The Power of Storytelling and JLDs Untold Story with Chantelle Adams

0:01Boom! Shake the room, Fire Nation. JLD here and welcome to Entrepreneurs on Fire. Brought to you by the HubSpot. Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals with great shows like Billion Dollar Moves. Today, we'll be breaking down the power of storytelling and JLDs, that's me, untold story. To drop these value bombs, I brought Chantel Adams into EO Fire Studios. Chantel has delivered over a thousand speeches across the globe. As a storytelling and speaking expert, she uncovers the untold story that turns your message into a movement. And today, KFAR Nation will talk about storytelling being the foundation of any business.

0:40We'll talk about a framework that makes for a great story. And of course, we'll get into my untold story and so much more. And a big thank you for sponsoring today's episode goes to Chantel and our sponsors. The Gold Digger Podcast, hosted by Jenna Kuchar, is brought to you by the HubSpot Podcast Network, the audio destination for business professionals. The Gold Digger Podcast helps you discover your dream career with productivity tips, social strategies, business hacks, inspirational stories, and so much more. One of my favorite recent episodes is titled, How I've Built an Unmatched Team Culture, an insanely important topic for all business owners to dive into.

1:14Listen to Gold Digger wherever you get your podcasts. Is this your year? Visit thrivetimeshow.com to see testimonials of how Clay Clark's business coaching has helped over 2 ,000 entrepreneurs to dramatically increase profitability. It's month to month and less money than an average minimum wage employee. schedule your free consultation today at ThriveTimeShow.com. Chantel, say what's up to Fire Nation and share something that you believe about becoming successful that most people disagree with. Well, hello, hello, everyone. I'm so excited to be here. And yes, what I would say and what I say all the time is show up and serve and the selling will take care of itself.

1:59And I feel that this is so important because so many times we are taught tactics and strategies. And for me, being in integrity and showing up with that pure intention without attachment, just truly to serve has always paid off in the long run. And I think that that is a huge piece that is sometimes overlooked in our industry. Well, I enjoy every one of the conversations I have on Entrepreneurs on Fire, but this one I am particularly looking into because as you heard in the intro, Fire Nation, we're talking about the power of storytelling, which I love, but also we're going to dive a little bit into my untold story, which I have no idea where that's going to lead.

2:36Like I'm as clueless as you are right now, Fire Nation. So that'll be cool. But I do want to dive in because we have a lot to get to. And you, Chantel, believe that storytelling is the foundation of any business. Tell us more. Absolutely. I really believe that your story connects the dots from your life's experience to your life's work. and it is really the foundation of everything. So your story then goes into your brand. It helps you with your messaging, your clarity on your why, your purpose, your drive, your fire. It is that piece that actually is the framework. When we dig into our story in the right way, we can find the framework of our offers, of what we are creating in the world, of what we truly are, as you say, the number one at in our lives and being that in the world.

3:24And so this is the piece where it connects to your brand, it connects to your content, it connects to your messaging, it helps you to show up and connect with your audience in powerful ways. But it's also, we know the power of storytelling from this brain psychology piece is that it truly is the thing that people remember when they hear you speak, when you're on podcasts, they are going to remember your story. It builds that connection. It builds that credibility. It helps people to understand who you are at that core. And that is what leads people into your world, wanting to know more about you.

3:58I love that. And she did mention Framework, Fire Nation. We're going to be getting into that in a minute here, but I do want to kind of double back on something else, something that I do always say, but it's worth repeating that Chantel did mention, which is the number one solution to a real problem. That's your focus. That's where you need to get to. And storytelling can help you get there. And I always say, hey, listen, history, think about those words, his story. And I always like to add her story because, of course, his story, her story. That's how we learn. That's how we grew up hearing the history, the stories of these individuals.

4:34And now I know that some people are listening. They might feel, Chantel, like their specific life story doesn't really connect to their work. What would you tell them? Absolutely. So I have a lot of people say this, that there's a lot of bigger moments in their life that they don't feel connects. But what I really want people to understand is that there is a deeper connection to the essence of your work in your life's experience. There's a deeper why. There's the through line, the golden thread that truly is there helping you to understand. It's not just about the tactics, the strategies, the frameworks.

5:10It's about that deeper connection to why you do what you do and how you do it. And that is in your life's experience. But for example, I had one client that came to me and she was a social media manager and community manager on Facebook. And she said, I have no idea what my story is. And as she started to talk, she was actually an immigrant that came from India to New York City when she was a child. and I asked her to tell me a little bit more about that experience and she said, you know, I went from this place where all the doors were wide open, where I could run and play up and down the streets, where everyone felt like family and truly it was this community to coming into this strange foreign country and where everyone closed their doors, locked everything up, you didn't even know who your neighbors were.

5:56And so there was this piece where all of a sudden that's where I find it. So the light bulb goes off and it's this piece of then, but you're about community. And so though you're building communities on a social platform, there's the essence of, I want people to feel connected. I want people to feel like they belong. I want people to feel a part of this family, a part of this greater connection piece that we can build online just as we can in person. So we were able to pull that in, whereas she didn't realize how her story of immigrating to the United States could possibly connect to being a social media manager.

6:30A lot of powerful things there, Fire Nation. I can tell you from personal experience, I've given many, many presentations from stage, from 200 people to literally over 4 ,000 people in a single room. And I try to deliver a lot of value in these presentations, like a lot of strategies and tips, tools, and tactics. But I'll tell you, when I bump into people a year later, a couple of years later, and they kind of harken back to that presentation that I gave, they won't talk about a strategy or tactic. They'll actually talk about a story that I usually tell, which is my story when I was deployed to Iraq and I lost four of the 16 soldiers that were in my platoon during a 13-month tour of duty.

7:10I tell that story in a little more depth and that hits people, that resonates with people. And of course, I tie it into my presentation, like it's there for a reason and for a point, for the foundation, for the framework of what I'm creating, but that's what they remember. And that's powerful for you to remember, Fire Nation. Now, we did mention that we will talk about frameworks and I do love frameworks. So let's talk about how a great framework can make for a great story. Absolutely. So I have a six-part framework. So if you're listening, Fire Nation, grab your pen and paper and jot these down.

7:45So the first step is to give a glimpse of where you are now. And that That really is from a place of going into, yes, the successes you've had, the achievements, all of those pieces. But more so, it's about from an emotional place of what you have created, a life of freedom, a life of where you are able to travel the world. You know, what is that picture that you're one, that person that is listening, that is wanting to be, you know, in your world that can really come from that place of, I want to be in that space and I can see that for myself. So we paint that picture not for ourselves. We tell our stories not for ourselves, but for others to really see themselves in our stories.

8:22So that's the first step. The second step is a breakdown moment. And the step two leads into step three, which is a breakthrough moment. So we all have these catalyst moments. So the breakdown that leads into the breakthrough. And again, some people might say, well, I haven't had this big, huge experience. But we all have these moments where we are set on a new path. So I like to go deep on one core moment or a couple to really paint the picture and bring in the emotion because that's what really connects with your audience. And so it's that piece of understanding what was the moment in time that really was the catalyst for the work that I'm now doing in the world.

9:01So really getting into the heart of that and helping people to feel as if they're right there with you, which is what you did when you tell that story about being deployed to Iraq. That is that big moment that people can feel as if they're right there with you. And then step number four is to share the lessons learned. And so this is a piece where it's not about saying step one, step two, step three. It's about sprinkling into your story these powerful one-liners, these lessons that you have learned along the way so that it is a part of the story, but that they're hearing it and they're going to remember it because people remember stories better than stats and data and facts.

9:39And so it's this piece of embedding in the lessons, the messages, the framework that you're going to teach them into your story as these powerful lessons learned. And then the fifth step is your why. So really getting into the why you do what you do, because we connect to missions. We connect to visions. People want to be a part of a movement. People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. And so when you can really share that deeper passion, that deeper fire, that deeper message, then people want to be a part of that. And then the last is to turn it back to your audience. So the sixth step is turn it back to your audience.

10:14And this is so important, again, because we are helping them to have hope. We are helping them to see what is possible. We are giving them permission to go after their dreams, to do the things that they want to do, to create. And that's a piece of being able to help them to know that you see them. You understand where they're at, at that beginning journey. And this is the pathway forward. Fire Nation, as I mentioned, I love frameworks. This is a fantastic framework. I hope you go back, look at this framework, listen to it again, go to the show notes page. It'll be listed out there. Make this happen.

10:47And we're going to be diving into my untold story session with Chantel when we get back from thanking our sponsors. I'm all about lifestyle freedom. I want to be able to do what I want, when I want, and there's no better time to kick your feet up poolside than the summertime. But to achieve this lifestyle freedom I speak of, you and your team need to work smarter, not harder. That's why we're so excited about HubSpot's integrated AI tech. It's helping teams of all types and sizes automate the more tedious parts of running a business. With AI-powered tools built into HubSpot CRM, you can pull reports, sift through loads of data to see what's working and what's not, and even craft content all in a flash.

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12:01At thrivetimeshow.com, see testimonials of how Clay Clark's proven business coaching has helped over 2 ,000 clients to increase profitability dramatically. Clay's proven business coaching program is month to month and less money than hiring a minimum wage employee. Sound too good to be true? Go to thrivetimeshow.com to see over 2 ,000 documented success stories Because Clay only takes on 160 clients, he personally designs your business plan for you. Then Clay's team of talented designers, videographers, web developers, workflow mappers, and accounting coaches will help you implement that proven plan.

12:33See over 2 ,000 Verify Success Stories and schedule your free 101 13-point assessment with Mr. Clay Clark himself today at Thrivetimeshow.com. Knowledge will not attract money unless it is organized and directed through practical plans of action. become the next success story. Schedule your free 13 point assessment today at thrivetimeshow.com. Okay, Chantel, we are back and this is going to be fun. We are going to do an untold story session live. You're going to guide me through that process to uncover the missing piece in my story. I have no prep. I have no idea where this is going, Fire Nation.

13:13This is just going to be a process that we're going to do live right now. Let's make it happen. All right. I'm really excited. And this is something that, again, normally I take a lot more time, but we have, we are on the clock and we are going to get this done. And so it is as much of a surprise to me as it is to you, but it's going to be so fun. Okay. So here is, for anyone listening, Fire Nation is watch some of the questions and some of the ways, and you're going to see the framework come to life as I, as I tell John Lee Dumas' story. Back to him, Gail D. So let's get into this. So first thing is, I want you just to say in one line, what is, do you feel, the work that you are here to do in the world?

13:53To help impact others through the genius of the guests on my show. Perfect. And when we go back over your story, so for all of us, we are often so close to our stories that sometimes we can't quite see all of the little nuggets. But if I were to ask you, if you were to look back from childhood to present day, and I would love to have just one little glimpse of you as that little boy. So I would love to just know a little glimpse of that. And in like two minutes or less, I know this is gonna be a fun practice for you as well, is I would love to know what are that, you know, that you as that little boy, but also what were those big moments in your life that feel like those catalyst moments for you?

14:41I definitely remember one of my first memories of a Catalyst moment is that my elementary school was within walking distance of the house. And so when I was in kindergarten, I used to be able to go out the back door of my house, walk through a field and get to my elementary school. And I just remember feeling like such a big boy, like a grown up that I was essentially taking myself to school and walking back as well. I mean, sometimes my mother would walk with me and sometimes she wouldn't. But I remember that being like such a prideful moment when I was growing up is that being able to leave my house, have no parental eyes on me and show up, you know, where I was supposed to show up, you know, being very responsible.

15:22And that's just like a very fond catalyst moment from when I was young. That was like six years old. I love that. Perfect. And then as you look back, you know, kind of as a timeline, one thing that when we tell our stories, we don't want to do a timeline. But for me, as I'm listening, I would love just kind of taking you on that journey from childhood to present day. So share any other big moments for in your life. There's another really big moment I remember. This comes to mind, like whenever I think about like, what was a catalyst in my life that really did change everything? And that was walking along the streets in New York City.

15:58I was 29 years old. I was living in New York City at a job I didn't really enjoy. The weather was miserable that day. I went into a Hollister, which is a clothing store, and they were showing on a screen this huge TV, live footage of people at that very moment. It was live footage of people surfing in Manhattan Beach, California, which is like where Hollister is based. And I was just like, wow, right now I'm miserable. It's cold. It's about to get dark. I'm about to go back to a dark, cold, like basically closet of an apartment. And there's people right now doing that. They're playing volleyball and they're surfing and they're running and they're biking.

16:41And I made up my mind in that moment. I said, I'm quitting my job. I'm packing my car up. I'm driving to Southern California. I don't know where I'm going to end up. And we're going to see what happens. And, you know, the kind of fast forward part of that is I drove across country, ended up in San Diego, specifically Pacific Beach, and ended up being neighbors. And I mean, by neighbors, I mean, we shared a wall with my now wife, with the business partner, with the mother of my child being born in November, Kate Lynn Erickson. I love that. That is such a great story. And you are amazing at storytelling, just got to say.

17:17Thank you. You've got it. You've got it now. Yeah. And one thing that I want to add to that too is I had no job waiting for me in Southern California. I had no friends, not a single person I knew in that entire state. I just went. Okay. And then is there another moment in time? That would honestly be the time that I remember sitting in my apartment in San Diego with Kate's entrepreneurs on fire at this time is four years old is doing very well. And I just got done writing my second seven-figure check to the government for taxes. And I just said, I'm going to find a way to legally pay less money in taxes so I can do more with the money that I make and keep the money that I make and really build a secure financial future for myself and my family.

18:11And that kind of started my research train, which brought Puerto Rico on my horizon. And And I remember walking into Kate's office, which was right in the same apartment and saying, Kate, I want to move to Puerto Rico. I want to test it for a year. If it doesn't work, if we don't like it, we can always leave. This is why. Let's do this. And she didn't take much time and said, all right, I'm on board. And two months later, we moved to Puerto Rico literally two months later. And that was seven years ago. And we may never leave. I love that. And what would you say are the most important lessons that you feel you have learned that you want to relay to your audience and to those listening?

18:55Without a doubt, fortune favors the bold. I mean, I knew I wanted to make big change when I was living in New York City. I knew that I needed big change. But a lot of people, myself included at different points in my life, would have been like say, hey, like there's no job waiting for me in California. I don't know anybody there. Now some of my best friends that I've ever made, people that were groomsmen in my wedding I met in California, my dearest friends, and of course now my life partner and mother of my child and all these crazy things. And it all was because I was bold enough to just say, you know what, I'm going.

19:30And I believe that. Fortune favors the bold. Beautiful. Anything else as far as a lesson learned? I'd say the biggest lesson learned, you know, kind of beyond that fortune favors the bold is the importance of providing value to other individuals. Like I'm such a believer in that Maya Angelou quote that, you know, people are going to forget what you say. They're going to forget what you do, but they'll never forget how you make them feel. And I think that kind of actually does tie back into like storytelling because it was that story that I told from stage. It's how I made people feel during that story that they remember.

20:07And then that kind of maybe triggers a couple of things about the story that they, but it was really like them, how they felt emotionally within it. And so I, I always kind of like love thinking about that process, you know, whenever I'm dealing with people, I just feel like that's a good takeaway to say, you know what, like I need to stop stressing about, you know, you know, exactly what I'm saying, exactly what I'm doing, because people are going to figure out about that anyways, but I'm going to make sure that I'm making the other individual in this, you know, room or this conversation or the, you know, people that are listening to this podcast, I want to make sure that they're feeling that I'm making them feel something positive.

20:42Beautiful.

20:46Okay, so here's where I'm going to just take a moment. Take a moment. We'll do like the little fast forward and then pop. It'll come right up. Okay, perfect. Go for it. Take your time. There are moments in our life that shape us. And I remember one such moment when I was young, just six years old. My house backed on to the field, which then I could cross to get to my school. And I remember feeling like such a big kid, being able to have the responsibility to walk all by myself across that field. And what I am grateful for is a mother who let me, who let me forge a new path, who let me choose to do it on my own, who let me be big and bold because that has served me so well in my life, where I have made choices that were bold, choices where I fully took responsibility for my life, where I saw that I was going down a certain route and I didn't want to be going down that anymore.

21:53And so I chose a different path. And I am grateful for these moments in my life, like when I had moved to the big city in New York City because that's the dream, right? The dream of this big life in the big city. And yet I remember walking, freezing. The weather was miserable. And I saw just pausing on this big screen as I looked at this ad for Hollister Company. But it was live footage showing people surfing in Manhattan Beach. And in that moment, as I stood there freezing on the street with the noise all around me and feeling as if everything was closing in on me as I thought about going back to my tiny 10x10 apartment that was cold and dark and realizing that that's what I wanted.

22:50That's where I wanted to be. and so some may sit and many of you that may be listening right now may be in that place of being somewhere that you know you don't really want to be but then you get in your head and you start to overthink and you think about all the things you got to do and but you don't know anybody you don't know where you're going to go you don't have a job on the other end and that was me but I made that bold choice to quit my job, to pack up everything I had in that tiny little apartment, which wasn't a lot, and drive across the country to Southern California, where I ended up being neighbors with my now wife, business partner, and mother of my child.

23:39here's the thing fire nation is that when you are sitting here listening and you can hear all these incredible stories and you are inspired by these guests who are out there living big having these lives of freedom and impact and you are sitting there thinking i wish i could do that let me tell you. You can because fortune favors the bold, but you must be bold enough to go out and get it. You must allow yourself to look at this is the time that I am going to choose, to choose me, to choose something that I don't know where it's going to lead. And maybe you don't have a job to go to. Maybe you don't have those friends like I did, but you can leap.

24:26And when you leap, you have no idea what can come out on the other side. But here's the thing. When you find your zone of fire, when you feel that fire burning in you, and then you find a void, which is that one solution that you can be, or what the one problem that you can be that solution for, and then you find your focus where you follow that one course until success. And maybe that is quitting your job. and maybe that is moving across the country. Maybe that is starting that business. Maybe that is starting that podcast. But allowing yourself to be in this place because I know that you have it in you to be known as the number one in the world in something each of you do.

25:12And right now you might be in what I call the season of yes. The season of yes, I believe there is an evolution for all business owners, all entrepreneurs where the first part, the first season when you are getting started or even after having a lot of success, but you are ready for a pivot, you are ready for a change, is that you say yes. You have the courage to say yes before it's figured out, before you're ready. But you follow that yes and then amazing things will unfold like finding your wife living next door to you or starting an incredible business with your best friend. which then led me to this place where life was good.

25:55Things were going great. Business was succeeding.