Tina Dietz is coming to unleash the voice of your business!
Internationally acclaimed business coach, world class audio-book publisher and launch specialist, popular podcast host, and bestselling author Tina Dietz brings passionate vision, perspective and attention to detail for her clients. Tina’s company, StartSomething Creative Business Solutions, helps clients who want more than just a business, they want a ‘Business Oasis!’
Get Tina’s checklist for producing your audiobook and demystifying the process, click here.
When Tina Dietz was two-years-old, someone handed her a tape recorder – and that was that! A lifelong love affair was born. Today, she is an internationally acclaimed business coach, audiobook publisher and launch specialist, podcast producer, and a bestselling author who has been featured on ABC, Inc.com, Huffington Post and Forbes.
Her podcast, The Start Something Show, was named one of the top podcasts for entrepreneurs on Inc.com and her company, StartSomething Business Solutions, helps clients who want more than just a business and more than a routine life–they want a “Business Oasis.”
As part of her own business oasis, she herself splits her time between the US, Canada and Costa Rica. Tina Dietz, welcome to the show!
Icebreaker
When I go to conferences I like to organize what I call “transformational karaoke” outings ????
Think Like A Journalist Quote
“When you read a book, the story definitely happens inside your head. When you listen, it seems to happen in a little cloud all around it, like a fuzzy knit cap pulled down over your eyes.”
―Robin Sloan, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore
Success Quote or Tip
FOMO…fear of missing out.
Career Highlight
Tina grew up in a small town where her parents sold fireplaces. Their home was upstairs and the business downstairs. When she grew up, find out why Tina was unemployable and how that actually benefitted her and the world.
When It Didn’t Work
Hear what happened to Tina when she first started her business with partners. Find out what this difficult lesson taught her.
Top Tips 10X Your Book Sales With Audiobooks
Bestsellers are created every day.
Publishers don’t always act in the best interest of authors.
1.5 million audiobooks were downloaded more than ebooks in 2015.
The cost of production of an audiobook has dropped 50 percent in the last seven years.
Don’t narrate your own audiobook. It’s not the best use of your time.
Leverage the power of your book by distributing it in the audiobook world.
Audiobook listeners listen to, on average, 20 books a year. The average book reader reads 12 books per year.
Self-produce your audiobook by using ACX.com audiobooks exchange.
Did you know that 1.5 million MORE audiobooks were downloaded than ebooks in 2015? Audiobook publishing is growing at a rate 3 times faster than any other format. Walk down any street and you’ll see people soaking in information through their phones–will your book be available to the millions of listeners looking for content?
-Discover how to get your audiobooks produced for 50% less than what it costs the big publishers
What is one piece of technology, video or multimedia equipment, or app that you just can’t live without?
High-quality mic. Blue Yeti and Audiotechnica 2100.
One book, documentary, blog, podcast, or Internet Channel to watch?
Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert (Get a free audio book when you try Audible free for 30 days)
OR to get a physical copy of the book…click the book title.
We all possess the innate ability to boost our confidence levels in literally two minutes with this simple Confidence Boost.
Whether you’re starting a business, a movement, or just changing habits in your life it takes time, energy, persistence, tenacity, and confidence.
Lots and lots of confidence. But we don’t always have that level of confidence. Fortunately we all possess the innate ability to change our confidence level quite literally in two minutes.
Getting out there and starting something in the world really takes something. We have bad days, we’ve had bad experiences that we don’t want to repeat, other people’s negative messages get stuck in our heads….Yuck.
Out in the wild, animals express their dominance (an expression of confidence) by taking up more space. Appearing to be bigger than they actually are, pacing back-and-forth, puffing themselves up, and other displays. At our core, we are no different. Confident people often seem to take up more space in a room. They spread themselves out, use large hand gestures, and when they speak they often will move around quite a bit. Think about how a confident motivational speaker uses a stage-rarely that really ever stand in just one place, they use the entire stage.
On the other hand, when an animal or a human is feeling frightened or has a lack of confidence, they tend to make themselves small. Curling up in a ball, crossing your arms across your midsection, tucking your chin to your chest are some examples.
So we all know that body language affects the way that other people perceive us. But did you know that your body language also affects how YOU see you? And I’m not talking about looking in a mirror.
Researchers at Harvard have found that by adopting anyone of a number of “power poses” for 2 minutes, we can boost our confidence. These poses raise your level of testosterone (even in women) and lower your level of cortisol. No, you’re not going to get a burst of testosterone that’s going to make you more aggressive,but testosterone increase in both genders is associated with feelings of confidence, control, and well-being. Cortisol, on the other hand, is a stress hormone. It tends to be associated with the flight or fight response. So that’s definitely one that we want to keep low.
A number of examples of these “power poses” are shown below. Notice how the body is spread out, taking up more space, expanded:
Imagine what would happen if you did a power pose as a practice several times a day?
Even if you don’t need a confidence boost right now, I suggest you give these a try and make it part of your daily routine. It’s also useful when you’re going into a meeting, a networking event, or hitting the stage to speak.
Give it a try and let us know how it goes-comment below and share with your colleagues. Here’s to more confidence!
When she was 2 years old, someone handed Tina Dietz a tape recorder – and that was that! A lifelong love affair was born. Today, Tina is an internationally acclaimed business coach, audiobook publisher and launch specialist, podcast producer, and a bestselling author who has been featured on ABC, Inc.com, Huffington Post and Forbes. Her company, StartSomething Business Solutions, helps clients who want more than just a business and more than a routine life – they want a “Business Oasis,” and she herself splits her time between the US and Costa Rica. Tina Dietz, welcome to the show!
Interested in learning more about audio marketing?
When she was 2 years old, someone handed Tina Dietz a tape recorder – and that was that! A lifelong love affair was born. Today, she is an internationally acclaimed business coach, audiobook publisher and launch specialist, podcast producer, and a bestselling author who has been featured on ABC, Inc.com, Huffington Post and Forbes. Her podcast, The Start Something Show, was named one of the top podcasts for entrepreneurs on Inc.com and her company, StartSomething Business Solutions, helps clients who want more than just a business and more than a routine life – they want a “Business Oasis.”
Did you know that 1.5 million MORE audiobooks were downloaded than ebooks in 2015, and in 2016 sales are up 34% over 2015 numbers?
Tina is going to share these nuggets:
Why you don't have to narrate your own book to get the best results.
How authors can protect themselves from royalty scammers and the hidden pitfalls that scare away readers.
How you can get your audiobooks produced for 50% less than what it costs the big publishers.
Audiobooks can make you money even when your book is free!
As part of her own business oasis, she herself splits her time between the US, Canada and Costa Rica. You can find her online here:
There are a lot of tricks to narrating your book and putting it out to a wider audience – punch recording, mic technique, breath technique to name a few – and the generally accepted equation is five hours of recording will give you one hour of finished recording.(Podcast on Writer On The Road, November 9, 2016)
Breathing is about getting in touch with your torso; then there’s tone, tempo, flow and sonority. Still with me? Because I haven’t even mentioned audio quality. Narrating a novel requires a level of focus that some of us may just not be able to summon and by the end of my chat with professional narrator, Tina Dietz, I was starting to create a strategy to choose and hire a professional. Did I mention that Tina’s a professional? Book narration is a performance and our books deserve to be treated well. You can find out more here and don’t forget to download your free checklist. I’m going to…
My team and I can help you figure out the best solution to narrate your book
There’s something to be said for studying the habits and processes of great writers and artists and how they kept their creative juices flowing over time.(Podcast on Writer On The Road, November 6, 2016)
There’s a lot of burnout happening in the field of writing right now, especially among Indie authors trying to manage both their writing and their business. Tina is a mentor and coach, and she’s my kind of crazy. With a focus on values as well as mental, emotional and spiritual well being, Tina guides us to be the best we can be. She’s also damned funny at times. We chat about being in the writing game for the long haul and how it’s got to be about pacing ourselves as our energies change as we grow and mature as writers. Self-care is at the top of the list, being flexible with our schedules and putting thought into those high priority creative endeavours to actually get the work done. We chat about how 80% of our results come from 20% of our efforts – it’s Tina’s job to help us focus on the 20% – and how the transitions in our lives open us up to new potentialities. And we just wouldn’t be creatives if we didn’t delve, just a little, in the fear factor that has derailed every one of us at some time or another. You can find out more about Tina and her work here.
At only 2 years old, Tina Dietz was already interviewing people on her tape recorder. She STILL has that tape and has never put the microphone down.(Podcast on Reinvention Radio, September 22, 2016)
At only 2 years old, Tina Dietz was already interviewing people on her tape recorder. She STILL has that tape and has never put the microphone down. Born to entrepreneurial parents, she started answering their business phones at 4 and was going to trade shows by 6.Now she is an internationally acclaimed business coach, speaker, dedicated audiobook publisher and podcasting mentor.
As a therapist (with an MS in Counseling and Educational Development), early in her career while working in the public school system that dealing with bureaucracy was not her thing. She has a “students-come-first” approach, which grew into something new as she worked with a grassroots group and developed two teen leadership centers. She showed kids how to make ideas a reality. Many of those seeds that were planted still live in her programs and her approach to coaching to this day. She developed transitional training programs for colleges and some of the nation’s largest utility providers, as well as serving as the co-founder and Director of Business Development for the Nayada Institute of Massage.
Tina is also a bestselling author and has been featured on Million Dollar Mindset, ReLaunch, ABC, Massage Today, Money for Lunch and Tropical Entrepreneur, to name a few. She has worked with and provided small business help in more than 20+ industries and 6 countries (and counting) around the world, watching them grow and transform.
TUNE IN to this episode to hear Tina chat with Steve and Mary about audio marketing and how to take advantage of the booming audiobook trend.
In This Episode
Spanish & Italian; The Audio Extravaganza; They Put A Mic In Her Hands At 2 Years Old; 1.5 Million More AudioBooks Than Ebooks Consumed In 2015
3 Ways To Create An Audiobook; No Book, No Audiobook; Time & Costs Of Producing An Audiobook; Steve’s New Book
Skype – Pants Optional; Best Call To Action For An Audiobook; Wade’s Mic Drop; Podcasting Isn’t Being Throttled The Way Other Media Are
You might be hurting your credibility as a leader every time you open your mouth, and it’s not what you’re saying. It’s your voice.
A study in affiliation with Duke University analyzed 792 male CEO voices and found that a deeper voice was advantageous in positions of leadership. Results indicated that CEOs with lower voices had longer tenure, led larger companies, and made more money — to the tune of $180K+ per year.
This research poses a bit of a conundrum. What if you don’t have a low voice? Does that mean you’re doomed not to rise in the ranks of leadership? Fortunately, there are a number of other factors in the vocal realm that contribute to your credibility as a leader, and these factors are far more controllable than how deep your voice is.
Another study conducted at Gonzaga University revealed that a variety of vocal factors influence whether a speaker is perceived as trustworthy — and therefore credible. Regardless of the pitch and tone of your natural voice, these important factors can be controlled and practiced:
Articulation (clear pronunciation of words). An articulated vocal performance reflects a thoughtful representation of the speaker’s inner conviction, and thus leads to the perception of a more educated and credible speaker. Articulation can be improved by repeating difficult words until one can say them correctly; slowing down your speech can also make articulation easier. Beware, however — over-articulation can produce a less than normal speaking tone and therefore reduce credibility.
Fluidity (flow of your message). The more fluidity with which one speaks — that is, the more you don’t have to reach for your words — the more expert and confident you are perceived, engendering trust. This takes us back to the dreaded “ums” and “ahs” we work to eliminate in public speaking scenarios, podcasting and audiobooks. Rather than filling the air in a conversation or meeting with such “thinking noises” or hedges (“sort of” or “kind of”), be intentional and transparent regarding your thinking process. If posed a question, pause and make eye contact with your listeners and take a moment to answer their question with, “let me think about that for a moment.” Doing so indicates that you’re taking their question seriously and giving it your full attention.
Tempo (speed at which you speak). This vocal cue is closely tied to gaining and maintaining the attention of the listener. No one likes to hear a boring, slow delivery; monotone presentations tend to put people to sleep or move them to distraction. Keep energy and interest alive in your voice when speaking and your listeners will remain more engaged.
On the other hand, speakers who speak too fast can end up slurring their words, affecting the articulation and clarity of their message. A speaker’s “normal” rate of delivery has been found to rank the highest in perception of credibility. In other words, it’s important to “be yourself” when communicating. Note that both tempo and fluidity can be improved by bringing increased attention to your breath. Make sure that you’re actually breathing as you speak, and not inadvertently holding your breath.
Sonority (pleasantness of one’s voice). Several factors can contribute to sonority, but one controllable, contemporary factor is known as “vocal fry” and refers to the low, vibratory sound occurring particularly in women at the end of spoken sentences. A study published in 2010 analyzed 800 male and female participants who spoke with vocal fry, or “creaky voice,” and found them to be less desirable job candidates compared with those speaking in a normal tone. Take note and eliminate this vocal trend before it spreads any further. Please.
Another common vocal pattern that deeply impacts credibility but is one of the simplest to identify and address is “uptalking” the end of sentences. Uptalk sounds like you’re making everything a question? As if you’re not sure what you’re saying? And that makes what you say hard to trust? Focus on making your statements more declarative.
Do all of these factors leave you feeling overwhelmed about perfecting your vocal delivery? Don’t sweat it if you can’t change them all — not everyone was born with a deep or pleasant voice. Of all of the aforementioned influencing factors, articulation was found to be the most important — so if you have a big impending speech, start by practicing using clear and careful pronunciation. Through external feedback, objective coaching, and diligent practice, you can become a better communicator and perhaps even a bigger earner.
Episode from the Copy Chief where I was a guest. We talked about the truth about marketing and how to walk your talk. Tune in(Podcast on Copy Chief, April 3, 2016)
In This Episode
(2:30) How to choose the fitting social media app without tediously testing every shiny new platform.
(3:20) Tina’s first words out of the womb and how she consistently grows her audience – even with subpar copy.
(5:00) The unusual VA task for creating new ideas. Kevin shares his technique to turn a single interview into weeks of future content… A strategy that may lead to your next premium offering.
(9:00) “You might be an Internet Marketing Idiot if”…. you have any of these tell-tale signs of “shenanigans” or “general jackassery”. Learn why creative people don’t wear dumb “pants”.
(13:05) Tina’s conclusive 2-minute walkthrough of “blab”… and why it’s the #1 choice for mature marketers who want to put Periscope’s “video selfie… millennial-vibe” to rest.
(19:10) How to write “quick-sloppy-copy” for a 2-minute VSL that converts enough to “earn your entire salary in one go”.
(23:00) Why you’ll want to “decrease your client conversion” using Tina’s “Nightclub Bouncer Tactic”.
(25:50) Tina reveals the real trigger for her clients that moves them to double their income AND double their free time in 12 months or less.
(26:20) Why your preferred coach/client won’t willingly work you through your toughest challenges so you can reach lasting results…
(28:25) Tina’s ONE profound tip to avoid “bed-ridden burnout” and “success sabotage” even if you’re 10+ years into your business and think you figured it all out already.
