Own Your Story with Eric S. Thomas, Chief Storyteller for the City of Detroit
“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 one part of their identity.
Eric is Chief Storyteller for the City of Detroit. “If you look at Eric’s work, it’s clear he tells stories that seek to elevate the community by holding everyone – especially those of us city government – accountable for our city’s progress,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “To have a respected voice like his exploring what is working in Detroit’s revitalization, and what we need to do better, will help foster an honest community conversation that is both healthy and necessary, even if it’s at times uncomfortable.”
Eric’s 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.
As an entrepreneur, he and his business partner have built storytelling agency, Saga, serving municipalities, museums, cultural institutions, and national corporations. He’s proud that during Saga’s lifespan, over 60% of the vendors and employees have been people of color and women, proving that the pipeline issue in media is more about access and intention than lack of talent.
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 & 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.
Connect with Eric Thomas:
Video Highlights: Eric Thomas, Chief Storyteller for the City of Detroit
“Purpose simultaneously means absolutely nothing and absolutely everything.”
On racism, “Better than horrible is not good.”
“I take it as a special privilege to be discontented with my reality.”