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Story 10x: Turn the Impossible Into the Inevitable
Great leaders are great storytellers.
If you want to disrupt, inspire, and persuade—go beyond the data. You need a story. As a leader, you can’t ask your team to invest in a vision or a strategy they don’t fully understand or believe in—especially when your ideas challenge the status quo. At a time when disruption is redefining every quadrant of life, those who can get their story straight can win over even the most reluctant audience.
Drawing on 30,000 years of storytelling, Story 10x delivers a fresh approach for how to inspire and influence in the digital age. Most people think of storytelling as “once upon” fairy tales or how to tell a better anecdote. In reality, getting clear on your strategic narrative is how you navigate hypergrowth. In these pages, you’ll learn how to craft an Undeniable Story —a 3-step narrative framework for any high-stakes presentation. Apply the same strategies embraced by Google, Facebook, and Hulu to communicate some of their biggest breakthroughs. Invest in your story, and you can literally bend the limits of time, money, and people.
Discover your Undeniable Story . Next time you’re in front of senior leaders, investors, customers, or your team, make it difficult—if not impossible—for them to reject the future you’re trying to create. Harness the magic of Story 10x , and turn the impossible into the inevitable.
If you want to disrupt, inspire, and persuade—go beyond the data. You need a story. As a leader, you can’t ask your team to invest in a vision or a strategy they don’t fully understand or believe in—especially when your ideas challenge the status quo. At a time when disruption is redefining every quadrant of life, those who can get their story straight can win over even the most reluctant audience.
Drawing on 30,000 years of storytelling, Story 10x delivers a fresh approach for how to inspire and influence in the digital age. Most people think of storytelling as “once upon” fairy tales or how to tell a better anecdote. In reality, getting clear on your strategic narrative is how you navigate hypergrowth. In these pages, you’ll learn how to craft an Undeniable Story —a 3-step narrative framework for any high-stakes presentation. Apply the same strategies embraced by Google, Facebook, and Hulu to communicate some of their biggest breakthroughs. Invest in your story, and you can literally bend the limits of time, money, and people.
Discover your Undeniable Story . Next time you’re in front of senior leaders, investors, customers, or your team, make it difficult—if not impossible—for them to reject the future you’re trying to create. Harness the magic of Story 10x , and turn the impossible into the inevitable.
- GenresBusinessCommunication
212 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 8, 2019
72 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 22, 2020
The beginning was fantastic.
Somehow didn't like the ending.
Great advice - I am implementing them!
Somehow didn't like the ending.
Great advice - I am implementing them!
July 5, 2024
An Inspiring Guidebook to Help YOU Realize Your Project, Product, and Personal Goals
It's hard to get people to rally behind a vision. This book will help you form one, and inspire people to come along -- even if they are reluctant or trying to put obstacles in your path. I read between 180-200 business books a year -- and although most of them are interesting, it is rare that one grabs my attention and compels me to finish in one sitting. Story 10X is one of these gems. CEOs, product managers, strategists, marketing leads, user experience specialists, and data scientists will all benefit from Michael's new book, which reads like a personal guidebook to help you lead your company or project to success. By working with companies of all sizes, he's found patterns that you can use to clarify your vision and bring people along. When you're 20 pages in, you will have already learned a lesson that you'll be excited to apply immediately.
In fact, this is one of those books I re-read from time to time, usually when I have a new technology project to evangelize. Having a guidebook to clarify my own thoughts before sharing them with others is tremendously valuable.
It's hard to get people to rally behind a vision. This book will help you form one, and inspire people to come along -- even if they are reluctant or trying to put obstacles in your path. I read between 180-200 business books a year -- and although most of them are interesting, it is rare that one grabs my attention and compels me to finish in one sitting. Story 10X is one of these gems. CEOs, product managers, strategists, marketing leads, user experience specialists, and data scientists will all benefit from Michael's new book, which reads like a personal guidebook to help you lead your company or project to success. By working with companies of all sizes, he's found patterns that you can use to clarify your vision and bring people along. When you're 20 pages in, you will have already learned a lesson that you'll be excited to apply immediately.
In fact, this is one of those books I re-read from time to time, usually when I have a new technology project to evangelize. Having a guidebook to clarify my own thoughts before sharing them with others is tremendously valuable.
June 14, 2020
Just saw another review that said “great start, weak ending” and I agree. Maybe another one of those books that could rather be a blog post - a good blog post though!
December 8, 2019
A much needed manifesto for change
Today we live in a world of constant change. It's the stories that will encourage adaption to these circumstances that shall carry the future. It's no longer us versus them but rather us vs our tend to stagnate and fall behind. To win in the story wars these days we must erase "villain" culprits and instead find common ground. Then we can focus on changing a mindset around from there. While this book focuses mainly on the crafting of narratives as related to business, it's also highly effective for personal and societal change as well. Whether that means increasing tolerance for those with different points of view from us or sleeping with a mouthguard rather than allowing teeth to grind, this book points out how a change in narrative can encourage better behavior. Highly recommended!
Billy "Branding Bard" Brophy
Today we live in a world of constant change. It's the stories that will encourage adaption to these circumstances that shall carry the future. It's no longer us versus them but rather us vs our tend to stagnate and fall behind. To win in the story wars these days we must erase "villain" culprits and instead find common ground. Then we can focus on changing a mindset around from there. While this book focuses mainly on the crafting of narratives as related to business, it's also highly effective for personal and societal change as well. Whether that means increasing tolerance for those with different points of view from us or sleeping with a mouthguard rather than allowing teeth to grind, this book points out how a change in narrative can encourage better behavior. Highly recommended!
Billy "Branding Bard" Brophy
October 15, 2019
An excellent book on the power of storytelling, both in the corporate world and in one's life. Michael tells you how to communicate, in an undeniable way, to the C-suite and usher in innovative thinking. Highly recommend reading.
March 7, 2020
I like the concept, but this was really a 25 page paper made into a book. Lots of repetition. I enjoyed it. It was an easy read. It held some inspiration. I liked some of the quotes (that took up entire pages). Needless to say, I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ve definitely read better.
October 12, 2019
One of the best books I've read all year. With lots of supporting evidence (and AMAZING quotes that I'm going to steal) - Michael walks us through how to tell a story about INNOVATION.
November 2, 2023
Insightful and interesting examination of what makes a good message - both internally and externally. Highly applicable to both work and home situations.
May 2, 2024
This book gave me inspiration and ideas when pitching a novel idea where you need the support of board members, key stakeholders, investors, etc… and you have no stats to back you up so you have to sell and inspire your idea and its potential future impact it can create.
Michael Margolis focuses on the transformative power of storytelling in the business world, particularly in the context of innovation and change management. Margolis argues that traditional business communication often falls short when it comes to pitching novel ideas or driving significant change, as it fails to overcome skepticism and resistance.
The book presents a method for crafting stories that not only capture attention but also inspire action and facilitate understanding of new, complex, or challenging concepts. Margolis emphasizes the importance of narrative structure, emotional engagement, and authenticity in storytelling. He provides practical tools and strategies to help entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators tell compelling stories that resonate with their audiences, thereby turning seemingly impossible ideas into achievable realities.
Story 10x aims to equip readers with the skills to use storytelling effectively to overcome objections, mobilize stakeholders, and create momentum for their ideas and projects.
A follow up on the book would be the course offered:
https://www.storiedinc.com/
Michael Margolis focuses on the transformative power of storytelling in the business world, particularly in the context of innovation and change management. Margolis argues that traditional business communication often falls short when it comes to pitching novel ideas or driving significant change, as it fails to overcome skepticism and resistance.
The book presents a method for crafting stories that not only capture attention but also inspire action and facilitate understanding of new, complex, or challenging concepts. Margolis emphasizes the importance of narrative structure, emotional engagement, and authenticity in storytelling. He provides practical tools and strategies to help entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators tell compelling stories that resonate with their audiences, thereby turning seemingly impossible ideas into achievable realities.
Story 10x aims to equip readers with the skills to use storytelling effectively to overcome objections, mobilize stakeholders, and create momentum for their ideas and projects.
A follow up on the book would be the course offered:
https://www.storiedinc.com/
April 25, 2024
This is such a valuable resource for any business, business leader or aspiring business leader to get their heads around the importance of storytelling. Margolis does a great job of explaining the power of stories to connect with your audience and sell your big ideas.
As he puts in the introduction:
"This book introduces a storytelling school of thought built for a new age of communications. Unlocking its power is in the nuances.
First, you have to get personal, as authentic connection and point of view are increasingly the currencies of our time. Second, it requires faith in the future, a belief in forward progress, no matter the evolutionary constraints. And lastly, it requires curiosity and humility, as storytelling is nothing less than an examination of the human experience.
To become a master storyteller is to master life itself. This is an endless process. Especially in disruptive times. The best stories are the ones that inspire possibility and unleash human potential.
It’s time we all learn this new kind of story.
The future depends on it."
As he puts in the introduction:
"This book introduces a storytelling school of thought built for a new age of communications. Unlocking its power is in the nuances.
First, you have to get personal, as authentic connection and point of view are increasingly the currencies of our time. Second, it requires faith in the future, a belief in forward progress, no matter the evolutionary constraints. And lastly, it requires curiosity and humility, as storytelling is nothing less than an examination of the human experience.
To become a master storyteller is to master life itself. This is an endless process. Especially in disruptive times. The best stories are the ones that inspire possibility and unleash human potential.
It’s time we all learn this new kind of story.
The future depends on it."
Read
July 29, 2024A frustrating read. Sure, there's great content here that's without a doubt worth the cover price (especially now that the author is giving the ebook version away for free), but you have to work to dig it out.
It's simultaneously overwritten and underwritten. The first half of the book contains long leisurely sections about the importance of story and what to expect. But when he gets to the actual how-to sections in the latter half, he skimps on detailed examples to illustrate the most important and useful content and advice.
I found a webinar on YouTube that he gave in 2018 which IMO is a much better teaching tool than the book. There is a "use cases" download referenced at the end of the book that includes some examples that are helpful. Some of the other links referenced in the book are broken.
In short, the book feels more like a promo for his consulting than a guidebook for real learning. But some of the content is so good that I'd recommend checking it out anyway.
It's simultaneously overwritten and underwritten. The first half of the book contains long leisurely sections about the importance of story and what to expect. But when he gets to the actual how-to sections in the latter half, he skimps on detailed examples to illustrate the most important and useful content and advice.
I found a webinar on YouTube that he gave in 2018 which IMO is a much better teaching tool than the book. There is a "use cases" download referenced at the end of the book that includes some examples that are helpful. Some of the other links referenced in the book are broken.
In short, the book feels more like a promo for his consulting than a guidebook for real learning. But some of the content is so good that I'd recommend checking it out anyway.
August 2, 2024
Got this one for free from a work event, and was completely expecting it to be some lame, aspirational, “self-help” book saying that anything is possible only if you try hard enough. I was pleasantly surprised to see it wasn’t that at all and instead was a perfectly fine book focused on improving your storytelling and presentation skills. Margolis did a decent job at establishing the key aspects of how to frame a narrative to a presentation, and his writing style was super easy to understand. However, I can’t say that this book taught me anything about presentations that I didn’t already know; can’t really say it was groundbreaking to find out that to make a seemingly boring presentation compelling it helps to tie it into some larger narrative for people to latch onto. Not a bad book by any means, and it does a decent job at what it’s trying to do.
August 17, 2020
Chameleon or Pied Piper? Either way, mediocre.
I wanted to like this book for a myriad of reasons. What business owner doesn't want to tweak the "story" and up their game?
However, it ended up being regurgitated ideas, barely disguised as something new. This information has been sold to us over and over under names such as marketing, rebranding, and inflating (stories and egos). The book just didn't flow for me, especially as a tool to actually utilize in future transactions.
People often write books just to seem credible for their future clients and this was what I felt I was reading. Hopefully, the author's storytelling is more artful & he is better able to win his audience when selling to clients in person.
I wanted to like this book for a myriad of reasons. What business owner doesn't want to tweak the "story" and up their game?
However, it ended up being regurgitated ideas, barely disguised as something new. This information has been sold to us over and over under names such as marketing, rebranding, and inflating (stories and egos). The book just didn't flow for me, especially as a tool to actually utilize in future transactions.
People often write books just to seem credible for their future clients and this was what I felt I was reading. Hopefully, the author's storytelling is more artful & he is better able to win his audience when selling to clients in person.
February 21, 2023
A fabulous book for your business and your life!
I met Michael and this book reminds me of him - lyrical, erudite, and enormously insightful. It's written in Michael's style so it feels really personal. And I think it's a very helpful book for your business, and also for your life. I coach executives and startup founders, and storytelling is one of the skills I am always coming back to as a core skill. When you're a great storyteller people will get behind your vision, follow you, and come together on behalf of a larger vision. This book gives you frameworks for how to do that and inspires you to go do it! A really great and useful book!
I met Michael and this book reminds me of him - lyrical, erudite, and enormously insightful. It's written in Michael's style so it feels really personal. And I think it's a very helpful book for your business, and also for your life. I coach executives and startup founders, and storytelling is one of the skills I am always coming back to as a core skill. When you're a great storyteller people will get behind your vision, follow you, and come together on behalf of a larger vision. This book gives you frameworks for how to do that and inspires you to go do it! A really great and useful book!
December 6, 2020
This book starts out promising. However, I found the author’s writing to be pretty scattered. For a storyteller, he does a miserable job of telling you a great story.
There were parts of his book that completely did not tie to the rest or make sense in context. There was one chart that appeared three times throughout the book which was never explained.
There have got to be better books out there on how to tell good stories.
There were parts of his book that completely did not tie to the rest or make sense in context. There was one chart that appeared three times throughout the book which was never explained.
There have got to be better books out there on how to tell good stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2024
The ideas in Story10x are captivating but they’re also contagious — I’ve been using the Story 10x concepts in my work and in my personal life. I’ve got so many notes in the pages and I will keep revisiting it again and again. Also, the quality of the book is very nice. I appreciate a well made book and this is just that. I liked it so much I took the dust cover off!
Great value, profound insight, and evergreen ideas to pull from for a long, long time. Highly recommend this book!
Great value, profound insight, and evergreen ideas to pull from for a long, long time. Highly recommend this book!
May 5, 2022
I expected it to be very good, due an old PDF I had from the author back in 2009 or 2010. I'd just recently found it again on some old hard drive.
It was indeed very good. Story 10x takes the ideas from the PDF and explains everything my team will need to know to craft a better brand story that can connect better with our audience and also show off the DNA of our company.
It was indeed very good. Story 10x takes the ideas from the PDF and explains everything my team will need to know to craft a better brand story that can connect better with our audience and also show off the DNA of our company.
April 17, 2024
Discovering your book and work was like a spotlight being shone on a dark path. I found it incredibly helpful and profoundly influential. I’ll forever be appreciative for it. I’m honestly surprised I had not heard of your work before as it really unpacked some extremely commonplace problems in the corporate world.
June 19, 2024
This book is as insightful as it is predictive. Michael has a gift for seeing how we need to adjust our narrative in a shifting environment. In a world of AI and nonstop vies for attention, this is a true guide to how to use your humanity in your storytelling to build real connection.
July 7, 2020
Many good ideas but missing more practical tips, I feel
September 5, 2021
To me, this is a good book, and would recommend it.
March 26, 2023
The book talked a lot about the importance of having a story but not a lot about creating a story. And the little it talked about creating a story I didn't find of value or understandable.
November 24, 2019
Un libro muy interesante que muestra como contar una gran historia en tiempos de cambio. Un lectura ágil y entretenida que te engancha y da ganas de ponerte manos a la obra. Aunque va dirigida a startups, la mayor parte de los consejos puedes aplicarlo en cualquier ámbito. La única pega es que es artificiamente, se respite un poco en ocasiones. Pero es una lectura muy recomendada si te gusta el mundo del storytelling y si te gusta contar historias 😉
July 18, 2025
This is one of those books on the topic of storytelling where the author doesn’t tell stories, so that’s a big hit to its credibility. The author does offer a really smart construct of “possibility / obstacle” storytelling (vs the old “problem / solution” model).
September 24, 2019
Fantastic book.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews