The Legend Effect (Master Influence and Attraction)

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 storytelling07:39 The biggest challenge as you scale and grow a company09:20 What is the role of technology and AI in our lives?13:44 From lonely and awkward to working with big tech17:31 Michael’s first career as a social entrepreneur24:06 The gift and the curse of our time26:37 People don’t buy the product, they buy the story30:16 The greatest fundamental power that human beings have31:55 The SFB Narrative Framework for leaders39:28 Niching down in this attention economy43:21 The 3 currencies for how to survive in the new world of work 49:41 Michael’s 500 days around the world56:13 The long walk home1:04:49 A letter to Michael’s younger selfResources Mentioned:Cartoons of the big tech companies org charts.From Our Guest:WebsiteLinkedIn Youtube XFacebook 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“My thesis with generative AI is that learning how to take control, take charge of the story is the #1 most deterministic choice and or skill that will define the next 5, 10, 20, 30 years of your life and career. It's the master skill that you have to learn. Literally, words are the new code now.” – Michael MargolisIt’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽Join Legend Letters to get the most important lessons and behind the scenes content in under 5 min.📩 Try the Legend Letters NewsletterFollow, subscribe, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode of The Legend Effect, host Howie Chan talks with Scott Walker, a veteran kidnap-for-ransom negotiator with over 300 cases under his belt. Scott has used decades of experience to develop a unique understanding of what makes people think, feel, and act—specifically in times of adversity, conflict, and uncertainty. In this conversation, Scott shares insights from his career in high-stakes negotiations. They discuss how some negotiation skills translate to everyday scenarios like business negotiations and family interactions. Scott also recounts his personal journey from a police officer in Scotland Yard to a crisis management consultant, and how a tragic family event reshaped his life's purpose and meaning.Episode Breakdown:01:16 Meet Scott Walker: The Negotiation Expert04:56 From Scotland Yard Detective to Renowned Negotiator14:47 The First Step Towards a Decision That Will Change Your Life18:48 The Biggest Lesson Scott Learned in His First Kidnapping Case24:09 The #1 Skill of Successful Negotiations31:08 The REAL Challenge of Kidnap-for-Ransom Negotiations34:17 Embracing Conflict to Win Negotiations35:56 Managing Emotional Triggers: Try THIS Next Time You Feel Riled Up40:39 How This Personal Tragedy Changed Scott’s Perspective and Career Path45:12 How Can We Have Better Conversations? And Why Does It Matter?47:20 Finding Purpose and Excitement in a New Career Path50:05 Business Negotiations: Scott’s Thoughts and Insights1:02:19 Kidnap Negotiations That Went SouthResources Mentioned:Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art.From Our Guest:WebsiteLinkedIn Instagram Get the book, Order out of Chaos.Sign up for Scott’s newsletter, Negotiations Essentials. Legendary Quotes:“Anyone and everyone can be taught how to negotiate and how to communicate more effectively. It's a teachable skill. But it's also a perishable skill.” – Scott Walker“You don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.” – Howie Chan“The golden rule of successful negotiation is: It's not about you.” – Scott WalkerIt’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽Join Legend Letters to get the most important lessons and behind the scenes content in under 5 min.📩 Try the Legend Letters NewsletterFollow, subscribe, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode of The Legend Effect, host Howie Chan sits down with Lan Phan, a powerhouse in the world of personal development, career reinvention, and purpose-driven leadership.Lan shares her deeply personal journey—from climbing the corporate ladder to leaving it behind in search of something more aligned with her values, identity, and long-term vision. Along the way, she opens up about the real cost of success, the emotional toll of trying to “have it all,” and how she finally found clarity by letting go of who she thought she needed to be.This candid conversation will resonate with entrepreneurs, business leaders, and anyone who has ever felt stuck between ambition and authenticity.Episode Breakdown:01:08 Meet Lan, her story, and her purpose of democratizing Leadership Development08:00 The common mistake of defining success using other people’s benchmarks10:31 Redefining success, overcoming hardship, and uncovering your values20:53 Lan’s many career pivots and what they can teach us about life’s purpose29:24 How to find purpose in life: Your path to personal greatness36:18 Lan’s personal story of leadership development and building the Community of Seven41:52 Using your values to find purpose and passion in work—or to pivot48:28 The big secret of the personal growth and leadership development industries57:09 What you need to know about personal branding and growing an audience59:29 A letter to Lan’s younger selfFrom Our Guest:WebsiteLinkedIn Youtube FacebookInstagram Get the book, Do This Daily.Join the Community of Seven. Legendary Quotes:“A lot of times, it's our hardship that shapes us. It's not something that we should be afraid of.” – Lan Phan“No one is on their deathbed wishing they spent more time at the office.” – Lan Phan“What does purpose-driven leadership mean? What does owning your voice mean? What does collaboration, psychological safety mean? When you're able to define it, you're able to live it. ” – Lan PhanIt’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽Join Legend Letters to get the most important lessons and behind the scenes content in under 5 min.📩 Try the Legend Letters NewsletterFollow, subscribe, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode of The Legend Effect, host Howie Chan interviews legendary productivity expert and bestselling author Nir Eyal, whose book Indistractable has become a must-read for anyone serious about reclaiming their focus, managing attention, and building high-performance habits. If you're looking for REAL science-backed productivity hacks, hit play right now!Nir shares science-backed strategies for mastering your productivity mindset, defeating internal triggers, and avoiding the tech-driven traps that sabotage your time management and productivity. You'll learn how to design an environment that supports deep work and how to follow through on what matters most.Whether you're an entrepreneur, business leader, or creator, this conversation will give you the tools to work smarter, not harder—and create a life you can't wait to wake up to.Episode Breakdown:02:13 Meet Nir Eyal: The Habit Expert07:55 The Power of Persuasive Writing14:36 The Truth about Productivity Hacks and The Path to Becoming “Indistractable”23:21 Mastering Distraction: Traction vs. Distraction34:51 Understanding Tactics vs. Strategy35:10 Discomfort, The Core of Human Motivation40:12 The Right Metric of Success: Working Without Distraction43:04 The Process of Writing and Research46:29 Personal Responsibility and Overcoming Distractions59:26 The Impact of AI and Future Technologies01:05:07 Reflections on Success and Personal GrowthFrom Our Guest:WebsiteLinkedIn Youtube XFacebook Instagram Get the book, Indistractable.Indistractable bonus content. Legendary Quotes:“Everything is driven by the desire to escape discomfort.” – Nir Eyal“Tactics are what you do. Strategy is why you do it. So meditation, tactic. Brain training app, tactic. Physical fitness, tactic. Why? What's the strategy? Why are we doing these things?” – Nir Eyal“The whole metric of success needs to change. It needs to be about only our ability to work without distraction. That's all that matters.” – Nir EyalIt’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽Join Legend Letters to get the most important lessons and behind the scenes content in under 5 min.📩 Try the Legend Letters NewsletterFollow, subscribe, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review!Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

You look to your heroes living their dreams, only to look at your own life and be reminded of your earthly origins.Held hostage by this belief that leading a legendary life is meant only for the select few, you think:“I’m not worthy of greatness.”“I’m never going to make a dent.”“I should be grateful for the ordinary.”But what if that’s NOT true?It’s not who you’re born as, but who you will become. It’s not what you’ve been doing, but what you will do.What is it that makes people lead legendary lives?What can we learn about their mindset, heartset, and skillset? What are the most important lessons that we can learn so that we might live our own versions of legendary?Those are the answers we’re seeking in the Legend Letters Podcast.It’s time to kick comfort to the side and break free from the expectations of others.Not just wait for legendary moments, but hunt them down.It’s time to turn up the volume on life, make your mark, and live your legend. 🤘🏽The first 3 episodes drop on October 15th. Follow, subscribe, and don’t forget to leave a rating and review.Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.