who want to turn transmedia into a true business
- Bloggers, authors, and online personalities who want to build a personal brand halo
- Consultants, coaches, and experts who want to transform people and organizations
- Business owners and freelancers who want creative and financial freedom
Does this include you? What are you waiting for? Join us, and discover your storytelling tribe.
Who’s Michael Margolis?
Hi guys, it’s me, Michael here. So before getting into details about the Reinvention Summit 2, let me tell you a little bit about who I am, and why I’m hosting this event.
For many years, I’ve been a storytelling consultant to leading brands including Audubon, NASA, and Zappos. You could say, I’m obsessed with storytelling. Especially the kind that can transform the world. This is why I run an online education company that teaches entrepreneurs how to tell their story.
But my life purpose wasn’t always this clear or easy. I’ve struggled to make ends meet and figure this stuff out. For years, I felt like a renegade misfit — forever lost in translation. You could say, I’ve been chronically “self-employed”.
It was only after ten years decoding how storytelling works in business, that I began to apply the principles to my own reinvention, inside-out.
Truth be told, I wasn’t always comfortable sharing my own story. Actually, I was a nerd — long before it was cool to be a nerd. Then from 2002-2009, I did the consulting thing.
Going through a divorce in 2009 changed everything (i.e. I was soon broke, without clients, and on the verge of bankruptcy).
Soon after, I discovered the power of reinvention and how social media was changing the rules of the game. In two short years, I went from being “just a consultant” to becoming a self-published author, podcaster, journalist, professor, conference curator, and even the dean of my own university.
It’s 2012 – you don’t need permission to become a recognized expert or authority. It comes from knowing who you are and how to tell your story. That’s what I’m going to teach you how to do – because your story needs to be heard.
So What’s a Virtual Summit Exactly?
A virtual summit is an online gathering of passionate people around a certain topic. Reinvention Summit 2 is no different. Over five hundred participants will get together to learn about the art of storytelling for bigger impact and results. The event will be facilitated on a cutting-edge interactive video conferencing platform.
On April 16-20, we will broadcast four sessions live everyday from 12-2pm ET and 4-6pm ET. All you need is an internet connection to participate. You’ll be able to interact via and even ask questions and make comments from the comfort of your office or home. These sessions are also recorded and transcribed for on-demand viewing at your convenience. Plus you get to network extensively with fellow attendees via our private online community tools.
The beauty of a virtual conference? There’s none of the expensive travel or other costs associated with a typical conference that keeps you away from work. In fact, you get to participate on your own terms. Whether that’s attending live for some it, or listening to the recordings at your own pace or leisure. Plus you’ll own all the recordings for a lifetime of learning and exploration.
Here’s What You Get With Your Ticket
- Twenty 60-minute sessions with leading storytelling experts – including live, interactive calls, plus Q&A time. Live sessions are Mon-Fri, 12-2pm ET (NYC time) and 4-6pm ET (NYC time).
- Unlimited access to recordings of all sessions (listen online or download the mp3 file to your iPod or audio player)
- Action worksheets with exercises designed to reinforce lessons from each session
- Access to private online community to connect and engage with other participants
- Exclusive Bonus Session with Michael Margolis, Dean of Story University
- Lifelong storytelling practices that will transform your message and grow your business
- Opportunity to become connected to a global storytelling tribe
- PDF transcripts for each of the 20 sessions
…Everything will be available (audio, slides, and PDFs) to you online and as a download right on your computer, and you can make your own copies of anything you need!
What’s the True Value of This Summit?
There’s simply nowhere else in the world where you can find such a diverse range of esteemed business storytelling experts that can teach you how to supercharge your message, boost your influence, and grow your business. The Summit will teach you how storytelling is key to raising money, attracting more clients, and getting paid what you’re really worth. If you get just one new client based on this learning, you’ll have more than paid for your investment.
The biggest challenge of being a change-maker or creator, is feeling alone. That sense of isolation can be paralyzing if not demoralizing. That’s why you want to be a part of a larger tribe of like minds who can inspire you and encourage you to come out and play, and play big.
Your total cost of admission to the Reinvention Summit is cheaper than one hour of consulting with any of the speakers.
With twenty sessions in the curriculum, your actual cost is less than $15/session. Compare this to a regular conference, where you’d pay more 3-5x as much for this level of intimate access and learning. Plus if it was a regular conference, you wouldn’t get the mp3 recordings, PDF transcripts, or action worksheets that allow you to extend your learning for months on end. It’s like a business storytelling curriculum in a box.
What our Alumni are Saying
“The Reinvention Summit blasted any doubt I had about meaningful communities coming together online. A great rapport occured globally, and the leadership, facilitation and open space created by Michael and the design team leaders was remarkable. The energy and courage was palpable, and the recognition that telling the whole story of one’s life, and one’s passions has powerful traction. It affirmed for me that integrated stories honouring heart, mind and soul is THE way forward for humanity…”
- Andrew Melville, Director, Spoke
“Reinvention Summit awakened my awareness of the storytelling tribe, which is an amazing community of diverse and talented professionals. I learned a lot both from the speakers at the summit and from the community participating. Once I got involved, I canceled my other appointments to attend every session. It was incredible.”
- Jocelyn Wallace, Founder, Red Eleven Group, LLC
“My tweet really said it best “Dozens of people I have never met have helped me to live into my own story and find my most authentic self #thankyou #story10″…Thanks so much for your valuable contributions to the world of story.”
- Jeff Kubarych, Co-Creator, Create96.com
“Provided an astonishing array of high-quality presentations, full of well-respected luminaries in the storytelling and related fields — at mind-bogglingly accessible prices. Participants enthusiastically gulped from a fountain of knowledge, expertise, and practical ideas. The summit also forged a rabidly devoted community.”
- Kathy Hansen, Blogger, A Storied Career
“It was some of the simplest bits of insight that were the most powerful. Great diversity of topics, engaging speakers, and variety of ways to learn and participate. I’m excited that our nonprofit community will get to learn about and from Michael/Reinvention Summit at our upcoming Digital Storytelling event. Thank you!”
- Kristy Graves, Community Outreach, TechSoup
“This has the potential of being a great force to help change our small pieces of the world.”
- Renee Mathson, Health Educator, SEARHC
“Definitely my highlight for 2010. If anyone has doubts that people can touch each other in a digital environment, they should attend (and bring tissues).”
- Eva Snijders, Storyteller + Coach, Quimica Visual
“The Summit has been an incredible journey through the many uses of and perspectives on storytelling and has been invaluable in my development as a storytelling entrepreneur. But most of all, I’m deeply grateful for having found a home in this new, emerging storytelling tribe. Thanks you for making this happen!”
- Marleen Vente, Founder/Owner, monxies
“This was a uniquely rich opportunity, an unsurpassed value, a crash course, an immersion into the heart and soul of organizational and personal storytelling. There’s literally no other forum where participants can learn from and interact with hundreds of subject matter experts, thought leaders and visionaries on this important topic.”
- Cindy Atlee, Partner, The Storybranding Group
7 Reasons Why You Should Join Us for the 2012 Reinvention Summit
Comprehensive & Compact
There are many books out there on the art of storytelling. The problem is very few fully contextualize how to use storytelling for doing business in the digital age. Reinvention Summit 2 takes care of that by assembling 20 experts who’ll share actionable insights on how to get the value out of storytelling.
DNA of Communications
Storytelling is not just another technique. When you understand storytelling, you unravel the DNA source code of human connection. Join us, acquire the source code, and apply it in your work to boost your results.
Flexibility & Convenience
You participate on your own terms – in your pajamas, at home if you want. All sessions are recorded and archived, so you can listen on your own time. You get to choose your own adventure, because we know you’re busy. Best of all, there are no traveling and hotel costs. The fun is virtual and facilitated using leading-edge social technology.
Tiny Investment, Huge Value
Some of the featured speakers and teachers charge thousands for an hour of their time. When you sign-up, you’ll get over 20 hours worth of their insights, and all for the affordable investment of just $297.
Leading-Edge Insights
You need an integrative approach to storytelling that balances timeless wisdom of the ages with the fast-paced demands of doing business today. We’ve curated Reinvention Summit 2 to provide a key blend of topics, challenges, and issues designed to provoke, enlighten, and guide you forward.
Network with Likeminds
There’s nothing like the power of belonging, and discovering you’re not alone in your mission to tell better stories. You’ll discover many just like you — who are ready to collaborate, connect, and create great things together. This is your chance to connect to the global storytelling tribe.
Additional Recognition
By registering for the Summit, you are invited to share your own reinvention story and/or resource materials. Lots will be shared back to Summit participants as well as with the broader world.
Get your ticket today! You’ll Receive:
- Twenty 60-minute sessions with leading storytelling experts – including live, interactive calls, plus Q&A time. Live sessions are Mon-Fri, 12-2pm ET (NYC time) and 4-6pm ET (NYC time).
- Unlimited access to recordings of all sessions (listen online or download the mp3 file to your iPod or audio player)
- Action worksheets with exercises designed to reinforce lessons from each session
- Access to private online community to connect and engage with other participants
- Lifelong storytelling practices that will transform your message and grow your business
100% Super Happiness Guarantee
We want you to be more than just happy by the immense value you get from the Summit. So for any reason, the experience doesn’t live up to your expectations, let us know and we’ll give you an immediate refund. It’s so easy, you’ll keep smiling.
Now is The time. You are ready to create your story. Your tribe is waiting to hear what you have to say. Your business is poised for explosive growth.
I hope you will join me, Michael Margolis, and the 22 phenomenal speakers of Reinvention Summit this April 16th-20th. It’s going to be a powerful time of change for everyone.
Let’s do it!
Michael Margolis
Founder of Get Storied and The Reinvention Summit
PS: Did you already snag the FREE 5-part video series on telling your story? Enter your name and email address below and have it delivered straight to your inbox!
PPS: Reinvention summit will be the most compelling, actionable, and transformative event on storytelling anywhere. It’s all online, and all the content, forums, videos, and action scripts will be available to you even if you can’t attend the live online sessions. Don’t wait to get your ticket!
–>Get your ticket for Reinvention Summit 2 NOW<–
Reinvention Summit Partners
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