Own Your Story with Eric S. Thomas, Chief Storyteller for the City of Detroit

What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw

“Purpose is simultaneously absolutely nothing at all and absolutely everything.” How one defines purpose is an individual choice. And it’s all part of their story. Eric Thomas is what happens when you combine a decade of marketing experience, street smarts, and heavy dose of humor to balance it out.

For Eric, storytelling is a business and a way of life. His insights on culture, business, and media help strategists and leaders imagine innovative ways forward, break down old ways of thinking, and empower them along the way. He is an entrepreneur, storyteller, social commentator, brand strategist, artist, and self-taught designer. His life is one that proves many things can be true at once and no one is defined by any single part of their identity.

Eric is Chief Storyteller for the City of Detroit. His blog on LinkedIn has earned more than 3 million reads and been republished across the globe. His comments and work have appeared in The New York Times, Financial Times, The Guardian, The Economist, CBS, Detroit Free Press, Adweek, TedX, MIT, and the University of Michigan.

In this episode of What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin & Simon Daw, Eric talks about racism, the meaning of purpose, emotional truth versus authenticity, and his philosophy of “bitter optimism.”

What I Wish I Knew with Mike Irwin and Simon Daw...

Life and career rarely go to plan. Breakthroughs happen on the ragged edge when things aren't quite going as expected. What I Wish I Knew podcast hosts Mike Irwin and Simon Daw explore lessons learned by leading athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, leaders, and difference makers. They all have three things in common: none are perfect, all are humble, and they've learned a few things along the way. In What I Wish I Knew, they share their lessons with you.

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