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2024 Staff Picks: Some Of Our Favorite Things

It’s time to reflect back on 2024…

As we wrap up our 2024 at Twin Flames Studios, our team reflected on their personal favorite nonfiction audiobooks we produced this year.

We’re incredibly lucky to work on so many inspiring audiobook projects and we’re proud of everything we’ve produced. With more than 100 audiobooks produced this year, it’s so hard to choose a favorite. All of the authors and voices we’ve shared are amazing!

But we wanted to share a bit more about the work and stories behind the scenes to give you a sneak peek of what stood out to our team.

This year, we asked our team to share their personal highlights: the audiobooks that made them think, laugh, or even cry—and a little something extra that brightened their 2024.

Along with each personal favorite, we also asked each team member to share a valuable tool that made a difference for them this year. Many of these will have value for you as well!

Staff Picks – Audiobooks & Other Favorites

1. Utopia Reimagined: An Allegory of Capital and Conscience by James Jones

Favorite of: Caroline Schaeffer, Audiobook Production Specialist

best nonfiction audiobooks "Utopia Reimagined"

Why it stood out:
“Time travel, allegories, and engaging characters made this fictional journey not only entertaining but also a thought-provoking look at our modern society.”

This audiobook captured Caroline’s imagination with its layered storytelling and poignant commentary.

Caroline’s Favorite Gadget: Cold Brew Maker
“I love my at-home cold brew maker! You can use it to make cold brew, iced tea, or fruit infusions, and there’s nothing quite as satisfying as having easy-access fresh cold brew in the fridge.”

Caroline’s pick is a nod to life’s little joys—and the fuel that keeps our production engine running.

2. You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work by Morag Barrett

Favorite of: Christopher Rain, Editor

Why it resonated:
“This audiobook kept me fully engaged. The authors did an amazing job showing how we can get too wrapped up in our own emotions, wants, and needs—often ignoring those of the person we’re having a conversation with. The habits she discusses aren’t just for the workplace; they’re just as important in our personal lives.”

Christopher’s pick is a masterclass in empathy and connection—lessons we can all carry with us, whether we’re at work or around the dinner table.

Christopher’s Favorite Tool: Ozone 11
“I use Ozone to fine-tune audio. Sometimes it’s just a subtle frequency adjustment to change the tone, and other times it’s a much more drastic change. Ozone gives me the confidence to make those adjustments and get the exact sound I’m looking for.”

Christopher’s choice highlights the precision and artistry of audio production—a reminder that the details matter.

3. Conversations Made Easy & The Client Retention Matrix by Chris Jennings

Favorites of: Stephen George, VP of Publishing

best nonfiction audiobooks "Conversations Made Easy"
best nonfiction audiobooks "The Client Retention Matrix"

Why they made the list:
“I completed two books with Chris Jennings this year—Conversations Made Easy and Client Retention Matrix—in less than 12 months. Both audiobooks included interviews as additional content, which made them even more engaging and informative.”

Stephen loved these projects for their innovative structure and added depth, showing just how much value a well-produced audiobook can bring!

Stephen’s Favorite Find: Fly Kitt
“This is a vitamin supplement kit for when you travel. If you're going into a different time zone it will help reduce or eliminate jet lag. I used it when I went to Italy on an overnight flight and had no issues with being tired, so I could hit the ground running and enjoy my entire trip.”

Stephen’s practical pick is great for avid travelers!

4. Startup Different: The Myth-Busting Blueprint for Your Multi-Million-Dollar Business by David Sinkinson and Chris Sinkinson

Favorite of: Michael Kinsey, Audiobook Director

Why it stood out:
“We had such a great time recording this book. The author’s energy in every session made me enjoy both the job and the content that much more. We’d chat about what was happening in our lives, and I felt we built a genuine connection.”

Michael’s pick is a game-changing guide for entrepreneurs—and a reminder of the collaborative magic that happens behind the scenes.

Michael’s Favorite Tool: TASCAM Mixcast 4 Podcast Workstation
“This equipment has been a game changer! It allowed me to remote-direct recordings for none other than Twin Flames Studios. What a great year it’s been!”

Michael’s pick proves that the right tools make all the difference—whether you’re recording a podcast or producing a bestseller.

5. You Belong Here: How to Make People Feel Safe to Be Their Best, Take Bold Risks, and Win by Mike Lipkin and Dianne McIntosh

Favorite of: Paul Stefano, Audiobook Director

Why it resonated:
“It’s just a straightforward guide on how to be yourself in the workplace and how that can actually help, rather than hurt, your bottom line. It doesn’t hurt that, as a narrator, Mike sounded like Sir John Gielgud right out of the gate!”

Paul’s pick combines practical workplace advice with unforgettable narration—a perfect listen for professionals looking to thrive authentically.

Paul’s Favorite Tool: Ballpark DJ App
“I found this app that allows you to record introductions for a youth or recreational team. I use it for my son’s 13-year-old baseball team, but you could also use it for an adult bowling league, a youth soccer team, or even to introduce your staff at a team meeting!”

Paul’s pick is as versatile as it is fun, bringing a personal touch to teamwork—whether on the field or in the office.

6. Candy Barone's Free Suite of Human Design Resources & Jackie Lapin's Conscious Podcast Tours

Favorite of: Tina Dietz, CEO of Twin Flames Studios

Why Tina Loves Candy Barone's Free Suite of Human Design Resources:

“I've been using Human Design to help me become a more effective leader and also to build my team more effectively. It's like if you took the best personality test and strengths assessment and put them on steroids. My very dear friend and colleague, Candy Barone, has a suite of free Human Design tools that she gives away, starting with a 20-page personal human design report for free, no strings attached. Her generosity in providing people with the tools to align with their best selves and their purpose is what I love about Candy, so much.”

Why Tina Loves Jackie Lapin's Conscious Podcast Tours:

“What will life be like when you have as many as 30 more podcasts and radio shows already booked right at the beginning of the year? Would that be a giant boost for you, your book or your current program? Here’s the great news… Our friend Jackie Lapin has a surefire way for you to get those 30 shows! She’s been doing it for 15 years for select clients. Some of her most recent Podcast/Radio Tours have actually generated 45, 50 and even 65 podcast invitations. This is my very favorite podcast guesting opportunity for authors!”

Looking Back, Moving Forward

From audiobooks that inspired deep reflection to tools that refined our craft, 2024 was a year filled with creativity, connection, and growth. Each staff pick is a small window into what makes our team tick—and a testament to the power of storytelling and innovation. 

What inspired you this year?

What most surprised you, or what do you still want to know? Let us know your thoughts below!

About Tina Dietz:

Tina Dietz is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and vocal leadership expert whose work and shows have been featured on media outlets including ABC, NBC, CBS, The Wall Street Journal and Chicago Tribune, Inc.com, and Forbes. She’s been named one of the top podcasters for entrepreneurs by INC.com, and Tina’s company, Twin Flames Studios, re-imagines thought leadership through podcasting and audiobooks for experts, executives, and founders.

Reduce Stress by Taking An Emotional Velcro Vacation

We interrupt this Hot Girl Summer for an Emotional Velcro Vacation!

Thus far, 2024 has been characterized with the typical uncertainty we all experience during a presidential election year, regardless of politics. But add the extra seasoning of social and economic unrest, and that is one spicy meatball!

As a leader, do you feel like you’re carrying the weight of their world on your shoulders?

Need some quick ways to reduce stress without sacrificing productivity?

reduce stress by taking an emotional velcro vacation

What is Emotional Velcro?

Simply, it’s the stress, anxiety, and emotional baggage you accumulate over time when interacting with other people.

It’s the “waxy buildup” of emotional residue that you often unconsciously adopt when leading teams, parent kids, partners, friends, and so on.

Taking Your Emotional Velcro Vacation

It’s time for some much-deserved relief and rejuvenation.

When you are stressed, ask yourself, “Why am I feeling this way?”

Are you carrying the emotions of someone else, even by accident? Figuring out the source of the emotional velcro can help bring about immediate relief or at least help you get to the next step.

First, talk with someone else like a coach, counselor or other trusted source. Or simply spend some time in reflection and analysis to discover the truth inside yourself or about the situation.

From there, it’s time to shift your mental state, which is a lot easier said than done. Find out more about how to apply all three of these steps in this article I wrote for Forbes about creating psychological safety in the workplace by freeing yourself of Emotional Velcro.

Vocal Techniques to Reduce Stress Immediately

For some quick relief or practice, here are two vocal techniques you can use right now: sigh and rant. It’s like the “bend and snap” of 2024.

A deep sigh triggers your parasympathetic nervous system and your body’s relaxation response. It’s easy to do, and you can do this anywhere – which is why it’s one of my favorite techniques.

And the “rant” in question here is actually much less long-winded than it sounds. When I say “rant” I’m talking about unleashing a single word, done in a specific way that also has fantastic benefits for your nervous system.

Read more about these 2 vocal techniques for immediate stress relief in another article I wrote for Forbes, so you can perfect them in no time.

Remember, taking care of your emotional well-being is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. So, take that first step today and start shedding the Emotional Velcro that’s holding you back. Your future self will thank you.

Additional Resources:

How to Free Yourself from Emotional Velcro And Create Psychological Safety In The Workplace

How To Reduce Your Stress Immediately With 2 Vocal Techniques

What most surprised you, or what do you still want to know? Let us know your thoughts below!

About Tina Dietz:

Tina Dietz is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and vocal leadership expert whose work and shows have been featured on media outlets including ABC, NBC, CBS, The Wall Street Journal and Chicago Tribune, Inc.com, and Forbes. She’s been named one of the top podcasters for entrepreneurs by INC.com, and Tina’s company, Twin Flames Studios, re-imagines thought leadership through podcasting and audiobooks for experts, executives, and founders.

Live, Laugh, Lead – Comedic Arts at Work

What can leaders learn from comedians, or is humor in the workplace just too risky in a time of cancel culture? Tina Dietz explores how comedy can connect people, create belonging, deepen authenticity, and even change the way we teach, train, and lead our teams as she talks with comedians Alicia Dattner and Jeff Civillico, and founder of The Dames, Meghann Conter.

Don't miss our Leaders' Discussion Guide for this episode below – perfect for your next team Lunch & Learn!

Comedic Arts at Work – Episode Highlights

  • Learn how to create more belonging among your team as a leader (4:09)
  • Discover the connection between belonging and vulnerability and how it applies to leaders (9:22)
  • Find recommendations for leaders who are cultivating/iterating their own voice and thought leadership (14:26)
  • Uncover tips about developing authenticity and trust in relationships as a leader (18:19)
  • Find the transformative power of humor in engaging audiences, sparking creativity, and fostering authentic connections (26:41)
  • Find an example of the positive impact of incorporating humor in business, leading to increased profit, revenue, and team performance. (33:26)

Full Transcript

Tina Dietz

Welcome to Drink From the Well. I'm Tina Dietz, and today, I'm your high priestess of humor. Humor in the workplace carries a stigma. People don't want to crack jokes at work for fear of not being taken seriously, being criticized, or being embarrassed, or even worse: being canceled. But what if I told you humor will actually help you climb farther up the ladder than you may think? A study by Jennifer Aaker, a professor at Stanford, showed that workplace humor has a positive effect on employees. Humor, in fact, fosters psychological safety, which we talked about in our earlier episode, as well as creativity, productivity, trust, and authenticity. And yet, a different Stanford study reports that adults over the age of 23 start laughing considerably less. Adults over 35 only laugh 15 times a day. Compare this to babies who laugh, on average, 400 times a day. According to a Gallup study, people tend to laugh significantly less on weekdays than on weekends, indicating workplace humor is seriously lacking in the regular five day work week. Today is an exploration of what we, as leaders, can learn from comedy to connect people, create belonging, deepen authenticity, and even change the way we teach, train, and lead our teams and create engagement. To help us along in this episode, we're using the rule of three, which is often used in comedy writing. The rule of three principles suggests that a trio of events or characters is more memorable and, well, funnier.

Clip of Alicia Dattner

So, yeah, I'm the oldest of three kids. There's me, and then mom and dad. Did you read we're basically going to run out of fish by 2050? What if I have a child one day, and they get dumped, and all I can say is, “Oh Honey, don't worry. There are plenty of… plastic bags in the sea?”

Tina Dietz 

That's Alicia Dattner. Alicia is an award-winning stand-up comedian, award-winning film producer, a bestselling author, and has even led a circus on a cross country tour. In fact, Alicia has won so many comedy awards, I don't even have time to list them all here. Alicia Dattner, how you doing?

Alicia Dattner

I'm pretty good. How you doin?

Tina Dietz

I'm doing well. I'm doing well. It's good to see you.

Alicia Dattner

Hey, it's good to be seen.

Tina Dietz

How did you know becoming a comedian was the right path for you?

Alicia Dattner

I just had this fascination. I could feel this burning fire in my body, my little tiny kid body that said, “Do that. You gotta do that.” A big piece of what I do on stage is confessional. I like to name things that people are not likely to name. I want to say the thing that you feel that you don't want to say. And sometimes, I'll even say it for you, even though I don't feel it as much, but I know you need someone else to be experiencing it. And there is a way where I want to create belonging, I want you to feel connected. I want you to feel as if you're not the only one who thinks and feels something. It is beautiful when people laugh at my jokes. I feel like I belong. I feel like, not only do I belong, but I'm also a leader of belonging.

Tina Dietz

What do you think that leaders can learn about creating more belonging? What do you have to do as an example, as a comedian to create that belonging in a room?

Alicia Dattner 

I have to be vulnerable. I have to share what's uncomfortable, and what's dark and difficult, and take a risk, and I have to let what's on the inside out. And it doesn't always have to be the deepest, darkest secret. It could just be something I feel a little uncomfortable with. And when I go first, then other people feel the safety. The courage of vulnerability allows everybody to be vulnerable, especially if I'm the leader. It's a different thing if I'm an employee or I'm a young person. It's like, when the person with the most status goes first and shares vulnerably, that's when everything opens up.

Tina Dietz

Oh, yeah, that's very, very true. It creates that permission, you mentioned psychological safety, which we talk a lot about here on the show. So, then it doesn't always go well when you get vulnerable, though, or when you get up and perform. What happens when you bomb, none of your jokes land? Every comedian has these kinds of situations. Tell us a story about what's happened to you, and how you handled that.

Alicia Dattner

I've bombed a lot of times. Sometimes I did okay, sometimes I killed. And I'm thinking of a time when I bombed. I went to a black club. I had gotten asked to do a set, and it was a club that not only had a stage in front, but it was a club in the round. So, you're surrounded. You're surrounded, in a way, like you're doing Shakespeare, like, “Hello, hello.” And so, I come and I do my normal set. And it is absolute crickets, like total silence, it's three, four minutes in. Nobody likes me. They start literally yelling, “You suck. Get off the stage.” They hated me.

Tina Dietz

Ow. Ow.

Alicia Dattner 

And it was so painful, like, what do you do? What do you do? And I had been in acting class working on a bit where I talk from my belly. I pull up my top, and I make my belly button talk. And I was working on this bit in class, and it was very interactive, and I literally just was like, okay, pulling out the belly. And I walk out into the audience, and my belly says the things that I don't want to say. It's like the id. It's like what I want to eat, what I want to do, how I feel, and so, I start talking to people with my belly and they start totally getting into it, and we have a fantastic time. They're laughing, they're clapping. It worked. I transformed that experience. I thought, okay, I've got them. I went back on stage to try to finish my set. They were not happy again. They were like, “What? You're doing your bits now?” So, I learned. 

Tina Dietz

When you find something that works, stick with it. Don't go back.

Alicia Dattner

Don't be like, “Alright, now I've got you. Let me take you where I wanted to originally.” Because I was still craving that safety of knowing what to do. But, when I stepped out into the unknown, when I met the moment, when I actually spoke to the people who were there, rather than having my list of bits that I wanted to do because they felt safe, that was what transformed. And the willingness, the courage to be vulnerable, to say what was deeper in my experience to the vulnerability of being an unknown.

Tina Dietz

And that's so interesting, because many times we step into workplace situations where we are out of our regular element like a workshop. Maybe we're doing an improv workshop, or maybe it's on some sort of assessment tool or leadership development of some kind, and people open up and there's this vulnerability, kind of like you with the belly. And there's the sense of togetherness, but then we go back to the regular workplace, and all of that goes away again. And it's business as usual, like you trying to go into your regular bits and you lose them. I think that analogy really holds true. Once you find something in this place that is vulnerable, we have to continue on in that thread and not go back to business as usual and doing it that way. That also leads me to this idea that comedy, like anything worth doing well, takes a lot of practice. And we all have off days, we all have days where we bomb — might not be on the stage — on some days, I bomb in front of my kids, sometimes I bomb in front of my team, sometimes I bomb in front of the microphone. But how do you get up and continue to perform well, even when you are on those off days?

Alicia Dattner 

A lot of my work in being willing to keep practicing, to keep getting up again and again, to keep being willing to put myself in the line of fire is the acceptance of all of the different parts of me. And that includes all of the different ways that I feel each day, each week. And so, for me, it's about welcoming exactly how I feel. When I'm doing a run of a show, and I'm doing the same show night after night, after night, I feel a different way each night, and I love it, because it's always a challenge to meet how I'm feeling and how the audience is showing up. And that willingness to keep bringing and accepting everything is what allows the audience — I can come out and be in the best mood and have the best show, and in a way, I don't learn as much when the audience is just totally on. But if I come out, and I'm feeling tired, and I'm not feeling so hot, and I, instead of trying to push through it and pretend and invent the persona of Alicia that is doing so wonderfully, they're going to feel that, they're going to feel that pushing. Audiences are very perceptive. They're going to feel that I'm trying to, that in some way, I'm not telling the truth. And if I can say the same words, but instead relax into what is really here for me and allow myself to be seen, the audience is going to feel relieved, they're going to feel safe, they're going to trust me, they're going to feel less alone, because they're not always having a good day. And from that place, we start there, usually, the show gets better and better, and I feel better and better. 

Tina Dietz

That's brilliant. Thank you, Alicia. This has been really, really helpful. And I love seeing the connection between belonging and vulnerability and leading from the front of the room with your whole heart and acceptance in the moment. And that does take practice, and it's not always going to go well, but you always come back. 

Now, we've talked about the significance of belonging and connectedness. But how can you belong somewhere or anywhere if you don't stay true to who you are? Listen to Jeff Civillico's stance on the importance of authenticity in the workplace. Jeff spent 10 years headlining on the Las Vegas Strip, and now he performs at conferences around the world.

Clip of Jeff Civillico

You guys want to see me balance this on my chin, don't you? Yeah, I do, too. It's not gonna happen. That'd be awesome. No, you know what? This is Ace After Hours, we got to give you something to cheer for. What could possibly go wrong? And we're gonna light it on fire. Beavis over here is like, “Fire! Gah!” Okay, I think that violates the convention center safety code. But, we'll try this. Why not?

Tina Dietz

Well, just to kick it off, why don't you specifically give us the roots that you had in developing your signature style of performance? Did it start in college, did it start before?

Jeff Civillico

I was allowed to stink for years and years, and that was great. That was the best way for me to get confidence and develop my own voice and my own brand. So I could stink in the kitchen, I could stink at theme parks, I could stink doing street shows, and it wasn't like captured for all eternity and part of my digital footprint when you Google me, right?

But, yeah, it's funny, I do a lot with arts education and youth in the arts in Vegas, and I love talking to them because I don't envy them, to be honest, because they are growing up with the internet, social media, America's Got Talent, all these competition shows and all that. And I think that's a real potential problem for creative development. I think you need to stink for a while and not stink publicly, right? Like not stink on YouTube with trolls and random people commenting. 

Tina Dietz 

And I think what you're saying here is so important. One of my mentors said, “Sometimes you just have to suck until you suck less.” And we have to iterate. How long do you think you need to cultivate something creatively before you bring it out into the light? Do you have recommendations for leaders who are cultivating their own voice or cultivating, say, their thought leadership? It might not be comedy, but there's still that cultivation and iteration and the creative process.

Jeff Civillico

Yeah, I mean, I don't think there's any magic threshold, right? I mean, you could reference like 10,000 hours or any of the past things, “I have to do X amount of shows or have X amount of stage time.”  It’s just like learning something new. You have to be good enough and established enough to feel that there's something there. I mean, it's not going to do anybody any service if you say, “I'm an amazing singer,” and you can't carry a tune at all, right? But, if you have a little bit of innate talent and an innate desire to do it and there's a seed there, then you can water it. And it is pretty grey because you're right, you do need creative feedback, you do need direction, but you need it from supportive people, family, friends who want the best for you. They're not going to sugarcoat and just lie to you, that's not going to help you either. In the singing example, say, “Oh, my gosh, you're amazing. Like, you're a natural star.” You're doing a disservice to that person. But I really do think there's a sweet spot of supporting. I think my parents did it really well, to be honest. My brothers are doctors. So, it's like I'm juggling, I'm doing magic shows, it's like, this is weird and different. But they didn't squash it at all. They did the opposite. We went to juggling conventions. We went to the Philadelphia juggling club meetings on Mondays, they bought me, for every birthday and Christmas, since I was seven to whatever, 35, I was getting —

Tina Dietz

Still giving you juggling tools.

Jeff Civillico 

I was getting juggling books or magic VHS tapes. And so, they were showing that they were supportive, but they were also involved.

Tina Dietz

What do you rely on inside of yourself? 

Jeff Civillico

One day you could be making nothing, and the next, you're making $15,000 a show, for example, right? It's up and down, it's not this linear, successful path. So, I think that's important for me to keep in mind. I try to work like hell, and then to hell with it. That's kind of a phrase that I often ascribed to. That was a quote that was taped up on my college dorm from my best friend and college roommate. And I think that's important. It's important because when you do a show, you got to do the best you can, and then let it go. Sometimes, it's not your fault. Sometimes, the layout of the room was stacked up against you. Sometimes, the CEO just announced that they were going to be cutting everyone's raises and firing this department right before you go on. I mean, there's a million things that are out of your control. I just did a show with the Excalibur and the NFL draft is in town, like, nobody's coming to my show. The NFL draft is in town, everyone is there for the draft, right? But the show has to go on. So, you make the most of the show you can with the 40 people who are in the 500 seat showroom and you have a good time. You can't let that reflect, that's not a reflection on me, all those things. So, I think you have to have a healthy confidence to know that you're good at what you do, that you are not the product, you are not the show. There's a separation there. It's very easy to think, “Oh, they didn't like me,” right? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't immune to that, right? It always feels better, you always feel better when you have a great show. And a lot of that is because it's like self-validation. It's like, “Oh, they liked me, they thought I was funny. I moved them. They enjoyed, they thought I had value.” But it's really tricky. Over the years, you do enough shows, you do enough events, speeches, whatever, you're going to have ones that are better, and you're gonna have ones that are, that go worse.

Tina Dietz 

You're so right about the identity piece. When we over identify with any kind of work or any type of results, then we end up in that trap of thinking that who we are and what we produce are the same thing. So, that is such an important point. Any kind of last piece of advice that you would offer leaders as they're developing their authenticity and their relationships as they go from all the relationships that you've had to develop over the years about, what does it take to really be who you are with other people?

Jeff Civillico

I think humor is disarming. It's very disarming in a good way. And so, I would encourage any leader to integrate a little humor, a little self-deprecation, it's perspective shift, right? If you can look at something, like in comedy, it's called a mix — take two seemingly different things, put them together, a lot of times something funny comes out of that, right? — and that's a muscle that you can build to think of seemingly incongruous or different things and put them together. And that can be applied to the business world as well. So, I think humor offers all sorts of really great advantages. It makes you more likable. It makes you able to connect and show, pull the curtain back, so we can see the person, and you'll go through the fire for somebody that you like. That's going to foster a deeper connection with your employees, and they're going to want to do anything for you, put in those extra hours or figure out a creative way to solve a problem. They feel like they really know who you are underneath the veneer of the title, whatever that is.

Tina Dietz 

But then, I've seen in some of your performances that you get people to do things on the stage in groups or alone. That takes a lot for people to want to get up on the stage and then kind of put themselves at your mercy. How do you create that kind of trust in a room so quickly?

Jeff Civillico

So, I think, again, I think trust is created by authenticity. So, I think the more real you can become and be in the moment, the more present you can be in the moment, so that even if you do have some patter, that it doesn't feel like patter, that it's coming out for the first time. And even if it is a little raw, I think that's better than being too polished as an entertainer who's bringing people up on stage and doing a lot of improv because you want them to feel like they can make mistakes and mess up and things like that. So, yeah, I think just calling it like it is, not using the big stage voice, talking directly to the audience members, looking at them individually, making eye contact, telling stories. Stories are really powerful, for sure, so, I tell stories about growing up doing what I do and poke fun a little bit at some of these situations I'm in where I'm like standing backstage holding a six foot tall giraffe unicycle talking to the CEO of AT&T business and that's kind of naturally hilarious.

Tina Dietz

That's a beautiful mental image.

Jeff Civillico

Yeah, because we've all been there, not obviously in that specific moment, but where you kind of feel ridiculous or feel like, “What the heck am I doing here?” at that moment. So, bringing those moments to light and acknowledging them, I feel like, gives permission for other audience members to let themselves go and not take themselves so seriously, and just try to relax and have some fun in the moment.

Tina Dietz 

All right, thanks, Jeff, for all of your insights, and for this particularly deep dive around authenticity and the willingness to do what it takes to create a name for yourself, to create your leadership, and to persevere in the face of 18,000 different things potentially being against you. It's a really inspiring story, and I just want to remind all of our listeners that you can find clips of the work of all of our guests here today in the show notes at DrinkFromTheWellPodcast.com. Jeff, thank you again.

Jeff Civillico

Absolutely. Thanks for having me, Tina.

Tina Dietz

In part three, we have what's called in comedy, the turn. The turn is that third thing in the rule of threes that is the unexpected. Meghann Conter is the founder of The Dames, an international organization of six and seven figure women business owners and executives, who is known for bringing the principles of humor, comedy and improv to every aspect of running her company. Quite honestly, it's one of the big reasons I became a member. Meghann, I'm happy to have you here.

Meghann Conter

I'm so happy to be here with you, Tina Dietz. This is going to be so much fun.

Tina Dietz

It's so much fun. We can have coffee, we could talk. It's beautiful. How, how my darling, did you originally become interested in comedy?

Meghann Conter

I think that I have always been a performer since I was a wee one. I was the kid who would always organize all the other kids in the neighborhood to come together and make a performance for all the poor parents who had to watch all of us, and then create different improv skits and things. That's what I always did. But it wasn't really until 2018 that I got super serious about it, which I didn't get serious about it. I got unserious about it. I started taking improv classes in 2018 at a local improv school here in Denver and did the whole year in 2018 and graduated with my improvisation certification. It's a very prestigious thing that we have.

Tina Dietz

Extremely prestigious.

Meghann Conter

Extremely prestigious. But, man, did I have a blast learning how to get out of my head and into the present moment, and to just use your innovation, which a lot of times when you just let fly out of your mouth whatever is going to come, that's when all the funny stuff happens, at least for me. I'm not a stand-up comedy writer. I don't write jokes, I write skits, and I can perform those. But, it's oftentimes the improvised parts of it that come out that are the best for me.

Tina Dietz  

And trusting that instinct is something that I think takes a lot of growth for leaders. So, did you always bring comedy into your business and improv?

Meghann Conter 

Definitely not. In my marketing business, which I ran for the first 10 years of being in business, I always thought that business was business and comedy and play were a part of what you did on the weekend. And it wasn't part of what I did at all because I would get up and I would give presentations or I'd be hired to do a presentation somewhere, and I would give them the old drink from the fire hose. Here's all the information that you're going to need in order know what exactly you need to know about marketing, and I would read them the rights of every single thing that they would need to know and, usually, a lot of times, myself, feel really exhausted by the end because I just performed and given my all but none of it felt like it was really me.

Tina Dietz 

Seven point plans and all of those things like your marketing strategy and all that good stuff. Yeah, yeah.

Meghann Conter

I thought I had to do it that way, because otherwise, how would they take me seriously as a real marketing expert if I didn't sound like an expert, which, in my head, for some reason sounded like someone who, yes, had an enthusiastic voice and kept people people entertained in that regard, not talking like Ferris Bueller's Day Off, but still, you had to present a certain air of seriousness in everything. And it almost was reactive on my part. I would react in that way of responding to anything in a very serious manner, because, yeah, what I was talking about, marketing and business, was serious stuff, Tina. It was serious. Not really.

Tina Dietz 

It's the lifeblood of your business. Right?

Meghann Conter

Exactly.

Tina Dietz 

Well, then what changed? What was the turn for you?

Meghann Conter

Yeah, so, taking improv was what turned for me. That was the big thing that gave me the courage to really play and see that I was capable of it, see that I was capable of having these different accents and using all these different personalities that would pop out of me and making people laugh on stage. And then, I met an amazing coach here in Denver who is a humor speaking coach and started working with him. And it took me a while to even build up my confidence to take what I was learning and put it into play on stage. We've been doing Denver Dames events here since 2015, and I always have done an education piece, which I transformed into edutainment at a certain point in about 2018 to 19, where instead of just getting up and lecturing on something related to your business, our chapter presidents are encouraged to get up and have fun with it and do a skit or insert some humor into whatever it is that they're presenting. Because what we found, and what we find, is that comedy creates intrigue, comedy has people paying attention, comedy is what people are not expecting in business. And so when they're not expecting it, they listen more, they pay attention more. And then they find that, holy cow, the principles or the concepts that are being taught through humor are actually the nuggets that you remember afterwards, as opposed to just presenting a series of facts. A lot of the time, our brain doesn't retain that information. But when you put it in an accent — I love even just delivering something simple in an accent because as soon as I do that, your brain starts to pay attention to what it is that I'm saying. And you say, “Holy cow, she just changed her accent. And now I'm hearing the words that she's saying more than when I just speak in my normal voice.” So, it was that work.

Tina Dietz

Yeah, I’m dying to know more about this. I've seen you perform, and I've seen you teach in character, which is lovely. So, what are some of the characters that you use that have gone over well?

Meghann Conter

Yeah, definitely. So, the characters that I've used are Silvia Maldonado. She is my New Jersey, Italian woman, and she is the one who can come in and really speak it like it is. She can just, “Ladies, this is how we need to do things. And there's just no questioning it, this is just how it has to be done.” And she's a very opinionated woman. She's very smart. She's very savvy. She's built a successful business on her own, and she's done it on her own terms. And then I had good old Margie. Margie is going to make her debut appearance off of the camera and in person at our upcoming seven year anniversary at The Dames.

Tina Dietz

Oh, I can't wait.

Meghann Conter

Yeah, she's closed all of her 47 multilevel marketing companies, and she's started and built a really successful six figure business as a Profit First consultant. So, she is very excited to now be an official member of the Dames and to come out and share her hot dish recipes, as well as her secrets to growing a profitable business with everyone. So, that's exciting.

Tina Dietz

We're gonna put a clip of that in here right now for everyone to hear. Give a listen.

Clip of Meghann Conter

At the bottom of the profit and loss, there's a number that's your profit, right? What's out of there comes all your payments. You gotta pay your car payment, your caddy payment, maybe the Louis Vuitton desk that you bought, whatever it is, you're gonna have payments and it comes out of there. And then you're not gonna have any money at the end. You're gonna worry about cash flow. And here's the thing: You want to sell your business? You can't sell it if you don't got profit.

Damn straight, you can't. Hell, no. They're going to turn you around and say, “Go fix your shit.”  

Exactly what's going to happen. 

I need to know. I need to know. What is your famous line from your TikTok video about revenue?

Here it is: Revenue is ego, profit is theory, and cash is king.

Tina Dietz 

Fantastic. And if you want to see the video of that particular sketch, make sure you go to DrinkFromTheWellPodcast.com, and check out the show notes as we put in the YouTube clip of that entire sketch for you to see Meghann performing with the Dames. So, I'd love to hear some more about what other areas of your business you've brought comedy to. So, certainly in the teaching, certainly in engaging people in some of the local events. Are there other things that you always do at either events or inside of the membership with comedy?

Meghann Conter 

Yes, so at all of our events, we really encourage our chapter presidents to bring comedians forth. It is the thing that we start with. We call our events the reverse mullet approach. So, it brings people in, it allows them to break down their defenses and break open their shields that they often come in with, disarms people, and it helps them really crack open to be able to then connect more authentically and be inspired by the rest of the event that we curate. I use comedy and humor in my team calls all the time. So, with our team, we always start out with a positive or a humorous focus so that we can really, even if we've had a really bad day, shift that energy right away, and get ourselves into that creative brain space. I love doing this at our team meetings that we do quarterly in person where we begin our meetings with different improv warm up exercises that I plan in advance, and we just get those going so that the creative juices flow, and we don't stop the generative, amazing ideas that are coming through. And, in fact, they come through more expansively and more flowing, and we're able to get farther as a team. So, that has really improved our team's performance at our various quarterly meetings. And then, even our weekly meetings have just gotten so much better because our focus is positive and it's creative. And that's what we find at The Dames events, that's what we find in the membership, is that when we can really truly, not only be vulnerable, because that's equally as important, but when we can insert humor and have humor when it's possible, when it's possible for us to access that, it transforms the whole energy of the event, of the entire community. It helps us show up more as ourselves.

Tina Dietz

Well, darling, let's talk turkey as the bottom line, alright? So, you've talked about changing the energy, changing the quality of ideas and team meetings, getting people more disarmed and all that. How has that actually moved the needle in how you've developed your business? Kind of a before and after, when you were more serious versus now with bringing the comedy in and humor.

Meghann Conter

Yeah, well, so when I was in my marketing business, it was an over six figures business that I operated very seriously. And I worked my butt off. I worked long hours. And as soon as I made the shift over to The Dames, was pretty much the same exact time when I started embracing humor in everything and bringing these skits to the forefront, bringing comedy. Comedy has always been part of The Dames, but bringing it very much into the paramount, like these are the columns of what The Dames is, and putting that at the forefront, our business has exploded. Now, humor is not the only reason. I am the CEO, I am a visionary, and I am so much more productive, I am so much better of a leader when I am in a good place. And what gets me in a good place is being able to get into character. We didn't talk about networking Nellie, but she has a lot of wisdom that she loves to share. And one of those things is if the CEO is not in and doing the things that really lights her up and him up the most, then the whole rest of the team and the whole rest of the company is going to fail because of that. It's not going to be nearly as fun either. So, it's really important for me to be able to be put in that space of being able to do the videos that I love to do to market the business, which attracts such amazing people. It's being able to plan the skits and practice the skits and write the skits for our in person events. It's all of that that really has helped our profit increase, helped our revenue increase and has made me a better leader because I show up in the fullness of myself. And then, it gives permission to all the others to do the same.

Tina Dietz 

I thank you so much for being the leader that you are. I am not much of a joiner to anything, but when you and I met, and I saw what you were doing with The Dames, it was an absolute no brainer for me. And I have to say, as a member myself, it is a joy to participate in an environment where this lightness shines through everywhere instead of the density that can really come along with business. So, I just want to let you know how much I appreciate it on a personal level, as well as you sharing your wisdom in this episode today.

Meghann Conter

Thank you. Thank you, Tina.

Tina Dietz 

Today we've explored belonging, resilience, and authenticity through humor. But remember, this is only brushing the surface of humor's effect on leadership. Let's change those statistics about adults laughing less, especially during the workweek. If you've got ideas about bringing more humor into your working world, or you're already doing this successfully, come share your stories with us at DrinkFromTheWellPodcast.com. We may feature you in our social media or in a future episode. Please share this episode with another leader and follow us on your favorite podcast app. Then journey over to DrinkFromTheWellPodcast.com for transcripts, show notes, and all the wisdom in today’s episode. We’re always here to refresh, inspire, and entertain you anytime you need a Drink From The Well. Drink From The Well is an original production of Twin Flames Studios and our magical team, including Alayna Carley, Darek Blackburn, Nadia Cox, Stephen George, and me, Tina Dietz.

About our Guest Experts – Comedic Arts at Work

Alicia Dattner is a standup comedian who has performed with Maria Bamford, Ali Wong, Moshe Kasher, Arj Barker, Kate Willett, and many more luminaries. She did her first standup set at 18 and graduated from Hampshire College with a degree in standup comedy and filmmaking. She leads storytelling and comedy workshops around the world, coaches international speaking clients 1-1, and directs solo shows. Dattner has also written a parody of David Allen’s book Getting Things Done called Getting Shit Done that became an international number-one best-selling book on Amazon.

Jeff Civillico is a corporate entertainer, comedian, and philanthropist. has been a Las Vegas Headliner with Caesars Entertainment since 2009. As the youngest Headliner in Las Vegas to produce and star in his own show, he has performed over 5,000 shows at The LINQ, The Flamingo, and The Paris Hotel & Casino. He is the founder of the charity Win-Win Entertainment. Win Win Charity brings smiles to children, patients and staff in hospitals nationwide by arranging in-person and virtual hospital visits from professional entertainers who donate their time and talent.

Meghann Conter uses her power to connect, elevate, entertain, and celebrate extraordinary women as the CEO of The Dames, a global community designed specifically for women running and leading 6 and 7-figure businesses. Meghann believes that anything can be accomplished through fearless collaboration, laughter, fun, and love. Once a burnt-out, over-networked CEO, she is now THE global ultra connector for women who thrive in the space where self-worth and net-worth align.

Episode Featured Resources

Leaders’ Discussion Guide – Comedic Arts at Work:

How to prepare to lead this discussion session with your team:
  1. Ask your team to bring their favorite joke (could be a knock knock joke, dad joke, pun, etc.) to the discussion session as an icebreaker.
Questions to discuss WITH your team about comedy in the workplace:
  1. Have them listen to the episode first to create common ground and context for the conversation.
  2. What ways are we currently fostering a space of belonging in the workplace, or are we at all?
  3. Would you like to feel like there’s more permission at work to be more of your authentic self? What are some of the concerns or barriers that you perceive? It may be worth revisiting episode 1 – The Leadership Paradox of Psychological Safety.
  4. ADVANCED: What initiatives or activities would you suggest to strengthen the sense of belonging within our team?

Inspired to turn your Voice into influence and become a Thought Leader worth listening to?

Let's Talk

Cultivating a Culture of Creativity

Why is Cultivating a Culture of Creativity in the workplace so important to success? Tina Dietz and creativity experts Dr. Minette Riordan and Katherine Torrini explore the benefits of letting your creative juices flow, how to encourage creativity among your employees, and how to overcome obstacles inhibiting your creativity.

Don't miss our Leaders' Discussion Guide for this episode below – perfect for your next team Lunch & Learn!

Cultivating a Culture of Creativity – Episode Highlights

  • Distinguish between creativity and innovation in the workplace and how they’re related (4:38)
  • Identify red flags that arise when creativity is not present in the workplace (7:58)
  • Discover why people hesitate in exploring creativity despite its benefits (9:44)
  • Find out how we can start to shift cultures in the workplace to allow for more creative thinking (13:07)
  • Figure out ways leaders can model the value of creativity in the workplace (15:56)
  • Learn about potential tiny creative acts you can do to get your creative juices flowing (27:26)

Full Transcript

Katherine Torrini

We value being right and knowing. And creativity is about not knowing and about not needing to be right. In fact, when I teach doodling to teams and executives, I actually pass out little stickers that say dare to suck.

Tina Dietz 

There's a drop of inspiration, a dash of creativity, plenty of communication, and there you have it, our executive elixir. This is Drink From The Well. Welcome, lovely leaders, to Drink From The Well. I'm your sorceress of strategy, Tina Dietz. Companies often fail to thrive because they don't keep up with an ever-changing marketplace. Fostering a workplace culture where creativity thrives not only prevents stagnation and encourages innovation, but also unlocks high productivity and workplace satisfaction. Today's episode also includes powerful visuals, so make sure you visit DrinkFromTheWellPodcast.com so you can soak those in along with all the links to resources mentioned today. 

And now to the data! A survey by IBM of more than 1500 chief executive officers showed a consensus. Creativity was ranked as the number one factor for future business success, above management, discipline, integrity, and even vision. One reason for this highest of rankings is that creative leaders are more comfortable with ambiguity. And I think one thing we can all agree on is that we're living in times where being comfortable with ambiguity is a huge advantage. As industries continue to evolve, business goals and priorities are changing with increased speed. 8 in 10 of those surveyed CEOs said they expect their industry to become significantly more complex, but fewer than half of those same 1500 CEOs are confident their organizations are equipped to deal with the transformation. Today on the show we're exploring the benefits and challenges of cultivating a culture of creativity in the workplace, along with sharing some wonderful ways of exploring and unlocking your own creativity on this wild adventure we call leadership.

I am very happy today to be sharing with you two of my wonderful colleagues who swim every day in the waters of creativity. And I've had the pleasure of working closely with both of our guests on different projects. Dr. Minette Riordan is an award-winning entrepreneur and creativity advocate. She is the creator of the Emerge method, a process of helping others map their purpose. Dr. Riordan is the author of three books, including her best seller, The Artful Marketer, with her mantra of “how hard could it be?” Dr. Minette believes when we're all working inside our creative genius, we can solve all the world's problems. I think I agree. 

Katherine Torrini is a creativity expert, visual strategist and innovation catalyst who has brought her visual magic to the likes of NASA, Dell, Coca-Cola, Chevron, AT&T, and Southwest Airlines. She makes the invisible visible during meetings and events through graphic recording, drawing real time mural-sized infographics that mesmerize viewers, activate creative problem solving, and unlock the wisdom of the room. And I can say, personally, I have been subject to that visual magic. So welcome, today, to both of you to Drink From The Well. 

Dr. Minette Riordan

Thanks for having us.

Katherine Torrini

My pleasure, wouldn't have missed it.

Tina Dietz  

Today, we're talking about creativity. And of course, everyone can tell from your introductions why you're here today. The first topic that I wanted to bring to our table today is why is creativity even important in the workplace? I mentioned some things earlier in the episode with some data and with some assertions that creativity is important for several reasons. But I really need to hear from you. Katherine, let's start with you today. Why do you think creativity is even important in the workplace?

Katherine Torrini

Well, what I like to say is that creativity is the core, it’s part of who we are as humans, and it's part of our ability to invent our future. And the heart of innovation is creativity. They're not exactly the same thing and it's important to know the difference. But you can't get to innovation unless you're thinking creatively. And the reason you need a culture of creativity is because there's a few tips and tricks to make creativity actually work and flow that are a bit contrary to how we run our regular normal adult business lives.

Tina Dietz 

And Minette, how would you like to bounce off of what Katherine is saying?

Dr. Minette Riordan

So I love what Katherine said. And I would add to that that creativity is vital right now in our rapidly, radically changing environment of technology. The thing that always sets humans apart is our creativity and our innate ability to problem solve, but also because creativity makes life more fun. And I think inside the workplace what's missing are some of the elements of play and fun that give people permission to fully be themselves and express their creative ideas.

Tina Dietz 

Yeah, let's dig down a little further into the idea of innovation and creativity. Katherine, you said that it's important to know the difference between the two even though they're tied together. Can you tell us more about that?

Katherine Torrini

Absolutely. I was just looking outside this morning at my beautiful oak tree in the backyard, which has recently dumped all its leaves and all its pollen, tons of bags and bags. Only one or two of the acorns that come from all that will become trees. And I would say that innovation is like that acorn. It is the creativity that ends up being useful and implementable, if you will. Creativity is the leaves and the pollen and the acorns. So you can't get to those few really innovative ideas if you don't have a place where you have lots and lots of creativity. So the innovation, I would say, is applied creativity. I'd love to hear Minette’s take on that as well.

Dr. Minette Riordan

No, I completely agree with that definition. And I love the analogy of the oak tree. But please don't mention pollen. I'm in the middle of pine trees that are about to burst into pollen right now. But no, I love that analogy. I think there's a lot of creativity that is imaginative, playful, and fun. It's not all useful. Yet, we have to be in that culture of getting used to just sharing the ideas, whether they're going to go anywhere or not. And then innovation is the piece for me that helps us decide, is it implementable? And can there be an action plan built around it? But we put way too much emphasis on innovation first and not enough on creativity, which I think is a different way of saying maybe what Katherine was saying that we have to just really nurture the culture of ideation first, because the more ideas, the more radical solutions we can create.

Katherine Torrini

Absolutely. And I want to just underline something that you said that the fun and the joy might not be, quote unquote, useful. So it's not useful, necessarily, in a product, but it's very useful –

Dr. Minette Riordan

Right. 

Katherine Torrini

In the culture, in the people, in the person's experience, and I know you know that, I just wanted to underline that for listeners.

Dr. Minette Riordan

Yeah, no. I think it’s super important that you brought that up.

Tina Dietz 

Yeah, there's often this sense of what has to happen in a company is you have to hit the bullseye on the first try. And good ideas just don't work that way. So let's create a little contrast. If you're in a company, and it's clear that it's not a culture of creativity, what are the pitfalls? What are red flags when creativity isn't present?

Dr. Minette Riordan

I love this topic. So I think what happens is people stop valuing their own creativity. They hold on to their ideas, they're afraid to voice them out loud for fear of judgment, or it creates this incredible amount of stress that they have to get the bullseye the first time out of the gate. And I think we talked a little bit in our pre-conversation about this idea of having interdepartmental conversations. And so I think because a lot of times creativity gets buried in the creative department that we're losing out on the creative thinking abilities of people across departments in a particular company. So, for me, the pitfall is we're missing out on the genius of all the people in the company that could be contributing to that ultimate bottom line that the stakeholders and shareholders care about.

Tina Dietz 

The research that we did prior to this episode is pretty conclusive that improving innovation, ideation, creating fun culture, as you said, which results in more productivity, which results in more retention. And we all know that talent retention and talent development in companies is a huge issue right now. We found correlations with confidence and that innovation, of course, which is tied to creativity, is certainly tied to the bottom line and tied to profit. So why would we even hesitate in the workplace to explore creativity? You both touched on a few things where people have those kinds of self limiting beliefs, but in a workplace culture, why do you think that people hesitate in exploring creativity?

Katherine Torrini

We value being right and knowing. And creativity is about not knowing and about not needing to be right. In fact, when I teach doodling to teams and executives, I actually pass out little stickers that say dare to suck. I spend as much time debunking that they can't draw, they can't doodle, as I do teaching them to doodle because that's the biggest roadblock, I would say.

Dr. Minette Riordan

And I would say what's underneath our need to be right is fear. Fear of judgment is one part of it, fear of looking silly or less than in front of our teammates. But I have also heard from a lot of women doing research on women in leadership, fear of having ideas stolen is one that I have heard come up in the research over and over again. And I've had colleagues share examples of that happening, so they hold on really tightly to their ideas.

Katherine Torrini

Absolutely. 

Tina Dietz

I've heard that from many, many leaders over the past both as a coach and in podcasting, in vocal leadership, that there is that issue, and I've certainly experienced it myself, of translation. What you see in your head is so full and rich, and then being able to actually communicate that when you may not have the artistic skill to draw it or be able to do it in some sort of digital format but then it does come back down to writing and visual and communications. And if we don't have to hit it on the first time, if we don't have to be perfect the first time out and we allow space for that creative, iterative process, multiple iterations are required to kind of get down to when we get to that product point or even to a decision making point. It's so important to allow the room for that. 

I was recently listening to the audiobook version of a little book I didn't even know existed that John Cleese from Monty Python wrote, called Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide. And he cited some interesting research from the 60s on creativity. There was tons of research done in the 60s and 70s on creativity and then it got shelved for a very long time. But they did some research out of Berkeley on, I believe it was, architects and what constituted a creative architect or non-creative architect. One of the biggest factors in these architects who were considered in their industry highly creative was that they delayed having to make a decision for as long as they could. Not that they were procrastinating, but there had been a determination of, “Okay, we need to make a decision on this particular whatever it was in the project at this time.” And they didn't make a decision before that; they waited the entire time and then made a decision when they had to. So they had the maximum amount of time for that idle thinking, for creative iteration, for the processing time, for new information to present itself. And that generally ended up with a better quality idea at the end of the day or a better quality product. And I just find that really fascinating that we live in this culture where we often have a better product if we allow the time to wait. But there's such a time push for doing that. So do you have any thoughts on how we can start to shift cultures in the workplace to allow for a little bit more creative thinking or that idle thinking time?

Katherine Torrini

A couple of thoughts. One is scheduling spontaneity, if you will, not because you're like, “Okay, now we're here at nine o'clock, and we have to be spontaneous.” Because you're actually creating, putting aside time, you're putting it on your calendar, you're making it a priority. And as important as the other things. And the other thought is this: We often treat creativity in a transactional way, like, “I'm going to be creative, I'm going to sit down, I'm going to do this thing.” And I like to think of it more as a relationship. I joke that if you had a relationship with your sweetie, or with a best friend, and all you ever did was clean the garage, or go out to a fancy dinner, you're always on it, producing, you wouldn't have a very great relationship. So for me, a culture of creativity is a culture where you have a relationship with your creativity that sometimes turns into fabulous innovative ideas, and sometimes turns into a great product idea or a great way to implement service. But it isn't only transactional.

Dr. Minette Riordan

And I think we have to give people permission in the workplace to have creative ideation time, right? To be in that idle thinking, daydreaming, feet up on the desk, go for a 20-minute walk when you're feeling stuck. And so I think there has to be a culture that allows for that time, because people get so guilty. I even hear retired people say, when I'm not doing something, I'm not being productive, and if I'm not productive, I don't have value. And so idle time is often seen as a lack of productivity when it's the opposite. And our best ideas come, actually, from deep rest and deep play, not from work. And so making sure that we're scheduling that time, and then I 100% agree with scheduling spontaneity or scheduling creative work time, because what happens is our brains start processing before we ever sit down. And I think it was, I can't remember, it might have been Hemingway, but there was one writer who said at the end of every one of his writing sessions, he always left a sentence unfinished because he could come back the next time and just to pick up the pen and continue the story from that place. But if we come to a stopping place at the end of the sentence, then it feels done. And instead, that open-ended opportunity for creative thinking continues way outside the page. So I think learning, and I love how you described it, Katherine, as a relationship with our creativity feels right on and understanding that when we're washing dishes and taking showers, this is all creative time.

Tina Dietz  

Well, then, let's take a look at how can leaders – because leaders, we're the ones that are really modeling for our team, we're the ones who can really help embody the value of creativity to our own creativity in the workplace as we're leading – how can we start to ease into that more as leaders? What are some things we can do to model or embody to cultivate creativity in the workplace by our own example?

Dr. Minette Riordan

Taking time off, which leaders tend, including me, have a hard time doing, but actually scheduling an afternoon out of the office for creative time. A company that my husband and I have done a lot of work with over the last few years, Ontraport, I love the CFO says she has to kick the CEO out. She's like, “You get your best ideas when you're away from the office. Wednesday, I'm canceling everything on the books. Go away.” And so I think encouraging a culture of spaciousness instead of the over emphasis on productivity. What I hear from most people in corporate is their jobs are just so dense and there's so much to do, that the thought of taking an afternoon off is just completely daunting, and not necessarily supported by leadership.

Tina Dietz  

Yeah, whoever heard of somebody saying I got the best set of ideas at my desk today?

Dr. Minette Riordan

Not me.

Tina Dietz 

Yeah, it's always in your shower. It's in your car. You're at the park, over coffee, it's in a conversation. That's that kind of back end mental thinking where things are running on a subconscious level or semi-conscious level and then all of a sudden, bam, there it is, or you go to sleep at night, and you've been wrestling with a problem and in the morning, you look at it with fresh eyes and all of a sudden, it's as though your brain has been working on it all night, which it has. And then there it is in front of you, you can continue on. Katherine, what are some other ways that you see that we can model or embody this cultivating our own creativity at the workplace so that our teams can benefit?

Katherine Torrini

I completely agree with what Minette said about taking time off. It's not taking time off, you're actually on. I have something that I call a creative off site, or, it's a studio week is what I call it. I realized later when I was reading a book about productivity, actually, that it's a sprint, it's a creative sprint. So I actually was a little scared the first time or a little nervous the first time I said I'm out of the office in the studio this week working on internal. I'm working on this project. So I marked off and kind of publicized, I guess, because I put in my out of office, that I was focusing. I wasn't off having a vacation, which is also very important. I was focusing on a creative project, and I gave myself a whole week to build up to it, get ideas, and then four and five, you're in the, like, “Okay, we're doing the thing, I'm creating the actual final pieces.” And that's a fantastic way. I want to also talk about something that I call Friday My Day, which I know not everyone can do. But if you manage your own schedule, I've actually realized that if I didn't have a day for me as a creative and as a content producer to do whatever I wanted to happen – oftentimes it's classic, I'll take Friday off, and then I'll go for a hike and I'll just be writing blog posts on my phone, I'll be dictating, I get super creatively activated. And so I just started making it official and calling it Friday My Day. Either I'm creative and create content or I rest so that Saturday or Sunday or Monday I'm creative. I hate having to choose between creating content, like maybe I'm writing a course or a blog post or whatever it is, and hanging out with my family and taking care of my own self. You actually need to take your personal self care for who you are as a creative, and you need creative time. And that's how I've kind of built it into the week.

Tina Dietz  

Yeah, Katherine, I've heard you say before, “Creativity shouldn't just be for dessert. It's part of a balanced diet.” I love that.

Katherine Torrini

Did I say that? That’s an awesome quote.

Tina Dietz

You said that.

Dr. Minette Riordan

That is an awesome quote.

Tina Dietz 

Minette, you have some really good tips on being with our teams and some ways to bring our creativity as leaders, things we can do to model with our team, specifically, not just out of the office. Tell us some of those.

Dr. Minette Riordan

Yeah, so, as I was listening to you and Katherine, one of the things that came up in my mind was sharing your hobbies. I think we often also don't necessarily talk about what we do outside of the work, but maybe take everybody to a paint and sip once in a while to get out. And because no one necessarily does a great job there, then everybody gets to be in that beginner's mind together. But in sort of the management of being with teams, the most important thing is to create a culture of safety and openness around honoring the ideas. And one of my favorite approaches to that is to play the what-if game, and in fact, when anyone shares an idea, if you just put those two words, what if we, or what if you, or what if I in front of it, that takes all the should energy or must energy out of it, which triggers all of our inner rebel anyway. So playing the what-if game with everybody, and there's no feedback given on the ideas, there's only input of ideas, whether you bring in someone like Katherine to capture all that, which is genius, or whether people are writing on sticky notes or whiteboards and sticking them on the wall. I also always recommend, as much as possible, making that process visual. So I love the idea of bringing in someone like Katherine to help that because not everyone is an articulate thinker, from thought to word. And in fact, our very first language was through imagery. We started to recognize visual signs, our mother's faces, and through smell, and as Katherine said, then through drawing before we ever got to writing. So words aren't our first language, images are. So the more visual we can make these processes, the sillier it becomes. So think Pictionary for teams. And again, it's taking that pressure out of it needing to be a rigorous scientific process to get the best possible idea. So play. It all comes back to that idea of just deep play.

Tina Dietz  

Game Night. It’s kind of like it's not just for families, we should have it in our teams as well to free that up and be able to enjoy each other in the workplace, not just work together. One of the things I've always valued even though I've always run a remote team from all over the place is we will, as many of us have a background in voice acting, being an audio-based company, and a lot of times in team meetings we'll end up having an entire or part of a team meeting doing different character voices. And it's absolutely ridiculous. And it happens fairly organically, or we’ll end up in a pun war talking about something in a team meeting. I'm always grateful to my team for being willing to play and kind of jump into that space. And the interesting thing is, almost inevitably, when that happens, at the end of the conversation, someone will pop up with something, it's like, “Hey, I just realized something,” or, “Hey, I just thought of this.” And that little bit of play will stir something creatively in the team that moves the needle on something, what would have been completely unrelated. And in the research we did, we saw this reflected over and over again, that this space needs to happen. So we're all born creative. We're all born with imagination. And as we get older, that can get shut down a little bit. So when you are working with people, with teams, with leaders, how do you help people reconnect to their creativity? Katherine, let's start with you.

Katherine Torrini

Well, one of the key things to do is to first name the fear. You have to actually be in what we call right relationship with your inner critic, because we all have them. And that's the elephant in the room, if you will, or the saber toothed tiger in the room, if you will. I'd like to say that our inner critics are there to keep us safe and they're bored because we don't really have physical safety issues now, generally speaking, as adults in the working world. Sometimes I'll have folks do, to reduce the pressure and increase that feeling of psychological safety, we’ll actually do a saber toothed tiger check. We'll ask them to have fun with it and look around the room. Are there any saber toothed tigers? No, are you sure? Okay, if there are, by all means run, but if there aren't, then we can relax into this moment and play a little bit. So naming and demystifying the inner critic and showing that everyone has one and that it's going to come up during creative processes and it's part of the process, and you can just move past it pretty quickly, rather than stay stuck there, that's, I think, one of the key things. That's one of the things that when we talk about cultures of creativity, everyone's like, “Okay, great.” And then these things come up. And so we have to be prepared to deal with them.

Dr. Minette Riordan

Yeah, I love that. So I would take it even one step further and ask them to personify their inner critic, and have them draw a picture of what their inner critic looks like. And I remember leaving a workshop and this one woman, her inner critic was this little Sapoa Frog. And she's Hispanic. And I can't remember the frog's name, but it had a Hispanic sounding name. And it was just freaking hilarious, right? But when we can personify, again, it's that visual representation, we can have a conversation with it, we can create a different dialogue, we can take it and turn it upside down on the desk, or send it out for a cup of tea or a glass of wine. So I think personification would be the next thing. But I also love to get them to see all the ways they are already being creative that they hadn't thought of. So to make a list of the things that they enjoy doing: cooking, gardening, dancing, all the ways they’re already in that sort of atmosphere of creative problem solving and imaginative thinking outside of the workspace.

Tina Dietz 

One of the exercises that you do with your clients and also online, Katherine, I've seen you do, is this lovely idea of tiny creative acts, just little tiny things that you can do in short periods of time to help us get those creative juices flowing. So I would love to, right now, have a little playtime with the two of you and just do a little live brainstorm of potential tiny creative acts. And then we'll make sure all these little ideas are there for our listeners in the show notes on our website. And also, we'll have some visuals of some of both of your work so we can get a feel. I mentioned in the top of the episode, we have some powerful visuals in our episode today. So it's going to be extra important that listeners go back to the website so they can get these tiny creative acts, get inspired, and also get inspired by some of the visuals that are going to be there from the two of you. So are you ready to do a little bit of brainstorming together?

Katherine Torrini

Oh, yeah.

Tina Dietz

Okay, so brainstorming rules apply, which are basically, the wilder, the better. If you repeat somebody's answer more than once or you piggyback on it, that's wonderful. Iteration is great. There are no wrong answers. And we're just going to take a very quick 90 seconds to do this, so that it is a little bit more compressed for time so we have that energy in there. All right, ready and go.

Katherine Torrini

Double doodle. 

Tina Dietz

You can explain it.

Katherine Torrini

There's the doodle game where you just do a scribble and then you turn it into a bird by adding a beak and feet.

Dr. Minette Riordan

So soul scribbles where you just draw on a page and then you imagine what you can see in that. So now it takes 30 seconds and it's super fun.

Katherine Torrini

Take a line for a walk, where you imagine that the page that you're looking at is like a Google map of a neighborhood. And you take the line for a walk around the neighborhood as if it were a dog.

Dr. Minette Riordan

I love that one. Mindful color play, like draw a picture of colors having a party on a page, or your socks going to a party, like just anything where you're putting color on the page.

Tina Dietz

I know. One of my favorites is to grab some of my kids stuffed animals and give them my internal voices, external voices with their stuffed animals and have them talk to each other or even do it with other people just to create a little story.

Dr. Minette Riordan

Oh, I want to do that one. 

Katherine Torrini

I love it. And to piggyback on that, I have people make paper bag puppets of their inner critic, and then have them talk in that funny voice that they have, whatever it is, and then you can crumple it up and throw it across the room or stick it in a drawer.

Tina Dietz

Kick it.

Katherine Torrini

Throw it in the trunk.

Dr. Minette Riordan

Yep, I love that. Index card art, like really practicing creative constraints and limiting the size. So little scribbles and doodles on index cards. But I saw some things on Katherine's website that I really loved that I also do, and it's to take the practice outside. So one of my favorite creative practices, it's a creative act, is making mandalas in nature. So just especially on the beach, gathering seaweed, rocks, sticks, anything like that, and creating a mandala out in nature is really fun for me.

Katherine Torrini

What I love – I'm going to build on that. The beauty of a mandala is that when you make one decision, you just repeat it all the way around. So it ends up looking really cool, but you don't have to know where you're going. And one little decision makes all the decisions for you. So another creative act is whenever I find fallen flower petals or leaves, or I’ve even done this with dirt, you just play with it and turn it into something. I often will do hearts or something else or a smile, and then you photograph it and leave it wherever it is. Like the idea that it's ephemeral and it'll be washed away, or maybe someone will come and eat it. Maybe some animal will come and eat it if you put berries in a particular line to really get away from the idea of product and just be in that joyful, playful, childlike relationship with your creativity.

Dr. Minette Riordan

Yeah, building on that, sidewalk chalk is your best friend. Grab your kids’ sidewalk chalk and go out and leave love notes on your front sidewalk for your neighbors. Draw hearts or silly pictures. So sidewalk chalk outside is super fun.

Tina Dietz 

Quick ones also are dance breaks. Just a little bit of music and dancing around or maybe even allowing yourself to feel like you're embodying an animal or a character or a rockstar of some kind. Take two minutes and just allow yourself to pretend, maybe like you did when you were a little kid, that you were either a superhero or a rock star or something like that and dance to the music.

Dr. Minette Riordan

One of the most fun things I saw during the pandemic was when a neighbor put a big chalkboard out in front of his house and every day he had a new dad joke on the chalkboard. I would walk out of my way around my neighborhood to see dad jokes. So what if in the workplace there was some place where people just got to tell silly jokes where we walk by and it's written on a whiteboard somewhere. So dad jokes are awesome.

Tina Dietz

Just like his own church sign. That's amazing. 

Dr. Minette Riordan

It totally was. It was brilliant.

Tina Dietz

I love that. I love that. I love that so much. All right, great. So I think this is only scratching the surface of what's possible with tiny creative acts. We will put all of these together in a list. And if you are following us on social media, we're also going to be posting about these tiny creative acts and inviting you to add on your own tiny creative acts, things to do. Creativity thrives in community, and it thrives in communication. And I think it's so interesting that both of you touched on some other themes from some of our other episodes. Psychological safety was one, that was one of our first two episodes, psychological safety and on sharing your hobbies and bringing your whole self to work and how hobbies actually can transform and influence leadership. So it's always so interesting to me how, as we're exploring these different aspects of leadership and workplace culture and communication, how everything connects the dots together. And I appreciate both of you being here today. Let's finish up with just some creativity resources that you might recommend. We’ll certainly recommend both of your websites and social media links, which we’ll, of course, be including, but what about books, workshops or conferences that you might recommend? Minette?

Dr. Minette Riordan

Well, that's a big one. I'm super excited to be speaking this year for the first time at the CPSI, the Creative Problem Solving Institute Conference, which, to be steeped for a week, not even excited about my presentation, but about being around all these people in the creative problem solving industry. So CPSI is a great one for people to consider. Florida also has a big creativity conference annually that's a very, sort of, almost an unconference open format model. I haven't been to that one, but I've heard it's super imaginative and playful. So those are two conferences off the top of my head. And my list of books is way too long to even get started, probably like Katherine's.

Katherine Torrini

Where I would point folks is, this is the work for the leader or for individuals and the leader, although she does have The Artist’s Way at Work. The Artist’s Way was foundational to my recovering and discovering my creative self as an adult, and I've always identified as an artist, so it's great. It's powerful work. I've done it many times, I've taught it, and I highly recommend it. And in fact, my creativity courses are inspired by some of the structures that she has in her course.

Tina Dietz

And that's Julia Cameron right?

Katherine Torrini

Julia Cameron, yeah.

Tina Dietz

Julia Cameron, right. Well, we will include some of these, as well as some additional links to other books, associations, conferences and articles on our website at DrinkFromTheWellPodcast.com. Thank you so much for being here today, Dr. Minette and Katherine for this conversation on creativity. And thank you for being out in the world with your full heart and for being these expert, vulnerable leaders who create such lovely spaces for people to step into to create more creativity and results in the workplace as well as in their own lives. Thanks for gathering around the well with us today. And I invite you back for another drink of our executive elixir as we bring the worlds of leadership, innovation, creativity and communication together. Follow us on your favorite podcast app and journey over to DrinkFromTheWellPodcast.com for transcripts, show notes, and links for all the wisdom in today's episode. We're always here to refresh and to entertain you anytime you need a drink from the well. Drink From The Well is an original production of Twin Flames Studios and hosted by me, Tina Dietz. This episode of Drink From the Well was produced by Stephen George, Rye Taylor, and our beloved tripod, which includes Nadia Cox, Alayna Carley, and Darek Blackburn.

About our Guest Experts – Cultivating a Culture of Creativity

Dr. Minette Riordan is a risk-taker and curiosity seeker who loves jumping feet first into business building and art making. Her mantra is, “how hard can it be?” A modern day Renaissance woman, Minette is an artist, writer, award-winning entrepreneur and advocate for creativity as essential to the well-being of all people and our planet.
She has built several successful businesses and published 3 books including her best seller The Artful Marketer. Minette is the creator of the Emerge Method™, a simple and effective transformational process for helping others to activate their creativity and map their purpose. She believes that when we are all working in our highest and best creative genius, we can solve all the world’s problems.

Katherine Torrini is a creativity expert, visual strategist and innovation catalyst who has brought her visual magic to the likes of NASA, Dell, Coca-Cola, KPMG, Southwest Airlines and The Institute for the Future.

A life-long artist and visual journaler, Katherine has found the perfect professional niche where her superpower of “thinking outside her brain” is highly prized and sought after: Graphic Recording and Visual Facilitation. She travels the world drawing real-time, mural-sized, infographics at conferences, talks and corporate events, where these spontaneous visuals mesmerize viewers, activate creative problem solving and unlock the wisdom of the room.

Katherine’s ability to make the invisible visible captures themes, illuminates connections and reveals patterns, while getting stakeholders “on the same page”—literally! This leads to increased engagement, deeper conversations, more innovative solutions, accelerated decision making and authentic buy-in. Always keen to share her markers, Katherine’s visual thinking trainings empower teams to use their whole brains to think, communicate and collaborate better.

Episode Featured Resources

The Artful Marketer by Dr. Minette Riordan

Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide by John Cleese

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Free Course: Paint Your Way to Self-Confidence

Free Coloring Page

What is Graphic Recording?

Graphic recording is essentially visual note-taking. It involves the capturing and translation of spoken word into powerful, memorable drawings. Here are some stunning samples courtesy of Katherine Torrini:

Graphic recording titled "Meditation on the Job: Mental Health for Remote Workers"
Graphic recording titled "Education is Freedom"
Graphic recording celebrating ten years of ServiceNow
Graphic recording titled "Hope and Healing for Central Texans"

Tiny Creative Acts

Tiny Creative Acts are simple things that you can do in short periods of time to help get your creative juices flowing and futher help in cultivating a culture of creativity in your organization. Below are some examples. See the Leaders’ Discussion Guide for more examples and information.

Leaders’ Discussion Guide – Cultivating a Culture of Creativity:

How to prepare to lead this discussion session with your team:
  • Review the summary of the survey by IBM Tina discusses at the beginning of the episode by using the transcript above. Give yourself the space to answer these questions honestly:
    1. Whether you are confident in your organization’s ability to deal with ambiguity and transformation. 
    2. What are the roadblocks your company is facing?
    3. Are you embodying and modeling the value of creativity in the workplace? Do you schedule creative time for yourself as a leader? Or is there an over-emphasis on productivity?
Questions to discuss WITH your team about Cultivating a Culture of Creativity in the workplace:
  1. Have them listen to the episode first to create common ground and context for the conversation.
  2. What ways are we currently fostering creativity in the workplace, or are we at all? Is there time in the day for people to have creative ideation time? 
  3. Does everyone feel psychologically safe enough to share their creative ideas?
  4. Sometimes, we just need a little push. As a team, try one (or multiple) of these tiny creative acts mentioned in the show to get your creative juices flowing before diving into the decision-making and brainstorming for the day.
    1. Double Doodle: Doodle game where you just do a scribble and then you turn it into a bird by adding a beak and feet.
    2. Take a line for a walk: Imagine that the page that you're looking at is like a Google map of a neighborhood, and you take the line for a walk around the neighborhood as if it were a dog.
    3. Mindful color play: Draw a picture of colors having a party on a page, or your socks going to a party. Anything where you're putting color on the page.
    4. Give inanimate objects voices: Grab some stuffed animals and give them voices and have them talk to each other, or even do it with other people just to create a little story. Be as silly as you want.
    5. Index card art: Little scribbles and doodles on index cards to limit the size and practice creative restraints.
    6. Make mandalas: Gather seaweed, rocks, sticks, anything like that, and create a mandala out in nature.
    7. Sidewalk chalk: Grab your kids’ sidewalk chalk and go out and leave love notes on your front sidewalk for your neighbors. Draw hearts or silly pictures.
    8. Dance breaks: Just need a little bit of music and dancing around. Maybe even allowing yourself to feel like you're embodying an animal or a character or a rockstar of some kind. Take two minutes and just allow yourself to pretend, maybe like you did when you were a little kid, that you were either a superhero or a rock star and dance to the music.
    9. Company chalk/white board for people to write/draw on at any time: Some place where people just get to tell silly jokes where coworkers walk by and it's written on a whiteboard somewhere.
  5. ADVANCED: Take Dr. Minette Riordan’s advice (20:54) and prepare your team to play the What-If Game as it relates to your business.

Inspired to turn your Voice into influence and become a Thought Leader worth listening to?

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Woman holding mug staring at window at cityscape

How To Free Yourself From “Emotional Velcro” And Create Psychological Safety In The Workplace

Woman holding mug staring at window at cityscape

You woke up feeling great this morning, but as you’ve completed projects and spoken with colleagues, you find yourself running out of steam. You feel burdened, anxious, or drained. Something is off. Why? You may be experiencing the effects of “emotional velcro.”

As we interact with others throughout the day, the emotions we encounter leave a residue on us because we are by nature empathic beings. Let’s say, for example, that your spouse has a stressful morning and you’re wondering how their afternoon is going or one of your team members feels stuck about an upcoming project and takes you into their confidence, seeking advice. Those emotions aren’t yours, but they can stick to you like velcro and color every interaction you have for the rest of the day. Emotional velcro has a compounding effect because when we are weighed down by it, we also leave our own emotional velcro behind for others to bear. If left unaddressed, emotional velcro hinders our ability to effectively communicate, influences our team’s emotional state and, ultimately, diminishes our leadership ability.

The good news is we can clear the emotional velcro we pick up and reclaim our energy while still being empathetic leaders. By clarifying our emotions, determining a strategy to process them and intentionally choosing our emotional states, we successfully manage our own emotions and maximize our emotional elasticity (our ability to emotionally adapt and engage). Furthermore, clearing our own emotional velcro ensures we continuously communicate with transparency and integrity, which means we do not transfer any emotional velcro to our team. As we lead by example, we contribute to creating a culture and workplace of psychological safety for our teams.

In order to accomplish these goals, there are a number of strategies we can use. Here are three to consider:

1. Self-evaluate.

Ask yourself, “Why am I feeling this way? Is there anything I am carrying that is not mine to bear?” Distinguishing if an emotion is yours or not is sometimes enough to release the velcro for us. In other situations, what someone else is going through may trigger some emotions of our own that may need to be readdressed. In either case, discerning what the source of the emotional velcro is and who it belongs to can bring either immediate relief or give us an opening for an empowered next step.

2. Self-address.

Address the struggle that the interaction has uncovered by getting curious about solutions and taking action. Sometimes, the solution is that we need to talk with someone else like a coach, counselor or other trusted source. Other times, we simply need to combat the issue with the truth about ourselves or the situation.

3. Shift your emotional state.

We have the power to learn to intentionally shift our emotional states. Just like learning to read or catch a ball, this is a skill set that simply takes practice — and that practice is not something most of us have consciously had before. Intentionally shifting does not mean denying what we are feeling or not caring about others; rather, it means consciously choosing and embodying an emotional state so we are not weighed down by emotional velcro. Embodiment techniques vary, and ample research exists explaining why they can be so effective. According to a study from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, when we smile, it can actually help us feel happier. We can also use simple vocal techniques and “power poses” to release the stress we are feeling.

Engaging in this process of self-evaluating, self-addressing and shifting maximizes our emotional elasticity and brings more psychological safety to ourselves and the people around us as we lead by example. We may not be stress-free and revitalized overnight, but every time we “reset,” we are able to shift our emotional state more easily and more quickly. This allows us to establish deeper, more authentic connections with our team, be more present and pour into them from a place of wholeness, instead of scarcity. Psychologically safe workplaces begin with leadership. Shed your emotional velcro and see what happens.

Read and watch more Frequently Asked Questions about Audiobooks and benefit from our expertise, or Contact Us for more information and forthright advice about producing, distributing, and profiting from Audiobooks. Plus, download our Vocal Leadership Workout to develop and refine your the most influential tool you have — your voice!

What most surprised you, or what do you still want to know? Let us know your thoughts below!

About Tina Dietz:

Tina Dietz is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and vocal leadership expert whose work and shows have been featured on media outlets including ABC, NBC, CBS, The Wall Street Journal and Chicago Tribune, Inc.com, and Forbes. She’s been named one of the top podcasters for entrepreneurs by INC.com, and Tina’s company, Twin Flames Studios, re-imagines thought leadership through podcasting and audiobooks for experts, executives, and founders.

Working with a Ghostwriter – What You Need to Know

You might have a book inside you, waiting to be written, yet lack the time, desire or discipline to sit down and put pen to page. Dana Micheli explains that’s where a ghostwriter comes in.

Ghostwriter Tina Dietz Twin Flames Studios

There is a saying that everyone has at least one book in them; however, not everyone has the time, desire or discipline to sit down and write it. That’s where a ghostwriter comes in. Here are some tips for finding the right person to get that story out of your head and onto the page.

As with any investment, you want to engage in some due diligence before beginning your search for a ghostwriter. Research the average length of the sort of book you want to write, typical ghostwriting rates, and what is included (for example, additional research or a book proposal). You should learn enough to prepare a list of questions before meeting with someone to discuss your project.

Choosing a writer

Ghostwriting is a highly collaborative process, one that requires trust and compatibility. You’ll likely be providing this person with deeply personal or proprietary information, so you want to make sure you have a rapport with them. Healthy communication is key. You always have final say over what goes into your book and what’s “off the record”; this means that while a good ghostwriter will offer you their opinion, they should never push you into including something you’re not comfortable with. Also keep in mind that some details may be problematic from a legal standpoint. A ghostwriter is not a lawyer and should not be relied upon as such; however, they should be able to point out red flags with regard to certain names or facts and advise you to exclude them, change them, or consult an attorney.

Some things to discuss when interviewing a ghostwriter

  • What does their process look like? I interview someone at least twice at the beginning so I can get enough information to create the book outline and, more importantly, get a sense of their voice. Once the outline has been finalized, I let the client decide whether they would like to deliver the rest of the content/messaging through interviews, material they have written, or audio files they record on their iPhone when they feel inspired. They must also be available to answer any questions I have about the subject matter, and review the material as I send it. Asking about the process will give you a good idea of your time commitment to the project.
  • Writing samples and references: While it certainly makes sense to ask for writing samples, it’s important to understand that they may not be on point with your subject matter. This is okay. What you really need to know is whether the person can write in an engaging, intelligent fashion, as well as in different voices and for various audiences.
  • Does their contract have clear terms? This includes things like confidentiality, copyright ownership, whether they receive credit of authorship (some ghostwriters do and some do not), the payment schedule, and overall timeframe for the project.

The manuscript is complete. Now what?

Actually, I like to have this discussion before the writing begins. Authors have a few different options with regard to publishing – for example, they can self-publish, engage a small publishing house, or seek a literary agent who will pitch the manuscript for them. There are pros and cons to each, and your choice will depend on several factors such as budget and marketing goals. You'll also want to consider different formats such as e-books and audiobooks. You don’t have to have all the answers from the outset, but it is prudent to get all the facts so that by the time the book is finished you have a clear plan on how to get it to market. 

It can be challenging to find the right ghostwriter, but the rewards – a highly productive partnership and a top quality book – are well worth it!

Ghostwriter Tina Dietz Twin Flames Studios

Dana Micheli is a ghostwriter, copy editor, book doctor, and owner of Writers In The Sky (WITS). She has written and edited numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, including novels, memoirs, and news articles, as well as résumés and business/marketing documents. While she works with a wide variety of genres, she most often takes projects of a spiritual nature, including books by and about mediums, Reiki masters, empaths, lightworkers and starseeds. 

Before pursuing her writing career full-time, Dana worked as a Systems Advocate for the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence, where she lobbied state and federal politicians on behalf of victims of abuse. She also served as the Manager of PR/Communications for The New York Women's Foundation, where she was responsible for writing press releases and articles for the website, organizing events, and liaising with the media. In addition, she has worked for several media outlets, writing and researching legal, political and human interest stories for print, online and television. In late 2010, she began working for WITS founder Yvonne Perry.

Dana has a B.A. in English from Southern Connecticut State University and a Juris Doctor from New York Law School. She lives in New York City.

Dana Micheli – Ghostwriter, Copy Editor, Book Doctor, and Owner of Writers In The Sky

We are ready to help you through the audiobook process

Ep 2493: Twelve Minute Convos w/ Tina Dietz [Podcast]

​I am back with Engel Jones for another amazing Twelve Minute Convos podcast. Such a great concept to spread so many voices(Podcast on Twelve Minute Convos, October, 2019)

twelve minutes convos - Tina Dietz

Tina Dietz is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed speaker, audiobook publisher, podcast producer, and influence marketing expert who has been featured on media outlets including ABC, Inc.com, Huffington Post and Forbes. Tina’s first podcast, The StartSomething Show, was named by INC magazine as one of the top 35 podcasts for entrepreneurs.

In 2016, Tina was the recipient of the Evolutionary Business Council MORE award and in 2017 she received the award for Outstanding Audio Company from The Winner’s Circle. She is also a member of the EBC leadership body and a founding member of the Forbes Coaches Council. Tina was also the lead interviewer in the podcasting documentary “The Messengers” and featured in the film.

Tina splits her time between the US and Costa Rica where she’s part of the leadership team building a community of conscious leaders called Vista Mundo.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

  • How are you doing? [01:01]
  • What’s the latest with you? [01:52]
  • Is the StartSomething Show podcast in hiatus? [03:11]
  • Where is the best place to connect with you? [04:04]
  • On being a stem from an entrepreneurial family. [05:04]
  • Is David in the picture still? [07:13]
  • In closing, is there anything else you’d like to share with our amazing audience? [11:58]

How to Use Audio to Get Your Kids to Learn

Why using audio to get your kids to learn is an easy and convenient way to give them opportunities to become even more well-rounded and well-educated.

Audio Marketing Get Your Kids to Learn - Tina Dietz - audiobook expert

In a world full of distractions like YouTube, thousands of different video games, social media, toys, sports, etc., it’s not always easy to get our kids to learn, much less develop and cultivate their interests and skills. But school is enough, right? Wrong. Everyone learns differently-some visually, some are more hands-on learners, and some learn best through audio, which provides a large variety of ways for kids to learn.

With the rise in popularity of podcasts and audiobooks, more and more ways to help kids get get excited about learning and discover new interests are popping up every day. Using audio to help kids learn is an easy and convenient way to give our kids opportunities to become even more well-rounded and well-educated, hopefully resulting in a young person who grows up to love learning.

Here are some ways you can use audio to get your kids to learn so that you can get started right away. They’ll thank you for it!

Using audiobooks to get kids to learn is different from reading with them and is also very different from just sitting them in front of the TV and allowing them to watch shows (even if they are educational). Listening to audiobooks forces children to use different skills than reading and allows for much more imagination than the TV. Children who find reading difficult can also find great relief in being able to listen to a book. Audiobooks are great for car rides, time when children are self-entertaining while you’re cooking dinner, or even for you to listen to together and discuss after. Some ideas of ways to use audiobooks for children’s learning are:

  • Find fun stories for themThere are tons of audiobooks for children of fun, engaging stories with colorful language for them to use their imaginations, learn words, get excited about listening to the stories, and want to talk about them after.  These can be great conversation starters, so make sure to engage with your child about what you listen to together!
  • Provide sketchbooks and crayons or pencilsThis helps them to further utilize their imagination. While they’re listening, they can draw what they think their favorite characters might look like, strengthening their creativity and encouraging them to use a part of their brain that looking at pictures in books doesn’t activate.
  • In the case of children who find reading difficult, audiobooks can be a tremendous reliefKids can keep up with their schoolwork easier and also become more confident in their reading abilities by listening to an audiobook at the same time that they’re following along with a print or digital version of the book. By engaging more than one of their learning senses at the same time, the brain can integrate the information with more ease.
  • Be close by to answer any questionsIn order for an audiobook to really be engaging and educational, you’ll want to make sure you can define unknown words for them, answer questions about the story as it unfolds, or even just listen to their excitement as they tell you all about what they’re listening to.

More than half of people in the US listen to podcasts weekly, and yes, they can be used for children as well. Many people think that podcasts are always about business or politics, but there are a ton of different podcasts that exist, and many of them are for children! Some teachers utilize podcasts in their classrooms, and you can use them at home to get your kids to learn, too. There are book club podcasts for kids, science ones, fictional stories, and so much more. Podcasts can be utilized similarly to audiobooks to help kids learn, but they can also be used in the following ways:

  • Podcasts offer the advantage of being shorter, and once your child finds one they particularly like, there are usually a whole slew of episodes from that one podcaster from which they can choose.
  • You can have them create their own podcasts! – Free podcast recording software might not be good enough quality to publish, but it IS good enough to encourage your kids to research topics they like or write their own story. Help them record it, have fun with it, and listen to it as a family (or with friends) later. They’ll have something they’re proud of, and it will encourage them to delve further into their interests and passions. It also encourages a use of words that children usually aren’t otherwise engaging.
  • Podcasts are free and easy to download. Put them on your phone, tablet, or even on your computer.

Long story short, there are SO many options when it comes to using audio to help children to learn, and create the beautiful “side effect” of giving you and your kids great conversation topics to explore together. While we still greatly encourage and recommend that you read with your kids and have them read any and all types of books, podcasts and audiobooks are a great addition to any child’s learning and language skills. They’re also an excellent resource for children with learning challenges. Audio teaches all kids to listen for things to talk about later, to develop their imaginations, and develop the ability to ask engaging questions.

Do you have a favorite audiobook or podcast that would be great for kids or families?Please share in the comments, and have fun learning!

Have thought of publishing your audiobook?

What Are Your Favorite Ways to Procrastinate

Ah…procrastination…the “P” word that everyone thinks is bad. Let's take a look at some favorite ways to procrastinate, while trying to understand why we do it.

Ways to Procrastinate - StartSomething Creative Business Solutions Tina Dietz

Ah…procrastination…the “P” word that everyone thinks is bad, but let’s be honest with ourselves…we all do it. I’m doing it right now by writing this when I could be doing a list of a million other things. It’s a really strange phenomenon that people tend to put off the things that are most important to them. But WHY do we always seem to do it during our most life-changing moments, when there’s something we REALLY want to be doing that could be a path-to-greatness, amazing thing to do? And why do we procrastinate with things we don’t even really want to be doing (like laundry) in place of the awesome ones?

I don’t know the scientific answers to these questions, but I do know my own experiences. I always find myself about to sit down to do something life-changing, and then I think to myself, “Oh, maybe I should just get the dishes done first” or “I should really do my makeup for the webinar I’m doing this afternoon. It’ll just take a minute” or even worse, “I think there’s some laundry that needs to be put away” (the problem here is that there’s ALWAYS laundry that needs to be put away).

Sometimes we WANT to procrastinate, because when you plan everything out and take it slow and calmly, there’s no rush at the end that gives you adrenaline as you race your way to the finish line. Some of us work best in that state of mind, so we actually procrastinate just to get there because it can be kind of a let-down without the excitement at the end.

Some of my absolute favorite ways to procrastinate are folding laundry, email (which can be productive or a big time-waster), and writing blogs like this one. I also always find myself saying, “Well, I was going to make a Facebook Live video later, but maybe I’ll just do one right now,” which isn’t always a bad thing for me because I’m an extrovert, and I thrive off of interacting with my viewers. I’m motivated by it. So, even though I’m procrastinating, it’s productive procrastination.

Productive Procrastination

When I was in grad school, I got into trouble (as I so often did when I was working for someone else) for having individual tutoring sessions with students where I taught them how to procrastinate effectively. Resisting the urge to procrastinate actually does you no good because it causes more stress, which in turn causes the brain to shut down, so you’re just not as effective. The trick is to make sure your calendar is blocked off a full day ahead of time. Acknowledge that you’re probably going to wait until the last second to get it done, but maybe you don’t have to lose sleep to accomplish that. Instead, maybe you can strategically plan your calendar by building in twice as much time as you think you’re going to need so you’re not rushing up against other deadlines (like sleep).

Another trick is to understand that sometimes you just won’t get as much sleep as you really should. Although sleep and self-care are absolutely the best things you can do to help yourself be MORE productive, sometimes you have to get creative with how you’ll get your brain to be fully functioning. One of these ways is to set a number of hours you are going to sleep, sleep that number of hours (no more, no less) during the same hours every night. Then, ideally, during the day, block off 20-30 minutes at the same time every single day for a meditation session or power nap. Keeping your body on a strict schedule like this allows your brain to adjust to routine and operate at full capacity.

If you are a big procrastinator or have “Happy Puppy Syndrome” like me, you tend to wag yourself out and get exhausted because you’ve put TOO much energy into something too quickly. Give yourself 2-3 big priorities each day, and focus on those 2-3 things as your rock for the day. Those are your main points of focus, and everything else just falls in around them.

So, what are your favorite ways to procrastinate? And what are you up to this week? Give yourself 2-3 main priorities each day, and even if it takes you the whole day to do it, that’s okay! Procrastinate away, but do it effectively so you’re not hurting yourself (or your work) in the process.

Want some help figuring out how you can set up some ways to Productive Procrastinate?

How Pissed Off Do You Need To Be To Change?

The key to tapping into anger as a tool is to allow ourselves to go underneath the anger into the underlying commitment behind the anger. Are you pissed off enough to change?

To Change - Tina Dietz

Why did you set the goals for yourself that you’ve set? Why start the business, the book, the project?

I was at a mastermind event with a group of business leaders in Austin, TX led by the incredible Candy Barone and when this subject came up, and the answer was surprisingly consistent among the people in the room.

We had gotten pissed off. Angry. Even righteous….and decided to do something about it.

In the worlds of leadership, personal development, and transformation we often shy away from using or acknowledging anger as a motivating force, but it can be a tremendous source of energy and forward momentum.

The key to tapping into anger as a tool is to allow ourselves to go underneath the anger into the underlying commitment behind the anger.

What we get most fired up about are usually those areas that hold the most meaning for us. Things that aren’t meaningful to us tend to fade in and out of our awareness without leaving a lasting impression.

There’s a deep commitment that you have to something underneath the emotional fire, something that calls you to react strongly and feel motivated to respond and take action. Now imagine using that automatic motivation, that intense rush of energy, and putting it to use towards effective action that is in alignment with your commitment, your values, your passion.

For your brain and business ‘food’ this week and viewing pleasure, here’s what we’re discussing:

  • Tapping into what gets you angry as a tool to create more clarity
  • Aligning your goals with your values
  • Red flags to pay attention to when it comes to anger
  • Using your anger as a directional needle to get more focused
  • How to direct your anger and upset into productive, clear action.

What do you get fired up about and what’s your underlying commitment that triggers that response? Let’s get the conversation going and unleash your voice – the world needs you!

Ready to turn that anger into a productive business?

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