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!