Podcast announcement

Retelling and sharing painful moments is never easy.

Yet.

When a 2024 People’s Choice Award Podcast asks you to be a guest, you say yes. Especially when this invitation collides with the moment a wise colleague who shares this quote from James Clear with me: “You can't choose your history, but you can choose the story you tell about it.” 

My interview and conversation with Jackie Tantillo offers a reminder for me and others who know, deep in our minds and hearts, that we are more than our past. We are more than the fear that holds us back. We are more than our origin stories. Each of us has within us the courage, presence, authenticity, and clarity to create the work and life that we imagine. 

Have a listen-and when you like, comment, and share with your networks we appreciate the boost!

https://shltmm.simplecast.com/episodes/a-sunny-disposition-in-spite-of-the-lingering-fear-with-guest-founder-of-center-stage-connections-julie-campbell-nB6D11xw

Why Your Story Matters to Me...

And why you haven’t heard from me in a while…

YOU are the only one who has lived YOUR story. Funny. Touching. Bold. Subtle. Silly. Intense. It’s likely your story holds a sprinkling of all those qualities. None of us is all one thing.

Just recently, I stepped away from my work and monthly newsletter for a bit as I needed to be with my son away at college. He is fully recovered from a foot injury that required a complicated surgery followed by a stressful time of complete bed rest. We are all relieved here in our house.

With this break in my work, came time to double down on the business side of my business…revising my website (let me know what you think,) getting some advice on marketing, and growing my 1-to-1, team, and guest speaker trainings…it’s still all about what you say and how you say it in a way that resonates with your audience.

I hope you find a moment to share some of your stories with friends or family over the winter holidays. And I hope you find a moment to encourage someone to share a bit of theirs.

Stories connect to our emotions. Our emotions connect us to each other. Just ask any of my kids who catch me teary eyed when they share a post of a giggling baby, a squirming puppy, or someone coming home for the holidays… “Mom, that’s supposed to be funny, why are you crying?!” I am all in when it comes to stories. It’s a thing with me.

 Thank you for being part of MY story as I continue to grow Center Stage Connections. I cannot do this work without people like you.

Stories connect us. At work. At home. In life.

Warm wishes to you and your loved ones,

 Julie

Sparkle....it's not just for the red carpet...

At the end of a long day of rehearsal, a director once told an actor, “You need more sparkle. I’m sitting in the audience, and I’m not getting any, you know, sparkle.”

That was it. That was the note. Huh? How do you convey more sparkle? Well, directors don’t always tell an actor how to get there, it is the actor’s job to figure out how. 

How?  By pretending to sparkle?  What does that even look like?  Yikes. 

Nope.  By playing clear authentic actions. Actors are always doing something at every moment we are on stage. We choose and play specific actions with our words.  It is the purpose and emotion underneath those words that engage an audience.  It is the meaning and feeling of how the story is delivered that audiences remember.  

Poised interviewees, confident presenters, impassioned leaders, and memorable storytellers bring the qualities (aka sparkle) of presence, authenticity, empathy, clarity and engagement to all their interactions. But you can’t just paste on the sparkle. Those qualities are what clients, colleagues, and investors experience based on how you shape and share your story.  I can help you and your team DO presence, authenticity, empathy, clarity and engagement in your calls, meetings, and presentations.

But be warned…

This is NOT a series of pre-recorded professional development online learning modules where employees push “play” and go make a sandwich. 

This IS a view behind the curtain into the methods and techniques professional actors use every day to create an indelible and lasting connection.  These lessons are shared rehearsal style with real time feedback and translated into tangible tips, tools, and techniques for creating similar clarity, engagement, and contagious presence.

Reach out and I am happy to chat about the meaningful and impactful professional development I can bring to you and your team. In the meantime, go get your sparkle on.

It's a good day for connection...

I like that you ________ and I just wanted you to know that.

We all do better when we feel included and appreciated.  At work. At home. In life. 

When my teens were in grades K-2, their teacher had a tradition.  On each student’s birthday, the class would sit in a circle and the teacher would go around the circle and ask each student to say one nice thing about whoever was the birthday kid.  

I brought a treat in on one of those days, and witnessed this moment.  I have to say, the exercise was so sweet and authentic that the Littles made me teary eyed.  The birthday kid smiled and there were lots of giggles. 

They were all invested in the moment.  Totally authentic.  Each of them was a little vulnerable…when you give or receive a compliment, it can feel that way sometimes. 

That elementary school exercise brings everyone together.  Even if you have your differences with someone.  It’s a moment to start fresh, be present, and connect. 

But you don’t have to wait for someone’s birthday.  Fill in that blank above and give it to a colleague, client, friend, or family member today. Say something true and positive to someone today.  They just might need to hear it.  And you might get back a smile or giggle in return.

And by the way, I am grateful we are connected, and I just wanted you to know that.

How Authenticity Transformed an Organization

If you were given 5 minutes to tell your story and make a lasting connection with your audience of one, ten, or two hundred could you do it?  

Recently, the Executive Director of a non-profit came to me with a challenge.  Their organization had entered an annual grant competition with a significant six figure prize. Last year, they faced stiff competition and missed winning the award.  In 2020, with the populations served facing even more urgent need, her team did not want to lose again.  

 An initially large group of applicants was reduced to four worthy and well-established non-profit organizations.  The grant organization, comprised of 160 female philanthropists, required each of the four finalists to create a live, 5-minute presentation that answered and addressed five key questions about their current operations, as well as how this monetary award would deepen and broaden impact in the communities they serve.  Each organization would present one after the other, to a packed room of investors, participants and supporters.  At the end of all presentations, the grantors would vote, and a winner would be announced.

Each of the finalists was doing impactful and meaningful work, and deserving of the grant money.  But it was clear to me that whoever told the best story was more likely to win.  

I was emailed a 15-minute presentation. The presentation began with a polite introduction, an abundance of data, too many anecdotal examples of current business practices, a murky answer to what differentiated their organization, and why they should be awarded the grant.

They had checked all the boxes, but this was not a memorable, impactful, or winning presentation.

Working very closely with the Executive Director of the organization, we dug into their message, incorporating tools of skilled actors, playwrights and storytellers.

• Urgent need and high stakes require a deep, personal investment and make for more engaging stories and lasting connection with an audience

• Creating a sticky moment right from the beginning embeds itself in your audience’s mind, so your audience wants to learn more

• Be Authentic-giving yourself permission to be vulnerable builds connection

As the leader of the non-profit, my client had discounted her own emotional journey that answered the question of why she leads this organization.  When she shared a relevant story that helped us convey why the organization is so vital and why the investors should choose their company, we knew we had the sticky moment that would engage the audience.  

Next, we crafted the body of the story, laying out the strategy and approach with proven storytelling and playwrighting technique:

• Always keep your story moving forward/recognize when you are going off the rails

• Never say something in 3 lines that can be said with one line/ each line is there for a reason

• Leap into your text and look for wording that may feel disconnected from your authentic way of speaking or unfamiliar to your audience

We began this section of the story by laying out how and why the current way of addressing the problem wasn’t working.  Then, we sifted through and highlighted supporting data.  Lastly, we wrapped up with clear evidence of how this six-figure award would be transformative for their organization and the people they serve.  We rehearsed and timed the presentation until we were 30 seconds under the time limit (always end your presentation, never have someone stop you.)

The CEO and the organization won the grant.

I’ve learned that it takes a deep dive into why, why, why for clarity to emerge.  If the CEO had discounted her experience, she may have missed a once in a year opportunity.  Often, the one thing people are most afraid to risk sharing, is the one thing that could connect most deeply with an audience.  It often takes an objective, but trusted, eye to give you the nudge to take a risk. 

That authentic story, or sticky moment, might be silly or profound or somewhere in between.  Once you identify and communicate that moment, you engage with your audience in the first 30 seconds of a presentation.  Utilizing proven storytelling techniques keeps a presenter on message and creates deeper clarity for audience members.  Ultimately, never discount the power of presence and authenticity in connecting with an audience, or in transforming your business.

My client was unafraid to share her vulnerability, and the audience felt her and ultimately believed in her.

Our time is more valuable than ever.  Whether you engage live or virtually it’s essential to create clear, succinct and meaningful interactions with clients and colleagues.

If you are looking to improve clarity in your business story, speak with greater confidence, drive alignment with your strategic vision, or deepen employee engagement, you must be clear, connected and memorable.  

Center Stage Connections can help you meet your goals for more impactful connections.

I’m happy to chat: julie@centerstageconnections.com

https://www.centerstageconnections.com