I’ve Got Some Epic News to Share Today…

Happy Tuesday, my friends. I write to you this morning on an airplane headed home from Asia. Been a long few weeks of business travel, but as the year starts to wind down, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I’ve got some exciting personal news to share today, and I hope you’ll forgive the even higher than normal excitement in my voice.

You know, this coming June will be ten years since I sold Help a Reporter Out to Vocus (Now Cision.) Crazy how time flies, huh? And in the nine and a half years since the sale, I’ve done many things of which I’m incredibly proud. I’ve written four best-selling books. I’ve launched the Internet’s #1 podcast focusing on ADHD and Neurodiversity, I’ve given over 1,000 keynotes and talks on six continents around the world (still trying to get one in Antartica,) I’ve launched an amazing entrepreneurial mastermind, have executive produced a movie, and I’ve even worked with NASA. Of course, cooler than all of that, I’ve become a dad to an amazing six and a half year old daughter. I’ve been incredibly blessed and fortunate, and I hope I’ve been able to give back to you much more than I’ve taken, in the form of help, advice, an ear, and even the occasional cool Instagram photo now and then.

Now, it’s time for a new chapter in my life. Deep down in my heart, I’m a storyteller. I like to tell stories. I always have. It’s what got me in trouble through my school career, (when you’re a kid, a keen ability to tell stories is often labeled as“unable to pay attention in class.”)

A talented storyteller, by default, is a marketer. If you know how to tell stories, you can market anything. You can sell anything. For me though, the key has always been to tell those stories in such a way, and with the right group of people, so that the stories I tell have value, help people, and make a difference.

Back in 2016, I was introduced to an amazing advertising and marketing agency called Epic Marketing Consultants Corporation. Helmed by the amazing wife and husband team of Nancy and Don Dibert, I’ve watched their agency expand over the last few years, and take on a larger and more robust client base. They’re on one heck of an amazing ride, and well, you know I’m a skydiver, so I’m drawn to amazing rides.

I’m thrilled to announce today that I’ll be joining Epic as their Futurist in Residence.

This means several things.

It means that first and foremost, I’ll still be doing my thing. (The very first line of my contract with Epic says “Peter gets to continue to be Peter.”) I’ll still be speaking, keynoting, and advising all over the world. But now, I’ll have a world-class advertising and marketing agency at my side. Instead of just advising major companies on the future of the customer economy, I can implement entire marketing programs for them. This partnership means that I’ll be able to do what I do best, with the best people in the industry. I’ll be able to bring the trends I spot throughout the world back to Epic and their clients, and be able to integrate what I do seamlessly with what they do. In other words, it’s a full circle win.

Nothing else changes about me, that much I promise. You’ll still get these emails with helpful tips and advice, discounts and special offers. You’ll still get your fill of truly awful dad jokes, and yes, I’ll still be around to meet you for a 5am run, 6am Peloton ride, or 4am coffee, all around the world. That’ll never change.

So… Please say hi to Epic. They’re amazing people. I feel like I’m joining a family today, not just a company. I couldn’t be more excited about the future. 2020 is going to be an amazing, amazing year.

As always, I stand at the ready to help you any way I can. And now, I can do so on a much, much grander scale. Want to chat? Reach out. Let’s have some fun.

Have a wonderful holiday season, my friends. I’ll be in town for most of it, with the possible escape to Florida right before Christmas to get some skydiving in. Want to meet up? Reach out. Let’s figure out what magic we can make together in the new year.

Love, light, and way more candy canes than are good for us,

-Peter Shankman​