Something happened this week that was a little embarrassing…
A client sent me a note to let me know that in this series – The Contrarian Canon – I had been using the wrong form of “canon” (I was using the one with two “n’s” – i.e. the one for firing cannon balls.)
And while I wish I could say there was a clever double meaning behind it, alas it was just a mistake from a bleary-eyed writer working hard to finish his book manuscript.
(The only saving grace is that least you know these emails haven’t come from ChatGPT…)
Which by the way, in case you hadn’t heard – OpenAI just announced this week that they are launching ads…
(This is a pretty big deal, and something we predicted way back in [Issue #020]. I’ll have more to say about what this means and the opportunity it presents once I get through this manuscript…)
Speaking of which…
While I’ve been deep in manuscript mode these last few weeks…
My kids have been building a little business.
They’re learning about Retail Arbitrage.
Finding items locally that they can flip on Ebay and Poshmark for a profit.
Like the Fjallraven parka in that photo above. It retails on the website for $535. They found it locally on clearance at $169, and were able to sell it on Ebay for $329.
It sold within 30 minutes of posting, and they made a cool $130 profit after fees.
(They are quickly seeing first-hand that being a business owner can be a LOT more lucrative than getting a J.O.B.)
How did the item sell so quickly?
Well, they’re learning the power of using stories to sell in their listings to make their postings more memorable and stand out.
Which brings us to the focus of today’s newsletter…
Storytelling – and how to use stories to sell your stuff…
Building on where we started in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of the “Contrarian Canon” series from the last three weeks…
I’ve pulled yet another one of the most powerful – but overlooked – key ideas that I wrote about this past year…
And one I think is worth doing a deep dive into today…
This one is all about …
1 | Why Storytelling Might Be the Most Scalable Post‑AI Business Skill (From Issue #056)
“Storytelling isn’t just the path to connection. It might just be the most scalable skill we have left.”
In this issue, we make the case that in a world increasingly drowning in polished, “optimized” (and increasingly AI-generated) content, story is what cuts through the clutter—because stories don’t just inform and educate… they connect.
We start with a vivid, real-world moment (a bear in the woods, Crocs-with-socks, and a crusty old stick) to show why raw, human scenes create the kind of tension that makes people lean in.
Then we turn storytelling into something you can actually use:
We break down the three (3) story types and share five (5) contrarian tips for making your stories more compelling.
What you’ll get if you double‑click:
A practical storytelling toolkit you can apply immediately—in emails, marketing, sales pages, and even simple listings—so your message stops feeling “generic” and starts feeling true.
Here’s the full issue:
* * *
Okay, I’ll leave you with that for today…
It’s back to manuscript editing for me :-)
Have a GREAT rest of your day…
Remember to hug the ones you love…
And until next week,
Ryan :-)
P.S. I have a VERY unique opportunity next month that I wanted to give you a heads up about in case you’re interested…
Next month, I’ll be in Paris with my family.
February 23rd through the 27th, to be exact.
And while I’m there, I’ve decided to do something I’ve never done before:
I’m blocking one day of our family trip to personally work with 1-4 entrepreneurs in-person.
Here are all the details:
I’m offering this in two possible formats:
Option 1: A Private 1:1 VIP Day, just you and me
Option 2: A small-group 4-Person Mastermind
I’ll run whichever format makes the most sense based on the applications I receive – considering applications on a first-come, first-serve basis (details below…)
Here’s what makes this unique:
Normally when I host a small-group mastermind, it’s typically between 8-12 people.
Capping it at just 4 people creates an incredibly intimate experience with deep focus on you and your business – from both a highly-curated group of minds – and from me personally…
Our day together is structured so that everyone in the group has a dedicated session 100% focused on you.
In that session, we’ll be doing a deep dive into the biggest issue or opportunity you’re currently facing – and on which you’d like to tap into the wisdom of the group to get perspective, feedback, and advice…
For the Private 1:1 VIP Day, you get me for an entire day. One-on-one. Fully focused on you and your business.
My private advisory clients currently invest $100K+ per year to work with me one-on-one.
This is a chance for you and I to dive deep into your business together – in the same way I work with my private CEO clients at a fraction of that investment.
There is so much I can support you with – everything from high-level strategy to sales & marketing – all speaking from the perspective of actual real-world experience of having accomplished:
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Successfully selling 2 of my companies…
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Generating over $100M in revenue
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7x Inc. 5000 / Over 14,000+ Customers
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2x #1 National Bestselling Books / 100,000+ copies sold
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Building teams of 10 to 100 employees
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Having Sold Software, Services, Coaching, Consulting, Virtual Events, Digital Products, Physical Products, and more…
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All while raising a family as a fully-present father and husband
Meaning: Whether you’re looking to keep things simple, highly-profitable and net 6-7 figures annually without a big team and overhead…
Or you’re in the “empire building” season right now, and you’re looking to scale to multiple 7 or 8 figures and build your company for an exit…
Or you’re looking to make a shift, pivot, or establish yourself as the Category of One and the clear and obvious choice in your market…
I can help you with all of the above.
The investment:
My most recent rate for an intimate Mastermind Event like this has been $7,500/person. (In fact, that’s exactly what I charged for my last event last year.)
BUT because I’m already going to be in Paris, and there’s no additional travel for me – I’m offering the 4-person mastermind option at just $5,000 per person (roughly €4,300).
For the Private 1:1 VIP day, my normal rate is $25,000. But again, because I’ll already be in Paris with no additional travel, it’s just $15,000 for the day (roughly €12,900), which is a savings of $10,000.
Now, here’s the thing:
In my nearly 20 years in business, this is the first time I’ve ever hosted anything like this continental Europe.
(And it may be the only time I ever do this.)
So if traveling to the United States has been difficult for you…
If you’ve always wanted to work with together but the logistics haven’t worked out…
If Paris is somewhere you’ve been wanting to visit (or it’s simply easier to get to than traveling to my remote farm here in the United States…)
This might be the only opportunity ever offered for something like this.
The application process is simple:
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Step 1: Click the link below to make a $500 refundable application deposit.
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Step 2: After payment, you’ll answer a few questions to help me determine if this is a good fit.
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Step 3: If you’re invited to take one of the spots, the remaining balance will be due within 7 days of your $500 refundable deposit.
A few important notes:
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If it turns out you can’t make any of the dates, or it doesn’t work out for any reason at all, the $500 is fully refundable to you
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I will be making spots available on a first-come, first-served basis
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There’s only one spot for a one-on-one VIP day with me. Once that spot is taken, that’s it.
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There are a maximum of 4 spots for the mastermind (you can purchase two spots at $5K each if you want to bring your spouse or partner, but you’ll need to indicate in your application.)
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This represents a massive savings of what this would normally cost – and I’m only doing this because I’m already going to be in Paris, have no additional travel, and think this could be fun :-)
Here’s the link to submit your application:
Okay, I’ll leave you with that for now.
As a reminder, there’s only one spot for the 1:1 VIP day. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. And if you’re interested in doing both the VIP day and the mastermind, you can indicate that in your application.
First-come, first-serve :-)
I look forward to seeing you in Paris!
