Ideally, the tribe gathers in a circle around a fire, with a pipe in hand—filled with who knows what.
I tried the pipe once. Didn’t like it.
So today, I’ll light a Quai D’Orsay 52 cigar and write down the idea that woke me up at 5:00 AM.
Why Storytelling—and Why Now?
Since I’m on a mission to build the COTRUGLI tribe, I’ve realized I must sharpen my storytelling skills.
Also, let’s be honest—we could all benefit from that.
Here’s the truth:
The stories that interest me are not landing well with the COTRUGLI community.
Why?
Why My Stories Fall Flat (So Far)
From my perspective, we don’t share the same urgency.
We don’t have the same view of the future—or what’s truly at stake.
But there’s more to it.
- I’m not telling stories often enough.
- I’m not telling them to a big enough audience.
- I’m probably not telling them in the right way.
So, maybe my stories aren’t really for my audience.
Still, that doesn’t mean I’ll give up. Quite the opposite.
The Vanguard Mission Demands a Story
When I have a mission—especially one with Vanguard DNA—and a clear vision of where we all need to be in 5 years, I will find a way to bring us there.
The good news?
I have a lot of room for improvement.
So where do we begin?
What the Best Storytelling Experts Say
1. People Don’t Connect Because It’s Interesting
They connect because it costs you something to share.
That emotional cost is what makes a story sticky, human, and memorable.
I’ll need to dive deeper into this principle. It makes sense—but how do we align it with a future where AI, robots, and blockchain do most of the work?
2. The Common Mistake: Over-Polishing
Most people polish their stories until they sound clever, clean, and maybe even funny.
But then—no one leans in. No one remembers. No one is moved.
And we start thinking:
- “Maybe I’m not that interesting.”
- “Maybe I haven’t suffered enough.”
But the real solution is this:
You don’t need a bigger story. You need higher stakes.
That hits home.
I’ve experienced more high-stakes situations than most people I know.
I just need to frame them better.
3. Vulnerability Is the Real Engagement Hack
Ask yourself: If you had nothing to lose when telling your story… why should your audience feel anything?
Belief only lands when there’s tension, risk, vulnerability.
I get it. These are the stories that break the internet. They get the engagement.
But they’re not really my style—yet.
So, I need to figure out how to do it my way.
A Simple Plan Forward
Here’s the realization:
I don’t have to figure this out alone.
We’re smarter together. Stronger together.
So let’s explore this as a community.
COTRUGLI Live Stories: A New Format for a New Era
I’m planning a number of events this September. And I want to pivot to a new, leaner format:
COTRUGLI Live Stories
Here’s the idea for the structure:
- 2 speakers
- 20-minute story each
- 20-minute moderated discussion
- 2-hour B&M (Business & Mingle)
Not sure which city will go first. That depends on your feedback.
Want to Share Your Story?
If you have a story sitting in your head—and your heart—and want to share it with the COTRUGLI Alumni community, just DM me.
This Isn’t the First Time…
By the way… we already did this once.
Remember COTRUGLI Stories during COTRUGLI DayZ in Belgrade nearly a decade ago?
More than 30 alumni shared stories, and 400 people attended an event called COTRUGLI 360.
All the videos are still live on the COTRUGLI YouTube channel.
This December: DayZ Reboot
You can guess how many speakers we’ll host this time.
50?
100?
200?
300?
400?
Let’s aim high. Let’s tell bold stories.
Let’s create connection—with stakes.