No Story Stagnates with Ernie Boxall and Dr Kandiss Taylor.

Kandiss Taylor is travelling the state of Georgia in the gubernatorial race for November 2022. This is her life story, the authentic story of an American woman fighting to defend the Constitution of the United States of America.
A wife, mother and family woman she has put her present way of life on the line to see the change that she wants her children to enjoy.
Listen to her story. #storytelling, #Georgia
https://anchor.fm/ernie-boxall/episodes/No-Story-Stagnates-with-Ernie-Boxall-and-Kandiss-Taylor-e1eijjg/a-a6be4eh

Santa's Tale and Psychology How Santa opened my eyes to joy and parental psyche

During the last three months of 2021, I played the role of Santa Claus. These are my observations on Parental Interaction with their children.

The Story and the Lessons #1

He waited in the darkened schoolroom as the excited voices grew louder.
When the Princes, and the children, counted the 1-2-3, the Star on the top of the Christmas tree lit up and Santa Clause left the safe, security of the schoolroom and rushed out to meet the children...his work had begun.

Welcome to the world of Santa Claus. But, perhaps, not the world you are familiar with.

It’s a world of interaction and performance. No sitting on Santa's knee for 10 seconds, no waiting in queues for thirty minutes. This was a two and a half hour, interactive performance. In fact, it was a production. A Princes. Two elves. A script. Music. Effects and lights and audio. Everything had to be rehearsed, timed and coordinated right down to the costume changes. And, of course, there was Santa.

The Role: The role of Santa is a strange one. The script gives him minimal words to say but his actions are central to the show. He appears with a "Ho Ho  Ho" of course and the eyes of the children light up. The parents all point and say "Look it's Santa." And, their eyes light up as well.

Meeting the kids for the first time should energise any Santa. As they sit cross-legged waiting for the man in red to stand in front of them and without doubt, when he asks the children to create 'Christmas Cheer' they all nod their heads. And, that is why playing Santa isn't easy.

The children believe that Santa is standing in front of them, that every action Santa takes is watched and, perhaps copied by the children. Over the course of this article, I will go into the positives and negatives of the Santa role. The Psychology of Santa1. “The Santa Claus myth dates back hundreds of years to a real-life monk named St. Nicholas who was born around 280 AD in modern-day Turkey.”

Through the ages, and through communities it is strongly, believed that pagan’s had characters with similar actions and cultural benefits for the people of the time. The character wore different clothes and performed in different ceremonies, but the effects were still the same-to bring joy to the people for a certain period of time (depending on the country).

The Children:2. “Children are also most likely to believe in Santa if parents leave evidence around the house to support his story.” The proof was writ-large with the start of every performance.”It’s Santa.” The parent’s, in the main, were as excited as the children as all eyes turned to the man in the red suit and the white beard. The children’s eyes lit up and the belief was unquestionable in the children between the ages of 3, up to 8 years of age. And, as Santa asked the children if they would help create magic by “joining in all the games and having fun” all of them nodded their heads.

The Adults* By and large, there was a discernable change in the attitudes of the mother and father to the performances from the end of the introduction. Mothers were more likely to join in with the games and the dances that followed while fathers spent a much shorter time with the children in the village and were more likely to have their mobile phones out for business than for taking pictures.

In the next article, I will be talking about the performances themselves and, again, the lessons I took from observing the generations as they began this magical adventure.

No Story Stagnates #2 with Barnie Giltrap

Barnie Giltrap

Interview

Barnie Giltrap

Consultant, Small Business Owner, and Software Engineer in Coventry, United Kingdom

Born in Liverpool, Barnie is a full time, a mature student at Coventry University and is also following his dream to develop digital Comic-book Animations around his passion for Sci-Fi.

Barnie has a real interest in community regeneration and via local rather than global solutions and is also provides Consultancy and support to organisations running Linux Servers integrated with Desktop Environments.

Now, living in Coventry, Barnie has been a trustee with Arty Folks since 2017, Barnie takes us into the life of a man working through the trauma of PTSD and severe migraine with art therapy and has turned that experience into a venture working with computer comics and games.  He talks about the lack of therapy and understanding of the issues around PTSD.

Barnie talks about the importance of encouraging creativity especially if your character is one of individual responsibility.

Barnie's early life experiences of moving between Liverpool and Ireland. He is taking his future in his own hands and using stories to promote a Kickstarter project at university.

join us as we talk about Barnie's hopes for more research into mental health and the future of his love for comic stories in the computer age.

#mentalhealth #PTSD #

 

linkedin.com/in/barnie-giltrap-9426a183
 

Website: about.me/barniegiltrap 
 

Email: barnie@giltrap.org.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barniegiltrap/
 

IM:  barnie@giltrap.org.uk 

No Story Stagnates #1 with Julie Kiefer

Julie Kiefer

 Julie Kiefer is a creative, energetic, and collaborative Business, and Digital Marketing Consultant with a passion for scaling brands’ impact and developing digital marketing strategies that convert. She is working as the International Brand Manager for McVitie's & Godiva UK and is consumer-focused, results-driven, business building, and strong project management skills. 

But, that is only part of the Julie Kiefer you will see and learn about here.

   Born in France, Julie talks about her fascination for having her own business, exploring the world, and closing the gender gap by bringing people from different backgrounds together to make the world a better place.

   Julie loves swimming, yoga, and ideas-she carries a book, full of her own thoughts and ideas for a guide to future action.

   But, the focus of this interview is on Julie's work with the Diabetic Travellers Network, a social impact organization that helps people with diabetes live that life of freedom through traveling the world.

We learn about:

• The benefits and pitfalls of Julie's constant search for perfection.

• Julie's story from before she was born.

• How she was diagnosed with Stage 1 diabetes at the age of 4 and how that shaped her life.

• How she adapted to the negative constraints of diabetes and turned them into positives.

• The role sport and a supportive family is playing in her life.

• Julie's progress towards setting up her own company and her attitude exemplified by her story of being in Spain.

 

Julie's story is covered in her final statement "If there is a bad side of things there is always a positive we can find. If you want to see it!"

To contact Julie, go to
https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-kiefer/
https://www.instagram.com/kfr.julie/

Book a Free Call at:

linktr.ee/kfr.julie
 


 

No Story Stagnates, with me, Ernie Boxall

‘No Story Stagnates’

Watch my interview with Jenny Leggott…Copywriter and Author of ‘Sammy Rambles and the…’
Follow the adventures of a businesswoman with a dream…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vphqS9C9jrE&t=1079s

Writing (or speaking) Your Own Story...A template to heal the pain!

How Stories Change Lives...For the Better or Worse!
Business Owners And Employees Who Use The Words Anxiety or Dread When Asked About Speaking To A Live Audience!

Are you a business owner or an employee who has to speak to a live audience on a regular basis?
And if so would you use the words 'Sleepless nights-Anxiety or Dread to describe your emotions as your turn to speak approaches?
  Are you frustrated by the barriers which those words put up to you making the maximum impact on your audience, clients or sales force?
Instead, wouldn't you just love to know, in plain language, how you can gain and maintain the know, like and trust of the sales force you are speaking to…even if it's yourself you are selling?
  If so, then you MUST read on!
Recently, I was asked to work with a woman who has been employed for her knowledge of a sector in the health and nutrition market. She has the qualifications from university to guarantee that she knows her 'stuff' but, she has issues with speaking in front of a live audience.
  We spoke over Zoom and used the programme called:
         "How To Shiver Instead of Shine When You Face A Live Audience-or now the camera!"

 This is her story in brief:
Born in Africa, her father was rarely home and when he was he was violent but her mother tried hard to keep the family together until it, eventually, broke her and the lady was sent to her grandmother and the special man in her life, her grandfather.
  Her mother remarried and the lady returned home...unfortunately, her mother had married a man with the same instinct as her father and the pattern was repeated.
  The lady left her home, her country and came to England to work and work hard.
 Here she eventually married and had a daughter...the pattern repeated. Her husband was physically and verbally abusive until she walked away and divorced.
  In a foreign country, with a little girl and working two jobs she was alone...not just alone physically but with religious family members who believed it was a sin to divorce. She was alone psychologically.
   Through all of this, she graduated from university and set out on business.

This was the story she told me as we explored the decades of her life and the lessons she had carried with her...
  Only once in her life had she received the support of people she loved...tears flowed.
  But from the tears, a new message came through...She had achieved so much against all the barriers; her life had been meandering and blocked so that she had had no direction...the Fire in her life had burned down to the ashes...Until our conversation when the story of her life had been laid out and she had clarity about her issues with her emotions.
  We ended the online 1-2-1 with smiles and a new determination to work on a plan to take her new energy to the audience.
  In the 'How To Shiver Instead of Shine When You Face A Live Audience...or the camera!" programme, you'll discover:

How to have Clarity in your message and the audience you are talking to!

How to guarantee that you entertain as well as educate the clients, workforce and decision-makers.

How to craft and deliver your business and your life story so that you make the maximum impact with your presentations.

To learn more about this FREE introductory webinar, contact me at ernie@erniesaid.info and receive the exact Templates I use when coaches and consultants book me for their workshops (worth the £250 I charge for 2 hours)

P.S. Don't forget, no one knows your story better than you do...so act now and spend 40 minutes with me!
 

First Aid for Speakers!...Standing in at a moment's notice. (Copy)

Hi
What would you do if you turned up at a meeting and it was announced that the main speaker couldn't make the trip or, in this case, make the Zoom call? It happened to me last week I did what I tell my clients to do-I put my hand up and stepped in to deliver a 20 minute 4Sight.

Reading time approximately 3 mins.

 

Self Belief

I did it because I could do it; because I have followed my own advice and used the '4 Ps of Perfect Presentations'. I have prepared. I practised. I performed. The other P is posture but on camera that is more nuanced.

I have prepared and practiced stories for more than twenty years now so it was second nature to deliver it. The difference is in the performance. We all  have a story-a presentation-but some will tell it poorly, some will tell it well...you should aim to tell it very well. The ROI on you presentation will depend on the number of people who remember some part of your story and your name.

"Ian (not his real name) told us of his near perfect upbringing-a good family life until he reached the age of 18 and became heavily involved in drugs. Homelessness and degradation followed quickly until his early 20s when some realisation managed to worm itself through the fog and crap inside his psyche. His life was shit. He knew that.

Rather than having a positive affect on his thought process he was driven to suicidal actions. He tried to drown himself at a weir. His head under the water and some drugs in his body he thought it would be enough to end the torture. What happened next changed the course of his-story.

Ian told us that, under the water, his head had a clearing-a change took place and he returned home. Ian joined an allotment (he'd enjoyed gardening and liked to have his hands in the soil) and that began a process which, while it didn't completely end his use of drugs did begin the process.

During this time, Ian, began using a local pub and talking to a bar maid. They were getting on pretty well and so he plucked up the courage to invite her out on her free evening, it was a Tuesday. Tuesday was Ian's night at the allotment. The end of the opportunity, Ian thought, but he told her anyway. Anne (not her real name) told him she loved gardening. They spent Tuesday at the allotment and quite a few Tuesday evenings after that.

They married and worked on the allotment providing food for themselves and people around them. The enterprise expanded to a strip of land on a farm, near by.

That strip of land grew until the farmer decided to take a back seat and handed over the running of the farm to them...Ian and Anne developed the farm into a business attracting children and teenagers with learning difficulties and other psychological problems to visit the farm and interact with the farm animals.

What a story.

And the only reason I'm telling it is because of the thousands of stories I have heard it is amongst those I remember.

If this were you, there would be two questions: What story would you tell? How well can you tell it?

 Questions to ask yourself:

 

Are you comfortable facing a live audience in the first place?

Would you be advising yourself to seek out further support?

Would you be challenging yourself to do more presentations with more support?

What would you talk about if you had the opportunity to take over a presentation with no preparation?

What results would you expect from your presentation?

 

By asking yourself these questions, you are able to change the current viewpoint and focus. There are no right or wrong answers, only thoughts and observations that you can choose to ignore or act upon. What is it time for you to do now?

First Aid for Speakers!...Standing in at a moment's notice.

Hi
What would you do if you turned up at a meeting and it was announced that the main speaker couldn't make the trip or, in this case, make the Zoom call? It happened to me last week I did what I tell my clients to do-I put my hand up and stepped in to deliver a 20 minute 4Sight.

Reading time approximately 3 mins.

 

Self Belief

I did it because I could do it; because I have followed my own advice and used the '4 Ps of Perfect Presentations'. I have prepared. I practised. I performed. The other P is posture but on camera that is more nuanced.

I have prepared and practiced stories for more than twenty years now so it was second nature to deliver it. The difference is in the performance. We all  have a story-a presentation-but some will tell it poorly, some will tell it well...you should aim to tell it very well. The ROI on you presentation will depend on the number of people who remember some part of your story and your name.

"Ian (not his real name) told us of his near perfect upbringing-a good family life until he reached the age of 18 and became heavily involved in drugs. Homelessness and degradation followed quickly until his early 20s when some realisation managed to worm itself through the fog and crap inside his psyche. His life was shit. He knew that.

Rather than having a positive affect on his thought process he was driven to suicidal actions. He tried to drown himself at a weir. His head under the water and some drugs in his body he thought it would be enough to end the torture. What happened next changed the course of his-story.

Ian told us that, under the water, his head had a clearing-a change took place and he returned home. Ian joined an allotment (he'd enjoyed gardening and liked to have his hands in the soil) and that began a process which, while it didn't completely end his use of drugs did begin the process.

During this time, Ian, began using a local pub and talking to a bar maid. They were getting on pretty well and so he plucked up the courage to invite her out on her free evening, it was a Tuesday. Tuesday was Ian's night at the allotment. The end of the opportunity, Ian thought, but he told her anyway. Anne (not her real name) told him she loved gardening. They spent Tuesday at the allotment and quite a few Tuesday evenings after that.

They married and worked on the allotment providing food for themselves and people around them. The enterprise expanded to a strip of land on a farm, near by.

That strip of land grew until the farmer decided to take a back seat and handed over the running of the farm to them...Ian and Anne developed the farm into a business attracting children and teenagers with learning difficulties and other psychological problems to visit the farm and interact with the farm animals.

What a story.

And the only reason I'm telling it is because of the thousands of stories I have heard it is amongst those I remember.

If this were you, there would be two questions: What story would you tell? How well can you tell it?

 Questions to ask yourself:

 

Are you comfortable facing a live audience in the first place?

Would you be advising yourself to seek out further support?

Would you be challenging yourself to do more presentations with more support?

What would you talk about if you had the opportunity to take over a presentation with no preparation?

What results would you expect from your presentation?

 

By asking yourself these questions, you are able to change the current viewpoint and focus. There are no right or wrong answers, only thoughts and observations that you can choose to ignore or act upon. What is it time for you to do now?

From Storyteller to International Podcaster...How to make a difference!

"How much did your banner cost, £80 - £100?"

"How about your business cards and flyers, £35 - £50?"
"How much did you website cost, £500 - £2,000? Is that about right?"

Are these costs about right?
 

"Let me tell you why I believe there is a better way of spending your money if you go to network meetings"

 https://anchor.fm/jamesallencoaching/episodes/The-Art-of-Storytelling-w-Ernie-Boxall-eoj6ab

 There are so many ways we can market ourselves, or our company, that I think we forget the one method of communicating who we are and what we do which costs a fraction of the above methods. It's the only way you can change your message, according to the various venues you visit and the different people in the room. It is with your mouth. It is with your story."
One of the most popular avenues today is through podcasting…and that is international. Join me as I am the guest of San Francisco, podcaster and business mentor, James Allen.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesallencoaching/

 "How many of you believe you have a story?" How many of you would be willing to tell your story? How many of you believe you have a story  worth telling?"

Has this article made an impact on you, made you think or made you want to learn more about my programme 'The 4 Ps of Perfect Presentations'? Let me know by commenting below!

 

I know what 2020 has meant to me...How about you?

Do you remember December 31st 2019?
You may not want to think back to your hopes and dreams, but It may be the right time to reflect on the year because if you were like me you were making big plans for the coming year.

I was planning to grow StoryTelling Corner into its fourth year and expand into Warwick and Coventry, more opportunities for storytellers, authors, poets and musicians to expand their audience. If you were doing something similar then this newsletter might just be for you.

Are you a storyteller?  
How did you make changes to keep your stories going?
What are your plans for 2021?

For me, I was introduced to the 'Worldwide Virtual Storytelling Guild' and to ZOOM!

WVSG is a group of storytellers with the base in America which brought together fellow storytellers from all over the world - 15-20 faces in the boxes we have all become familiar with (perhaps we are All familiar with ZOOM?) Each event gave 4 or 5 storytellers from across the world-America, India, Australia, Mexico, Europe...all over the world.

So, instead of entertaining a live audience, in a set venue, face to face, performers are talking to like-minded friends from all over the world. Interesting!

But, how do we feel about carrying on that concept in the New Year?

In December I had the opportunity to do both. Along with Lucy Wilkinson (aka Louby Lou the Clown), I was engaged as 'online Santa' 10 minutes of storytelling, shared with Louby Lou, over the computer which was praised by parents and children alike. And then, on December the 18th I was able to perform my Santa storytelling in-person to a live audience, outdoors. A family pod coming together to bring a memorable Christmas together for their children. Again, a memorable evening for all concerned.

So, as we move into 2021, I'd love to know what changes you made to make the best of the 12 months we have just lived through?

What have you put in place for 2021?
What changes have you made to your business/volunteer services?
Where do you believe you will be on December 31st 2021?

Let me know!
ernie@erniesaid.info

How To Find Your Voice, Tell Your Story and Grow Your Audience!!

With 40 years of experience running, collaborating and building businesses, I have worked with individuals and groups on communications, marketing and results. I learned early on that being able to face a live audience is the most effective way of getting to bottom-line profits without the levels of anxiety and dread many business owners say are their greatest fears. 

 Over the last decade, I've focused on helping coaches, consultants, business owners, MLM investors and students' Shine Instead of Shiver' when they deliver their presentations. In fact, I was using the methods I now teach long before I brought them to market. I've been featured on webinars and podcasts across America and Europe as a presenter and influencer, but my passion is improving my clients' lives, businesses and health (Ask me how!) 

 As the owner of businesses which focus on winning presentations and storytelling at network meetings, on stage and in workshops.

 I might come across as obsessed with storytelling. Not true.

I'm obsessed with results and ROI. 

 My experience over the past decade has shown me that the ability to educate and entertain an audience is the best platform to build profitable relationships and grow your businesses. I only offer services that a) I am the best at and b) get my clients' real results. This includes all things speaking, story-selling and attracting prospects. 

  I have the most effective webinar course called 'Selling by Telling...How To Shine Instead of Shiver When You Face A Live Audience -Or the camera. And for those who want faster results and prefer a work-with-you solution, I offer my 'Selling by Telling' membership group.

 

  

Δ I work directly with the leaders in sales and marketing who want to ensure their sales teams have the skills to compete and excel in sales. Our customized webinars deliver cutting-edge selling training to help sales professionals attract prospects and exceed their sales targets.

 

Δ If you're interested in learning more about how I can help you elevate your speaking, build authority and attract more high-quality leads and clients, email me at ernie@erniesaid.info.

 

From http://www.erniesaid.info/

How To Make An Impact From 500 Miles!

Hi, Ernie, it’s good to see you!
The greeting came from a young man in Aachen, Germany. I sat in my room in Leamington Spa, England.
I had been invited to speak to a chapter of Toastmasters International in Germany by a connection I had made in a local chapter some two years ago.

I met new people over the Zoom screen and made connections with a completely new group of young men and women, in a country 500 miles away.

I had been invited to give a 30-minute presentation on ‘Storytelling’, something I am passionate about and, while I offer the disclaimer that I don’t know everything there is to know about the craft, what I do know I know well.

And so, over 30 minutes I delivered content and demonstrations of how telling a story, whether in life or in business. has so many benefits including self-esteem, impact, self-reflection, communication.

I enjoyed the experience and am honoured to have received the following testimonials:

• Back to start - start to end: This was a real show. More than a typical TM night, much more, it was not theatre, not cinema, it was a happening in our lives. So much went in it of ourselves. Thank you so much. It was grand!

• A very good way of presenting. I really like the calm and clarity in your voice and the effect you can transfuse in your audience.

• Very clear voice; liked that you sometimes said that there are 3 Points or 4 P´s

• Thank you for having been here for us! :-)

• Thank you so much for joining TM Aachen and for giving us so many valuable tips and stories in addition. I will take "my beginnings" with me. Good idea to help out anywhere you have to speak impromptus. oh, your English was very good - the real English from Britain ;) - it's Monika, your timer 27minutes speaking time

• You are an amazing presenter Ernie. We all took away golden nuggets of wisdom from your speech, evaluation as well as the interaction with everyone. I liked everything you presented. I wouldn't change a thing. I will remember how you started (as Santa), the 4Ps, and the 3 questions. I will also remember the quote "I turned up to the meeting last week" :)
  
  Thank you to the Toastmaster’s community, it was an honour to be with you.

The 3 Unwittingly Made Mistakes I've Made In Speaking

 So, here we are...the first issue of 'How To Shine Instead of Shiver' webinar is in the can-or in my Dropbox anyway. It wasn't all roses, but it is out there now and ready to be improved on in the future. It took the sweat of the preparation, the toil of practice and the butterflies of going live.

                                                                                                                                          There are loads of webinars out there, it looks easy, right? The thousands of successful webinars, and the online 'guru's', creating courses to help us become the success we've always wanted to be. Making the five and six-figure fees in 'passive' income and, by following their advice and downloading the information they have created, you too can join the ranks of the thousands of people in their membership group.

Have you ever noticed how they promise that the 'download' would enable you to start using their knowledge to build the life you choose-and then, having made the purchase, you are offered an up-sale for $27, and when you've bought the 'Bonus' they have the De-Lux offer for $355 a month?

 Let, me assure you now, though, with different price scales, this will be no different.

  You see, I offer you a 'Disclaimer' right now! "I do not know everything about speaking to a live audience or even to camera...but what I do know, I know well. But I'll tell you this-writing my webinar introduction, and my webinar course has not been 'Easy' anything but!

  Now, I don't know whether I will get to 100 webinars or Live videos. My '4 o'clock Sunday Stories' has been offered to the audience for over a year so that must be 52 at least. And, although I've worked hard to post every Sunday, sometimes being caught out by gremlins, sometimes by 'Life'. What I can do is put my experiences out there and hope that some part of it makes an impact on one person more than one person out there who can benefit.

 

   OK, so with that out of the way what am I going to do for YOU this newsletter?

 

  After all, one of the reasons for writing this particular newsletter is to dive into the confessions of a reluctant speaker. I'm going to share with you; the 3 unwittingly made mistakes I've made in speaking. A career which stretched back to before I was born (but, made real in November 2002. I'm giving them out in the hope you will not make them.

 

   Mistake #1 - I hadn't practised the 4 Ps:

  My first network meeting was in July 1994. I started a personal training business for business owners working in-house and outdoors. I had, almost, a lifetime of exercise behind me. My father, who had been a sportsman in the war, was a soldier and the battalion-sporting mascot. He represented the battalion in rugby, football, running and boxing (more about this later). After the war, he continued his sporting activities and included me in his training, even though I was only five years old.

 

  Now, at 40, all that experience was being put to good use building a business--or so I thought! I'd already ran my circuit training groups, been a supply teacher and assistant manager in semi-professional football. So! Exercise classes for executives would be the logical next step. Right? That's what I thought, but I found out, to my financial and physical cost, that there is so much difference between the two. And, the difference is that while I was a fitness trainer, supply teacher and assistant manager, I was being paid. Suddenly, I was looking for my first client.

 

  And, looking for that first client meant going to network meetings and earning my own money. That meant that not only did I have to structure the course, but I also had to sell the course. I knew how to set up sessions, and I knew how to deliver them. What I didn't know how to do is to be convincing when people who wanted to work with me, saw me.

 

  You see, the know, like, and trust factor depends on communication and connection, but when I went networking for the first time I didn't do what I'm teaching the people who are looking to go through the process now, to do themselves...The 4 Ps of Perfect Presentations. I knew nothing about them and made the biggest mistake of all...I went along unprepared.

Does that sound like you? Do you remember your first networking event?

 

   I rose early, bathed and groomed, went out into the dark, ice-covered night and scrapped the windscreen. I drove about 5 miles to the meeting, smiled at the man taking names and joined the other members at the coffee table. Then the moment we were asked to sit down and told that we would be asked to make a 60-second pitch. No one told me. Perhaps, no one will tell you.

 

   I hadn't prepared a pitch, so I didn't practise, and since I hadn't prepared or practised I didn't have a good posture, so the performance was crap.

 I didn't know why, but I did know that it wasn't a good look. I saw and heard the other business owners tell their stories and determined to find a way to do better...that just took more network meetings, more expense, more travel and more listening.

 

 Then, I remembered what I had done some 25 years before when I gave my first speech as a best man to the daughter of Nuneaton's Head of the Chamber of Commerce. I was given three months notice and used them to prepare and practice, which meant that my posture and performance hit the mark.
It's easier when you have three months notice, isn't it?

 

 From that moment on the whole process of speaking to a live audience became much more comfortable and, over the following months, much more polished. So much so that I built a client-base of 5 business owners who worked with me over two years until the economy, which had been in the doldrums, picked up and took off...they were so busy that they decided that exercise came second.

 And, so...back to square one.

 

 But, now I knew the secret of being comfortable and confident talking to a live audience. And, having done it once, I was determined not only to do it again but to help other business owners let go of the anxiety and dread...and grow their business through their 'Audible business card'.

 

 Mistake #2 Taking the same message to different groups.

 

 One major lesson I learned from the experience at network meetings was that you could spend an awful lot of money on business cards, banners and websites but if you can't excite people face to face, or on camera, then that's a waste of finances.

 There's also another problem with those same methods of communicating with potential customers. And, that is that the words don't change. You turn up at a meeting set up your banner, begin to chat to people around the coffee table and exchange business cards, watch the receiver put the card in their pocket or into a card wallet. Over a meal, you chat with the people on the table and tell them a little about yourself before giving your 60-second presentation.

 

 On your way home, do you wonder how many people will take any notice of the card or the words on the card? Do you wonder how many people read the words on your banner?
How many people go to your website and read the words before following up?

 

 A few days later, you go to another networking group and go through the routine of raising the banner and handing out business cards. You give your 60-second presentation and move on. Now, my view is that the words on your banner and the words on your business cards don't change...the same words to a different audience. The words you use to accountants, solicitors, IT specialists and website builders must surely be different from the words for architects, interior designers, plumbers and window cleaners.

 

 You have a much more economical way of making an impact on these audiences to use what I call 'Your audible business card'—your mouth.

 Using the 4 Ps of Perfect Presentations, you can change your presentation depending on the needs of the sales staff-because ultimately that's what the people in front of you are-require to 

hear from you.

 

 In any case, your initial message is only as fresh as the number of times you tell it to the same audience; few business owners can get away with telling the same story, to the same people time after time. It's always good to have versions of who you are, where you are, what you do and who you're looking to talk to. But, whatever the version, the 4Ps remain the same.

 

 Your 'Audible business card' cost no more than the time to prepare and practice your next presentation. After that presentation, if it's a good presentation, then people will come and ask for your e-mail, your telephone number, people will ask You for a 1 to 1.

 

 Mistake #3 How do I know if it's a good presentation?

 

"How do I know if my presentation is any good?" That's a question I am asked regularly. And it's pretty easy to answer.

"How many people came up and asked for your details after you finished?' I could finish there, the outcome. You may have made every one of the

'4 Unwittingly Made Mistakes Many Speakers Make When They Speak To A Live Audience,' and still get a ton of business. If that's the case, brilliant. I couldn't be more pleased.

" Could you have got more? And did you have any sleepless nights, anxiety or dread before the presentation?

 

You see, there are always improvements to be made, and it's not a bad idea to know where those improvements can be made straight away. And there are just 3 Questions to ask yourself-or the people who listen to you. Those questions are:

 

1. What Did I/You Like?

2. What Would I/You Change?

3. What Do You Remember? (Hopefully, you remember the main points of your presentation.)

 

Let's have a look at the questions one by one. 

• What did I/you like? The criteria might be - Poster; Tone; Speed; Volume; Pauses; Smile; Delivery; Conclusion.

 

• What would I/you change? Posture; Tone; Speed; Volume; Pauses; Smile; Delivery: Conclusion; Verbal Crutches

 

• This is the big one! What do you remember? Leave it a couple of days and then ask "What do you remember from my presentation?"

 

 The answers to these questions will determine whether your sales team, the people who have stayed with you, will recommend you when they are talking to their partners, clients and other business owners. How many of the people not at the presentation ring you up and say that you have been recommended.

 

 Once you have answers to these questions, the 4 Ps and particularly the performance will improve your presentations, your self-esteem, your health and your financial prospects without sleepless nights, anxiety or dread.

 

 I hope sharing these mistakes has given you some insight into your presentations and will, perhaps save you money and aid your health. Also, I'll be back in a fortnight with more insights into speaking and storytelling in business and life.

 

 If you have any comments on anything I've written in this issue, feel free to e-mail me at ernie@erniesaid.info 

 I've enjoyed putting this together to celebrate my first webinar.

  

 I finished this article while listening to Hamlet performed by the RSC on the BBC...you can bet these actors used the 4Ps to Perfect their performances.

 

 

 

 

The #1 Mistake Many Business Owners Unwittingly Make When They Start Their Business Journey… And The Cost of Missing Out!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ernie-boxall-sharing-your-story-before-someone-else/id1470879942?i=1000496054168

This podcast was the result of my willingness to tell my story. To be honest about the good times and the bad and have the willingness to talk t a live audience (or a camera) about the moments which made up your life.

This podcast was the result of my willingness to tell my story. To be honest about the good times and the bad and have the willingness to talk t a live audience (or a camera) about the moments which made up your life. So, what is the #1 mistake many business owners make when they start their business journey?

It is not being able to talk to a live audience, a group of fellow business owners so that they can be educated and entertained by the speaker’s story. It’s true that you go to network meetings and stand up to deliver your 40-60 second business pitch (and we can talk about how well that is done later.) Have you prepared the pitch? Prepared it so that every word counts? Have you practised it? Practised it so well that you can tell it without notes, bullet points or verbal crutches?

Do you deliver it so that everyone listens to you, looks at you and takes note of what you are saying? In other words “Do you perform?” Performance doesn’t mean being inauthentic. It doesn’t mean lying because that will be picked up-in fact I believe that is what will happen if you don’t prepare and practice. Performance is what comes from the top speakers on the circuit. It is what comes from the actors on the stage when they have convinced the audience that they are the character they are portraying. That ability to perform is what the audience pays for and appreciates.

When you get the pitch right you will see a real return on the money, and the time, you spend on networking. You will see business owners come up to you afterwards and ask for a 1-2-1, not you having to go up to them. That’s what happens after your pitch. What about your 20 minute/40 minute keynotes or your workshops?

What can you gain-or lose by not telling your story well? The beauty of a longer presentation is that the audience gets the opportunity to know, like, and trust you more closely than at any other time. The hell of the longer presentations is that the audience has more opportunities to turn off and decide that you’re not the one to work with immediately.

So, the #1 mistake many business owners make when they start out on their journey is that they haven’t spent the time to be clear about who they are. Their story can help bring Clarity to their presentations..

Are people clear about who you are?

What's The #1 Question You Should Be Asking Me?

Ernie,
What can I gain from working with you? That should be your first question!
Imagine walking to the front of the stage to deliver your next presentation and feeling more confident than you have ever done before.

Imagine walking away from the stage and having people come up to you and ask for a 1-2-1 meeting. That means that you don't have to spend hours on the telephone or computer trying to arrange them yourself.

You feel great because you know this is a result of you giving them life-changing stories that will last long after you have left the speaking platform.

Your self-esteem rises, you sleep well that night and you vow to carry on doing what we have done together.

THE CHALLENGE

Most speakers would love to have this kind of result and they know it would keep them booked over and over again. However, most speakers have not yet created the kinds of stories that captivate their audiences. Why? Because they do not have a proven SYSTEM for developing them.

http://www.ErnieSaid.Info

THE CHANGE
This can be your story. Let me guide you on an virtual dive down to the sunken treasure where we will hunt for the keys to unlock  your awesome business and life stories.

Join me for the Introductory Live Webinar - How To Shine  Instead of Shiver, where we will introduce the 5 Questions to ask for clarity: The 4 Ps of Perfect Presentation: The 3 Questions for understanding what differentiates a good presentation from a life changing presentation: The 2 Types of story which can be told and the 1 Huge benefit of your audible business card.
 

These webinars are open to the public on replay or we do them live every month for people to join me.
The information and the templates are Free (I have used the presentation and templates to earn £250 for a 2-hour session as a guest speaker)

Walk away with a story (or stories) that people will talk about for years to come.

I will introduce my latest online webinar series...Selling By Storytelling...4 Webinars and full back up to help you make maximum impact with more people without sleepless nights, anxiety or dread.

Speaking shouldn't be hard, so in this group, I'll be sharing my experience, advice, storytelling gems and dropping stories from almost 20 years in business and 70 years in life!

How To Find Your Voice, Tell Your Story and Entertain Your Audience!

Entertaining an audience.

I sat opposite an old friend in a tearoom recently and we were talking about how early experiences had affected our ability to communicate as effectively as we could have done.

He told me the story of how he wondered why he had struggled to find his voice and how he was at home one day with his young son and daughter. They were running around the room laughing and calling out "Tig" every time they touched.

Their grandfather looked up from his paper and spoke above the noise.
"Children should be seen and not heard!"
My friend held his hands out, his mouth open.
"That's what he always said to me!"

How many of us have suffered a similar experience?
How many of us have a story to tell but no one to tell it to?
How many of us would love to have a stage for our story?

ErnieSaid welcomes you to ‘How To Shine Instead of Shiver’. The Introductory webinar to my ‘4 part in 4 weeks’ series for coaches, consultants and business owners who want to make the maximum impact on more people without sleepless nights, anxiety or dread.

This is where we will be offering you the tools to crush your presentations on stage or to the camera.

Business storytellers need to educate and entertain an audience. which will become your salesforce. You definitely need to be heard but to make a real impact you need to be seen as well.

Are you thinking to yourself...
Does this sound like something you’d like to do?

This is the starting point…

First: Click here to learn more about how finding your voice and telling your story to capitalize on this Free webinar (worth £250)

Second: If you've written a book read from it! (and sell after the event)
If you're not ready to step on stage yet-come along and experience a workshop which will give you the tips and templates to crush your presentation.

And third: It may be that you prefer to spend more time working in your business so that send your representative to talk about your work.

So, if it you are interested in stories, told by business owners, for your business, I offer you a webinar which will be 75 minutes of ‘kick ass’ tips, templates and offers which will perform your presentations powerfully with that touch of entertainment which makes our workshops worthwhile

Reserve your place by contacting Caroline at: ernie@erniesaid.info

PS Two top presenters for £35 (with templates worth £250 and Tips which are priceless)

How To Tell A Story Before Somebody Else Tells It For You!

https://bit.ly/2RRtqC1

Welcome to the Introductory webinar for ‘How To Shine Instead of Shiver…when you face a live audience’ This webinar is the basis for future work with coaches, consultants, business owners, MMLM investors and students so that they can make the maximum impact on more people without sleepless nights, anxiety and dread.

I work with you on the ‘5 Vital Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Join Another Webinar or Workshop’.
The 4 Ps of Perfect Presentations.
The 3 Solutions to the Question ‘How Do I Know If I Have Delivered A Good Presentation?’

Speaking at a networking meeting, conference, seminar or workshop can be a stressful event for even the most experienced presenters. We are armed with facts and figures, benefits and features. 
 

Our sales force, the audience, have paid for an experience which will educate and entertain them. Facts and figures are soulless. 
 

We are always being told that our success depends on our story and how well  you tell it. On telling the 'story'. And, not just telling it but telling it well...so well it will be remembered.
 

As Peter Gruber, the author of 'Tell To Win...Connect, Persuade, and Triumph with the Hidden Power of Story' says, you can change a "wanna be" to a "gonna be" to a "be"...

It reminds me of the quote from Rob Brown. "If you can speak, you can motivate yourself" "If you can speak well you can inspire. But if you can speak very well you can change lives". And we all know that that's true!

For over twenty years now I have been telling business stories and yes! I believe I've changed some lives. The point is I was able to tell stories well. And, I was able to work with other business owners to help them sell their stories better than when they met me.

I've also found a way to help people tell the more important story, the story which grabs the audience by the throat, press so hard that the heart starts to jump from the chest, the story which is remembered.

It's the story which goes beyond the facts and figures, beyond the features and eventually pulls the audience towards the speaker like a magnet. It's a personal story.


*What happened to you, in the past, to bring you to the moment you are sharing with the people in front of you?
*What were you doing a week, a day before you started your current job?
*Which events are you most grateful for?
*And, what lessons have the events taught you?

These are the points that most audiences remember. These are the stories which bring business owners up to you to ASK for a meeting. These are the stories which can turn you into a "Be".
 

I Gave Up...and found a new adventure.

I Actually Gave Up... And then a chance meeting changed things!

I sat in bed at 2 am on December 29th, 2016 and gave up. The business had flatlined and the income wasn't covering my overheads, particularly the roof over my head.

I had kept going week after week all the time seeing the revenue shrink along with savings. Everyone told me to give up and settle down on my pension. On that morning, in that bed, I gave up. I looked into closing my business and closed my office.

Over the next weeks, I wandered through life going from coffee shop to coffee shop where I 
shared a little about the work I had been doing helping people become more comfortable in facing a live audience to people who asked about storytelling.

On one of those occasions, I was talking to a business owner who's dream was to perform Stand Up comedy. He had a problem!  Anxiety! It was a major block to his delivery and timing.

Over the following weeks, we worked together and delivered a stand-up performance to 8-10 of the business owners who rented offices in the building. My client delivered and we talked about the future.


He came up with the StoryTelling Corner venture. An event, held live, where storytellers, authors and poets would be invited to perform for up to 15 minutes and the guest storyteller for 40 minutes.

He took to the project and we began to put a business plan together for a grant. We interviewed business owners for their views and put the figures together.

I Have Booked A 2- week Holiday...wait until I get home.
 

As he left for the stay at a Shamanic Retreat in South America, I put together a marketing plan to attract storytellers and artists for the planned opening two months into the future. 
I waited for the message of his return, I waited and waited...and then!

"Hi, Ernie, I am having such a good time that I'm staying a little longer, see you on my return!" 

What Happened Next? 

Some weeks later I received another message to say that he was not 'coming back'. I had a choice to make. Follow through or drop the project entirely. I decided to do the best I could and carry on collecting the names of performers and looking for venues.

Where Now?
We settled on an art gallery in the centre of Leamington Spa and opened in October 2017. Our first theme 'Tears and Laughter in War' and the first charity we invited to the event was 'Help For Heroes'. My thinking was that 'Armistice Day' was just around the corner.

For two years we held monthly events at the gallery and each event took the position of donating all the door money to a different charity and, to having a female storyteller to every event.

Then, we were hit by another block. The gallery closed because the rent and rates made business impossible, we were on the move again.

Fortunately, the owner of the gallery suggested we try a newly opened café, 'Temperance Hotel in it's prime. Since then it has been an embroidery shop and a piano shop in the past. (It has been interesting to see the number of people coming in for the first time and remembering it as one of the other shops).

The building consisted of the café itself is an upstairs room for meetings, one floor down is the art gallery and one floor below that the basement, the home for live events and the stage for StoryTelling Corner.

Two years into our event the Virus hit and the location closed. Once more I faced choices and this time I chose, with great sadness to close. The group was dissolved and I looked for something else to occupy my time.

New Beginnings... 

I looked at an online 'Worldwide Virtual Storytelling Guild' joined and within a few months was sharing my stories, on Zoom, with storytellers and story lovers throughout the virtual world.
I also joined a virtual writing group. It was this group which opened up the next chapter of my adventure.

One of the members was a man living in Preston, UK who was a play write and stage director. Over the next six months, working together, we have a one-act stage play and a second act on the way. I guess that is where my focus was...until I unrolled my first webinar, 'How To Shine Instead of Shiver When You Face A Live Audience.'


The webinar has had good feedback and will now be an introductory webinar to announce my 'Selling Through Storytelling' course of 4 webinars in 4 weeks leading to a membership group where we can go on a deep dive into finding the keys to unlock your Awesomeness!
 

Networking is about being Known-Liked-Trusted...That's true isn't it?

And, everyone knows that the best way to achieve that is through the 1- 2 -1 meetings with fellow business owners and networkers. Or, is that a fallacy?
Eventually, you will walk away with a pocket full of business cards from people who have talked about: Who they are: Where they are located: What they do: Who they want to talk to.

 You and I know that by the time we get home, we may not remember the name and/or the face of the people who gave you the cards or gave the presentation. There is a quote I live by from Patricia Fripp "People will not remember what you say, as much as what they see when you say it.
So how do you become memorable in a room for 10 - 20 - 30 or more fellow business owners?

 How is it some people make more impact than others at network meetings?

 

1. Are they are comfortable standing in front of a life audience?

2. Do they have confidence in the message they are delivering?

3. Do they know from past experience that they can inspire people in the audience?

 How do some people become more comfortable, more confident and more inspiring than others when talking to a live audience or a video camera?

 

1. Do they prepare their presentation through a process of editing?

2. Do they practice their presentation until they can reproduce it without notes or from bullet points?

3. Is their posture one of relaxed confidence.

4. Do they use their hands, eyes and body to engage                                                                          the audience?

5. Do they perform to the audience or the camera. For the time of the presentation they are performers, their to educate and entertain the people attending?

 

What lessons could you and I learn from the top speakers in our field?

 

1. Do we  turn up to every presentation with a specific purpose?

2. Do we stand up ready to make an impact?

3. Do we speak to the whole room by changing the tone, volume and speed of our voices so that everyone can hear us and everyone feels as if we are speaking just to them?

 

What methods do the top speakers use to make a difference to the audience?

 

1. Do they use props?

2. Do they swear, to shock and drive home a point in a down to earth style. Or just to shock?

3. Are they naturally brilliant speakers who have learned and honed their craft over many years?

 

How do I make maximum impact with minimum words?

 

1. I ask questions to open or make a statement.

2. I act out a character or perform for the audience.

3. I use my body, my eyes and my hands to connect with the audience.

4. I make every word and every pause count.

 

How do I leave a Call To Action?
 

1. I make an offer.

2. I ask for comments or questions.

3. I make the last few words positive.

 

What do I do next?
 

1. CRM. I put the business contacts into the CRM.

2. I follow up with a phone call if I know them well Or

3. I follow up with an email if necessary to arrange a meeting.
   
   So, together we can turn up with a purpose, stand up to make an impact and speak up to be memorable but remember:
   "People will (still) not remember what you say, as much as what they see when you say it."
   
   If you want to know more about Maximum Impact With Fewer Words...follow me on http://www.erniesaid.info/
    

Episode Three - quick report

       StoryTelling Corner Is A Huge Success….says the audience.

   Storytelling returned to Leamington on Thursday 25th January at Slate Art Gallery with the three compelling storytellers, Julie Goddard, Stephanie Summers and Jo Howarth, entertaining and educating an audience ranging from our youngest ever visitor under six to two of our stalwarts let’s say, over 60.

   The evening began with socialising in the creative interior of Slate Art Gallery with wine, beer and snacks provided by the gallery-owner Kate Livingston. The art on show for the final week was a series of nudes, by Neil Moor entitled ‘Sympathetic Magic

   Kate told us that although each portrait showed a single nude figure, the artist purposely mixed up the body parts from different models to emphasise womanhood rather than one woman. This theme tied in perfectly with our aim to provide equality of opportunity for female storytellers. The aura of creative art and compelling stories was created with that first half hour as the storytellers and the audience mixed and got to know each other.

   The evening was opened with a welcome from Ernie Boxall who delivered a short monologue on an experience which, spread over some forty years, led him to believe it was a historic connection to Kenilworth Castle which led to ‘How I Got Here’.

   Our first storyteller, Julie Goddard, educated us with her knowledge of bronze age Briton…and the myth of ‘What the Romans did for us!’ Roads, language, art and community were all established long before the Romans defeated the various tribes scattered across the country. Julie has the ability to bring the stories of the past into our times by linking her own life-experiences-being continually told she shouldn’t follow her dreams or that her grades made success in her chosen field almost impossible. Julie ended the evening being asked about her business ‘Woodgate Consulting’ helping people ‘be the best they can be.’

Julie’s takeaway lesson is:
“You are the heroine of your own quest. Listen to your supporting characters wisely-we all need people who challenge as well as champion us!”

   Stephanie Summer, the owner of Zoubisou in Leamington amazed us all with her story of how her early life-experiences were almost perfectly set up to allow her to become a successful, published author of a series of eight books under the title ‘Indigo Lost’ following the story of a female with some extraordinary powers, a little like Stephanie herself who combines prolific writing with the long hours running her business. Stephanie closed the evening signing all the books she sold in the evening.


   Finally, it was an honour and privilege to have Jo ‘Happiness’ Howard drive down from Liverpool to deliver an inspirational, and sometimes the tear-inducing story of an actress who was often ‘resting’ and was in a relationship which certainly wasn’t making her ‘happy’. Over the next twenty minutes, Jo used her story, her experience and her exuberance to show us the happiness involved in making a cup of tea.

 

Jo’s Take Away Lesson:
“Happiness is a choice we are all capable of making every day, regardless of the difficulties we might be facing!”

   Ernie closed the event by thanking everyone for supporting StoryTelling Corner especially Rich Amore Wilks for his professional production of audio/video content. Rich honoured us by being the main storyteller at or November event with his tales of climbing and adventuring around the world.

   Special thanks go to Simmie Korotane for her PR and her enthusiasm for StoryTelling Corner. Simmie has been invaluable over the last five months as we have grown from inception to our first steps. (Perhaps also a thank you to Simmie’s Mom Nim…who came along for her first visit to our venue before flying back home.

   Our next StoryTelling Corner is on Thursday 22nd March at Slate Art Gallery and the theme ‘April Fool’. So, are you a storyteller…are you a female storyteller who could entertain us for twenty-minutes…are you a male with a story to make people laugh.

Go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/126806997942019/ to join our public page and interact with our community…and then joinhttps://www.facebook.com/storytellingcorner/ to become part of our membership.