Don't Just Talk, Speak to Achieve Deeper Connections, Build Trust, and Deliver Impactful Messages with Elaine A. Clark

0:01John Lee Dumas:Boom, shake the room, Fire Nation. JLD here and welcome to Entrepreneurs on Fire brought to you by High Level, the all-in-one sales and marketing platform. Today's focus is don't just talk. Speak to achieve deeper connections, build trust, and deliver impactful messages across businesses in personal settings. And to drop these value bombs, I brought to Elaine A. Clark and EO Fire Studios. Elaine is a speech communication expert, author, and coach with over 40 years experience helping professionals connect, build trust, and deliver impactful messages across business and personal settings. And today we talk about the origin of Speak to Achieve, the M-I-N-E mind system, building real connection, overcoming communication barriers, and oh, so much more.

0:41John Lee Dumas:And a big thank you for sponsoring today's episode goes to Elaine and our sponsors. Fire Nation, meet Hotworks, the number one boutique fitness franchise with 850 plus locations. They pioneered virtual workouts inside infrared saunas with recurring membership revenue, a low labor high tech model in a proven franchise system, entrepreneurs gain a scalable business built for growth. Visit hutworks.net slash franchising to learn more. Stop duct taping your business together. High Level runs your website, your funnels, email, automation, scheduling, payments, and memberships all in one place. And when you sign up at highlevelfire.com, you get a 30 day free trial plus my exclusive bonus stack that includes weekly office hours with me and much more.

1:23John Lee Dumas:Visit highlevelfire.com, highlevelfire.com. Elaine, say what's up to Fire Nation and share something that you believe about becoming successful that most people disagree with. Most people don't think that their voice is important, but their brain is. And what I've found is that when you can speak to achieve and speak with confidence and in a way that brings in the full ethos, logos, pathos, which is your emotion, your authority, and your logic, that people get it and respond to it more. And it elevates people in business. It helps them personal life. And it is way better than just words, which I consider that to be more like Charlie Brown's teacher.

2:16John Lee Dumas:I love that. And Fire Nation, that's why we're talking today about don't just talk. Speak to achieve deeper connections, build trust, and deliver impactful messages across what? Business and personal settings. Hello, we live in the real world here. So I want to start by talking about the origin of Speak to Achieve. I mean, Elaine, what the heck inspired you to create Speak to Achieve? And specifically, what makes your approach to communication universal across both industries and audiences? I'll go back in time. I was an actor and to voiceovers and I needed to find a quick way to connect. And then I started a school and then I started training corporate people and, and attorneys and ministers and also newscasters across the board and realized that it was the same approach that I had created.

3:08And so I already had a book called there's money where your mouth is, which is about voiceovers. And then, you know, after that, I have a voiceovers for podcasting book about how to use the voice creatively in podcasts. And so I had 40 years of coaching people and I thought, but I need a book that is across all areas of all the other people that are not just in these niche businesses. So why I created it and I put my publisher and, and he was like, uh, let's see whether it's going to work. And as I wrote it and was sending stuff in, it's like, this is consequential. What you have, no one else has on the market.

3:47And I said, yay, that's my point. Across both audiences, the same element of it is the system that I created called making it using motivation, which is the problem or the moment before, which could be, what are we going to have for dinner? Or it's a bigger problem with business. And then intentions that are actions. How do we use our body? needs is the key thing, which is how do you define the message into one word, a need for blank, and emotions. So as I would work with individuals with their confidence or just, you know, all of a sudden they have to do a presentation for a party or something and they felt uncomfortable and realized that this is for everyone.

4:34I even have games in there about how to entertain children or it's for a neurodiverse audience, how you can use this in school and across all platforms. So it's really kind of an amazing book of different sections of it that appeal to everyone, whether it's problem falls or it's directly into a specific type of business.

4:59John Lee Dumas:So within that, you actually have the mind system. We're talking M-I-N-E, Fire Nation. So, Elaine, how does making it mine, how does that system transform the way people tell stories and deliver their message? First of all, you have to figure out what is the problem that I need to address and solve. So that is the pain point in business, and it's just our personal hurt in another. And the opposite side of that is the need. So if the problem is discomfort and the need is for ease, that creates a story arc. So every time that we create a story arc in our personal business, it engages people to change and to listen because it's starting out in one place and going to another place with a solution rather than what I call flatlining it.

5:50So it's just information that doesn't go anywhere when people tend to lose interest. but we all love listening to good storytellers. So the making it mind system helps you become a good storyteller no matter what. And intentions are movements, how you put it in your body and movements make a difference. And of course we know what emotions are.

6:13John Lee Dumas:I want to talk about building real connection, Elaine, because I think that's something that you've really been able to just master over the years. So what would you say your favorite technique, your favorite specific technique that anyone listening right now, anybody within Fire Nation can use to build trust and deeper connection with an audience. So if they're on stage, what's that technique? Well, it's about acknowledging whether it's one person or more, the audience and the person you're talking to is more important than you. And I think most people then get so wrapped up in themselves that they don't acknowledge the other people.

6:48So this is where if you're walking on stage, you would acknowledge the people and then already get their energy and then start right from, from scratch with a relationship. Relationship is number one. And if you just talk and you haven't developed that relationship, we as the audience have no reason to listen or care. So that's going to be universal. That can help everyone. So pay attention, listen, look. So it's, you know, it's just a whole system of you have to look, acknowledge, feel, react, and speak rather than just come out talking. And I think that when you're feeling and you're reacting, the words and your message are more organic and people are wondering where it's going to go because it's organic.

7:39So you don't really know where it's going to go. Like neither of us know where we're going to say next, But we have a general idea, but it's just the surprise of how it all how it all together. And that's what engages people rather than it being overly rehearsed, because one of my pet peeves is someone trying for perfection because perfection is boring, really boring. So the more imperfections we have within reason, the more more accessible we are because we're like other people. The more perfect we are, the further away we can be from you. And so we've created a distance. And so a lot of people think of it the other way.

8:20John Lee Dumas:I love that because the reality is Fire Nation, everybody's favorite radio station is WIIFM. What's in it for me? They want to know what's in it for them. So you can't speak at them. You must speak to them, connect with them, be direct with them, be open, honest, transparent, genuine with them. and we're going to talk about overcoming communication barriers, adapting your message, anxiety to impact. I know a lot of us have anxiety around this stuff and more when we get back from thanking our sponsors. Fire Nation, you know I'm passionate about freedom and as entrepreneurs, we spend a lot of time creating freedom in our businesses, but what about creating more freedom in our lives?

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10:41John Lee Dumas:With Hotworks, you can have both. Visit hotworks.net slash franchising to learn more today. That's H-O-T-W-O-R-X dot net slash franchising. Fire Nation, ideas are exciting, but systems will allow you to create freedom. That is where High Level comes in. High Level allows you to build and run your entire business from one platform. Website builder and hosting, funnel and landing pages, email marketing, automation and workflows, calendar booking, payments and subscriptions, even course and membership hosting. Everything works together seamlessly. Plus, award-winning 24-7 support so you are never stuck.

11:18John Lee Dumas:And when you go through my link at highlevelfire.com, you unlock my full bonus stack. A 30-day free trial of High Level with full access. a private 50-minute coaching call with me, weekly live office hours with me, a digital copy of my book, The Common Path to Uncommon Success, my 50 Days to Something execution roadmap, and more. Stop piecing tools together. Start building momentum. Visit highlevelfire.com and start building your something today. Elaine, we're back. And before the break, I was talking about overcoming communication barriers. So how the heck do you help people overcome common challenges like fear, voice insecurity, and of course, overthinking?

12:01John Lee Dumas:Because we all know that phrase that people would rather be in the casket than delivering the eulogy at a funeral. So what the heck is going on here? First of all, I want to address something that you said right before the break, which was talk, there are a choice of talking at two, but I really like talking with. If you talk with someone, it's a give and take. if you're talking at it's a one-sided you're talking to you're giving them directions but talking with and it's an exchange nice so i think knowing that you don't have to control the conversation that it will come to you when it has ebbs and flows then it takes a lot of pressure off of people because like you said public speaking and in general sometimes is the number one fear.

12:46So how we hold our body is a one is one way to teach our body that we are in a comfortable rather than uncomfortable situation. So most people, when they're uncomfortable, their shoulders are going to go up, they're going to get a little bit more tense, their voice might rise a little bit, and they're going to get dry mouth and it's going to be have some little issues there and it's going to be self-perpetuating problem but if you just relax drop the shoulders place your feet I like the 11 and 1 o 'clock position so that it it prevents you from swaying and then you bend at least one knee and relax a little bit it goes wait a minute I'm comfortable if you can if you're really nervous if you put if you're close to furniture without being real obvious or weird, you can place a hand on top of it and put the nervous energy into the furniture, whether it's a top or the, or put, or dig your heels into the ground.

13:48So it's more grounding and the energy that's negative can go through the floor and not out through your voice. So there are little things that you can train your body to do. So it's comfortable. And so that's where a lot of people who think that they have to, you know, like, why am I so nervous? Well, we all get anxious and have anxiety over something because we care. But now we're saying, I know my information. If you have to over-prepare, do that because that adds confidence. So, and then you want to just breathe a little bit slower and relax. And if you're really nervous before you go out, you can put your hand on your heart, breathe, look straight ahead and tell yourself some sort of mantra, like, I got this, you got this, this is fine.

14:37You know, they used to tell you have to imagine everyone without any clothes on. That doesn't really work for me. It's a little distracting. So when instead, there's just a way of saying you're in charge, which is why people would say that. But that's why I took a lot of the information I heard throughout the years and was like, that's not working for me. Just like the word objective didn't work for me in talking. So an objective is more of a synopsis and it sends me in my head, a need sends me in my heart and gut. So if I know what I need, whether it's a need for satisfaction or it's a need for simplicity, that's how it works.

15:16Can I tell you a story for a second? Yeah, let's hear it. So I was coaching someone recently and he was, he showed the information. It was really good, logical information, very well organized. But I didn't care, not because I wasn't in that business, because it didn't have a hook. And the hook is the need, the need for whatever. So he thought about it for a while and went, you know, I have there's so much stuff in these decks that I've put together for this presentation that we're pitching against all these other companies for this huge contract. I want to make sure it's good. But and so I I said, well, what is it?

15:57What's the one word that you're selling? And they're like, it's like all this stuff is like that's too much stuff. We can't remember that. What's the one word takeaway? And that's the main thing with the system, the need, the need for whatever. So in his case, and it worked for him, I'm not saying it's for all of them, was simplicity. It was so complex what he was describing and everyone else who was pitching this that he went, okay, I'm going to say we provide this. It's simple. We provide that. It's simple. We have this. And so what are we selling? Simplicity for you. He said all his competitors, their jaws dropped and they went, oh, no.

16:39They said other words, actually. But he said, oh, no. What is going on? And this is too, you know, we have lost this account. And they said that was, I think, four months ago. So after he did that, he got a raise and a promotion and they got the account and everyone still talks about his speech because he got to the core of the information and in the heart and the gut through the need, he identified the problem at the beginning. So it's a problem. Here's the solution. We have all this complex stuff, but we'll make it simple for you. And see how that's storytelling.

17:16John Lee Dumas:Now, let's move on to adapting your message. Because listen, we're not robots. The audience is not robots. We need to be able to adapt, adjust our communication style, depending on these different audiences and environments that we're dealing with, that we're there in the moment with. What is your recommendation on that? Well, we have to look at where the energy is going and how much space we have and who we're with. so if it's a large stage and you're walking out you have to fill up that space through wider gestures how you recognize the people how you bring them in how you you know it's just how you would hold your body in a wider way versus you're just on a small screen maybe it's someone's phone that you're talking to if you did all that you would probably be weaving in and out of the picture.

18:03So how it's this formation, but it's a matter of degree. So the smaller, more intimate the space, the smaller and more intimate the movements. So if I, if I talk like this right now, I have movements that are closer to my heart and what I'm going to move it a little bit now to the side, cause you hear a little bit of a difference. And now I'm going to make it a little bit bigger. My arms are a little bit wider and now I'm as wide as I possibly can with my hands and my gestures and the strength. So that's how, if I do the big thing in a intimate setting, it's a little overpowering. But if I do the small one in a big setting, I disappear.

18:42So it can be the same message, the same emotions, the same setup, but we have to fill the space in an appropriate way. And like when I work with certain people, whether they're newscasters or reporters or whatever, we have to come up with a signature way of moving and, you know, and what makes you special that is not just reporting the news, you know, so if it's, it's a mental report, it might be kneeling down and feeling the sand and then talking to the audience and then walking towards them, you know, if that's your, your gig, you know, so what I do is I try to figure out what everyone's, you know, primary or their, their way of standing out from the crowd.

19:24So you don't just blend in because we all like being special.

19:28John Lee Dumas:Now you talk about you've dealt with individuals like newscasters or people that do this for a living. And, you know, even they have anxiety, even they get stressed out. So can you maybe tell a story or how do you help them? Has there ever been a situation when somebody who does this for a living, they count on this, they need to be able to do this, started dealing with anxiety and stress. They never maybe dealt before, like it used to be easy to them. And then something changed, something shifted within them and they don't even know what it was and they get on stage now and they start having anxiety attacks and they start like getting all stressed out and maybe even close to blacking out.

20:03John Lee Dumas:Like, have you ever dealt with that? And if yes, like what do we do with those people in those situations? Because this is their livelihood. It typically starts with overthinking. So you're in your head and all the anxieties just start welling up. And the other is you had a bad experience and you're afraid that that's part of the over too, that it's going to happen again. But we're in a business of speaking that it's really just hot air. If you just think about it, if you screw up, there's more hot air out there. Now during COVID, it was a little bit of an issue, but most of the time it was not.

20:36So if, you know, we don't have to measure twice and cut once. We have to, if we mess up, own the mistake find a joke and i have the whole pitfalls area in my book you know about how to how to come up with lines when you when you mess up and then send a message to the body that you're safe so if you're overthinking you're probably pacing you're sweating you're tense so you have to then find your nice and this is where a mantra comes in real handy so um so mine is this is going to be fabulous or horrible. Let's see what happens. Because you don't know, right? And so I just, you know, have everyone come up with a mantra that works for them, lower the shoulders, breathe slower, and look straight ahead and say, you got this.

21:32John Lee Dumas:Elaine, we talked about the mind system, building real connection, overcoming communication barriers, adapting your message, anxiety to impact. If Fire Nation wants to learn more, if they want to read your book they want to connect with you give us the call to action today they should go to my website elaine vo.com and then you can sign up for my newsletter you can find the various books there in the locations where you can find it you know of course you can find speak to achieve at any bookstore but you know if you need some coaching what your problem is and then we'll try to solve that but that's you know my website's probably the best place to go Elaine Clark VO is in voiceover or victory.

22:15No, that doesn't work. I was trying to make it work. So once again, got to speak to achieve and embrace those imperfections.

22:23John Lee Dumas:Well, being a military guy myself, that's Victor Oscar would be the correct use there. So I'm an army brat. Oh, come on, Elaine. ElaineClarkVO.com. And Fire Nation, you're the average of the five people you spend the most time with. And hello, you've been hanging out with EAC and JLD today. So keep up that heat. And for links to everything we talked about, visit eofire.com. Just type Elaine, E-L-A-I-N-E in the search bar. The show notes page will pop up, links to her book and all that jazz for websites right there. Elaine, thank you for sharing your truth, knowledge, and value with Fire Nation today.

22:58John Lee Dumas:For that, we salute you and we will catch you on the flip side. Excellent. Thank you. You're on fire. Hey, Fire Nation, a huge thank you to our sponsors and Elaine for sponsoring today's episode. And Fire Nation, are you an entrepreneur on fire who's looking to share your amazing message with the world? If yes, we're now accepting applications for EO Fire. So to learn more about becoming a guest, visit EOFire.com slash guest. And I'll catch you there or on the flip side. Fire Nation, meet Hotworks, the number one boutique fitness franchise with 850 plus locations. They pioneered virtual workouts inside infrared saunas.

23:30John Lee Dumas:With recurring membership revenue, a low labor, high tech model, and a proven franchise system, entrepreneurs gain a scalable business built for growth. Visit hotworks.net slash franchising to learn more. Stop duct taping your business together. High Level runs your website, your funnels, email, automation, scheduling, payments, and memberships all in one place. And when you sign up at highlevelfire.com, you get a 30-day free trial plus my exclusive bonus stack that includes weekly office hours with me and much more. Visit highlevelfire.com. Highlevelfire.com.

24:08Thank you.