Ep. 88 The Stern Truth: June 30 is Leap of Faith Day With Carmen Leibel

It’s June 30th, what Carmen Leibel and I have dubbed Leap of Faith Day!

Carmen is my guest on this episode. She started as a news anchor in Edmonton, Alberta, but, during the pandemic, she grew concerned about the isolation she was seeing. For Carmen, there was a lack of strong communication and leadership, and she knew that she could help.

It wasn’t easy for Carmen to change her career – in fact, it stressed her out to take the leap. Leaving a stable job with a great network wasn’t easy. But with cheerleaders in her corner like her family and her business coach, she took a huge risk. She started up a pilot program with the goal of helping kids feel more comfortable speaking in front of others.

The goal that Carmen had was to create more confident communicators. Carmen’s business, Project Five, helps people understand their voice and feel confident using it. Now, she’s helped over 5,000 youth and hundreds of professionals, proving that her big risk paid off.

Carmen leaped into a new career while I shut down my sign business, locking the doors for the last time. Two different leaps but both with satisfying paths. We both knew that June 30th held significance for us, and that’s why we’ve named it Leap of Faith Day.

Carmen gave golden nugget after golden nugget in this episode: bet on yourself, believe in yourself, and listen to your gut. And know your audience! I really love that one because anyone, and I mean anyone, can benefit from better communication.

See Carmen’s work here:

Website: www.projectfive.ca

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Transcript

[00:00:00] Marshall Stern: All right, my friends, this episode's coming out on June the 30th, and the reason this is important is because I'm calling June 30th moving forward Leap of Faith Day. You're going to have to listen to this episode to learn more as to why it's Leap of Faith Day. Because in our sit-down with this amazing guest, you're going to hear some similarities between her and I and what June 30th means to us and what it can mean to you as well.

[00:00:29] Grab your pad of paper and pen and enjoy this special sit-down.

[00:00:39] Hi, I'm Marshall Stern and I've spent over 35 years leading and growing multiple small businesses. I know firsthand the struggles of entrepreneurship, feeling isolated, lonely, overwhelmed, and feeling like you have to do it all by yourself. I've been through multiple recessions, and I have felt the highs and the lows. 

[00:00:57] I've been there, and I get it. This podcast is here to change that. Every week I will bring you straight talking advice, real world strategies, and honest conversations about what it takes to succeed in business without the fluff, the gimmicks, or the sugar-coated. If you're ready to stop spinning your wheels and start making real progress, then you are in the right place. 

[00:01:21] This is the Stern Truth

[00:01:26] Welcome back everyone to another episode of the Stern Truth Business Unfiltered. Okay, I want to introduce you today to Carmen. Carmen, how are you? 

[00:01:36] Carmen Leibel: I gave a little wave. 

[00:01:37] Marshall Stern: Gave a little wave. 

[00:01:38] Carmen Leibel: Ah. I'm doing so well. I – it's a windy day here in the Edmonton area, so it's nice to be cozy inside chatting with you, Marshall.

[00:01:46] Marshall Stern: I've been looking forward to this. We've had this planned for a few months now. Now, I want to, I want you to tell everyone, we're going to get into a little of your entrepreneurial journey, what you're currently doing – 

[00:01:55] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. 

[00:01:55] Marshall Stern: What you did before. But I'm going to give a shout-out because we met through the amazing Kelly Kennedy.

[00:02:01] Carmen Leibel: We did. Connector. 

[00:02:02] Marshall Stern: He is the connector and Catalyst Club. So, I'm giving a shout-out to him and Catalyst Club and the Business Development Podcast and his other new podcast, which is also doing amazing things out there. I Used to Work There, I believe is what it's called. I Used to Work There. 

[00:02:17] Carmen Leibel: Yep. I've been a guest already.

[00:02:18] Marshall Stern: Oh, I have to, I have to... Okay. I’ve got to listen to that – I have to listen to that episode. Has it come out yet? 

[00:02:23] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. 

[00:02:23] Marshall Stern: Okay. I have to listen to that episode. I've been, and I've been on his other podcast, the Business Development, but I have to come up with some story for the I Used to Work There. But I haven't been an employee forever, so it, it's hard to – 

[00:02:34] Carmen Leibel: Oh, yeah.

[00:02:35] Marshall Stern: …have come up with, right? It's a good point. I don't remember. I have – I have employee stories. Okay. Enough about that. But yeah, so thank you Kelly, because he's, he's curated this amazing group of, of entrepreneurs and thinkers, thought leaders. And I wouldn't have known you, you know, I’m not from Edmonton.

[00:02:53] I'm not from... So, I wouldn't, because, okay, forget it. Enough. Yeah. Tell us what you currently do and where you came from. What were you doing before? 

[00:03:01] Carmen Leibel: So, yeah, maybe I'll kind of go back in time a little bit. I come from a broadcast journalism background. I worked with CTV mainly in Edmonton for close to 20 years.

[00:03:13] Started out as a writer in the newsroom, just writing the copy for the news anchors and the reporters, then I became a video journalist, so, like, camera on my shoulder doing the interviews. Pretty high pressure, high-stress job, especially in your early 20s when you're still trying to, like, figure things out.

[00:03:31] But I learned so much in that role, quick thinking, quick writing, relationship building. Yeah, it was awesome. Every day was different, different stories. Yeah. From there, I became a health reporter. So, I was actually in charge of a four-minute health segment. And Marshall, that was my most favorite job in the newsroom by far.

[00:03:52] I got to meet really, really inspirational people. I'd be, like, in the depths of a hospital talking to a cool surgeon and meeting researchers and inspirational families at, at the Stollery Children's Hospital. Yeah, I loved that job, and I was a health reporter for maybe five or six years. And then from there, I, I anchored the 5:00 PM News for CTV Edmonton, and I did that for about the last seven years of my career.

[00:04:21] And I really felt that job and that role helped me really get to know my community. I became connected with some really awesome people of all kinds, and I have to say that's absolutely helped me on my journey as an entrepreneur now. And the whole plan and idea came to me to, to actually quit my news anchor job happened during the pandemic, and I started to feel quite concerned about the lack of communication skills that I was noticing with youth.

[00:04:53] My daughters were in grades three and six at the time in the pandemic, and you know, the online learning, the social isolation, and I remember saying to my husband, I'm like, "I'm concerned about tomorrow's leaders with this lack of communication that's happening." And I said to him, I'm like, "I feel like I can help.

[00:05:10] With all of the skills that I've learned throughout my journalism career, all of the skills that I've taught myself as a host, as an emcee, as an interviewer, as a networker, a connector, relationship builder, I feel like I can help." And so that's kind of where, where the idea sprouted. And my husband is a business owner himself, and he was like, "Man, I sure wish..."

[00:05:30] Because he doesn't love public speaking. I've helped him along the way. But he said, "You know, man, I sure wish somebody helped me when I was young" To, to feel more confident and comfortable using my voice. And so that's where the idea really kind of sprouted. I could take up, like, two hours of your time, but long story short, I – the – my business idea started thinking that I'm going to work with youth, helping them become more confident communicators.

[00:05:57] I started running kind of some pilots in schools in the morning before going into the newsroom, and by the way, nobody in the newsroom knew I was doing this. It was a complete, like, secret side hustle. But I wanted to see first if it was going to work, and so yeah, I saw the trajectory. I... As I was running these pilots in schools, I could see the growth with the kids right away.

[00:06:18] I saw light bulbs going off. They're like, "You mean you can help me feel more comfortable speaking in front of others?" And the ideas just kind of like poured out of me building this curriculum. I quit my job in spring of 2023, took the summer off, and we'll talk about that special date in a little bit, Marshall.

[00:06:36] And then in the fall is when I fully launched my business, and I have zero regrets. It is the most rewarding, energizing path that I could have ever... I couldn't have even imagined it, to be honest. I've... Since September of 2023 to now, I've worked with over 5,000 youth and hundreds of professionals, helping them become more confident communicators.

[00:07:03] It has gone in directions that I, I didn't even knew were – didn't even think were possible. And yeah, I mean, I could go on and on and on, but it's... That's my before journey, which I'm so grateful for. I took a big leap, a big risk that was scary, and here I am today, now just under three years in my business.

[00:07:23] Marshall Stern: So yeah, we're... So that's awesome, and we're going to get to that special date in a minute. It was easy, right? Easy, easy transition. 

[00:07:31] Carmen Leibel: Oh, yeah. Easy. Take – taking a leap of faith. 

[00:07:33] Carmen Leibel: No sweat. No, not at all. I was – I hired a business coach because I had all of the ideas and I'm, I'm really good with kids I've come to realize.

[00:07:44] And I'm a good educator and I knew what I wanted to teach the kids, but I didn't know the business side of stuff. And as I was working with my coach, I kept just saying to her, "I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I can quit my job." And she was like, "Carmen, you are meant to do this. You're built for this."

[00:08:02] I even had, like, such a cheerleader in my corner. And I, Marshall, was... I lost sleep. I lost hair. My hair was literally coming out because I was that stressed, and I just... There were, there was so much going through my mind. There was, "What if this fails? What are people going to think?" Because I'm – I quit a pretty successful job.

[00:08:27] I was a news anchor with a big network, right? And I'm like, I kind of worried about that, people's opinions at that time. And I was like, "What are people going to think? You know, wow, I'm quitting this news anchor position that so many people would love to have this job, and I have it and I'm leaving it.

[00:08:44] I'm making the decision to leave it. Wow. And I'm going to go do something that I actually don't even know if it's for sure going to work out." I'm taking this big risk. And I mean, I'm so, so thankful I took the leap and I, I took a risk. I believed in myself. That is a huge part of this. And honestly, Marshall, my gut was screaming at me to do it.

[00:09:05] It really was screaming at me to do this. But I didn't feel fully ready, and are you really ever fully ready, right? No. Because of that fear, but I'm so glad I instead, like, listened to my gut saying, "Carmen, you can do this. You're built for something more. You're ready for something more." And so yeah, not easy, that's for sure.

[00:09:25] Marshall Stern: So okay. So, I'm hearing, okay, there's doubt. 

[00:09:28] Carmen Leibel: Big time. 

[00:09:30] Marshall Stern: You had people in your corner. Obviously, your husband being in business really does help, and a lot of people don't realize the importance of... It's an inner circle, which I, I talk about the inner circle a lot. 

[00:09:39] Carmen Leibel: Mm-hmm. 

[00:09:39] Marshall Stern: Right? That's why I've curated my own weekly group of inner, the ONtrepreneur Inner Circle, because a lot of people don't have that. They don't have their spouse or significant other or even friends who are in business. And then they don't, they don't get it. They don't get the struggles, the journey. So, you had that and you had your coach, which is awesome.

[00:09:56] Let's talk about the date because you and I had this conversation a few months back and I, I – there were a lot of similarities because I transitioned out of my career, my business, my... what was my identity for 29 years of owning this being a sign shop, sign and graphics shop owner at the end of June 2023.

[00:10:15] What about you? 

[00:10:16] Carmen Leibel: End of June 2023 was the, my last newscast. When I kind of signed off and said goodbye to the audience and gave them a little sneak peek of what I was doing. And then, my first day of freedom was June 30th? Yeah, 30th. because 30th is your date, right? 

[00:10:36] Marshall Stern: Yeah. 

[00:10:36] Carmen Leibel: My last show was the 29th My first day of freedom was June 30th, and your special day is June 30th too.

[00:10:43] Like, what the heck? It just – this is also what brings us together. And I love how you talk about the inner circle, Marshall, because you're right. Having my husband in my corner and my kids was huge. A big reason also why I wanted to take this leap is because I wanted to be home at, more often at different hours as my kids.

[00:11:06] Like, I would get home from the show, from the newscast, and my daughters had supper and they were off to their sports. And I thought to myself, "This isn't working for me anymore. Like, I'm not even having dinner right now with these guys." And my daughters knew that I was going to be telling the news director in May that I was leaving.

[00:11:23] Giving about a month's notice, and my daughters would text me sometimes and say, "Did you do it yet, Mom? Did you do it yet, Mom?" They were so excited too. Like, everyone was just – and my husband and I had these calls and, or chats at home just kind of... and I was, of course, so worried, as we've talked about, and I still have days of, like, nerves and, you know, wondering, that imposter feeling of like, "Who do I think I am doing this?"

[00:11:46] But my husband and I had these chats, and I'm like, "What if it doesn't work out?" And he goes, "So what?" You know? "You'll never know unless you go for it." And he's like, "I don't believe it's going to fail, but if, if it doesn't work the way you thought, who cares? You'll find something else." You know? Like, wow.

[00:12:04] So, so lucky, as you say, to have that. 

[00:12:06] Marshall Stern: And, and really, in the end, you're not failing. You're failing if you're not trying. 

[00:12:11] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. 

[00:12:12] Marshall Stern: Right? So, I, I... So here to – today, my friends, I want you to write on the calendar, so, this year, it's Tuesday, June 30th. Carmen and I are declaring this Leap of Faith Day. 

[00:12:24] Carmen Leibel: Oh, my gosh. Yes. 

[00:12:25] Marshall Stern: Okay? Every year on June 30th – now, there's 364 other days of the year you can also have a leap of faith, but if you've gotten to that point, because now we're not even six months in, now we're seven months into the year. No. 

[00:12:38] Carmen Leibel: Mm. 

[00:12:39] Marshall Stern: Well, I guess it ended six months. It is six whole months. So, it's half the year is over.

[00:12:42] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. 

[00:12:42] Marshall Stern: It is, right, it is half the year. Okay. 

[00:12:44] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. 

[00:12:44] Marshall Stern: Don't edit that. Keep it. You only have half a year left, and really less because the holidays. 

[00:12:52] Carmen Leibel: Summer. 

[00:12:52] Marshall Stern: So, if you have not... This is the thing, and we're going to talk about this and we're going to be posting about this leading up to June 30th. Every year, if you, my friends, have not taken the leap of faith, and this doesn't necessarily mean quitting your job, starting a business.

[00:13:06] Doesn't have to be starting another business or selling your business or this. It could be a leap of faith of hiring your first employee. 

[00:13:11] Carmen Leibel: Mm. 

[00:13:13] Marshall Stern: A leap of faith. If you haven't done that leap of faith that's really going to make a difference in your life by June 30th, June 30th is that day to do it. 

[00:13:20] Carmen Leibel: Oh, what a good day. What a day. 

[00:13:24] Marshall Stern: Yeah. It was a great day for us three years ago. 

[00:13:26] Carmen Leibel: Mm-hmm. 

[00:13:26] Marshall Stern: Scary I told you, I told you a story on, on... And it was in June. June 30th was when we, I, I put the, I locked the door for the last time, walked out of an empty building, right? Got, got rid of it all because I sold my company to another sign company who took all the stuff.

[00:13:43] Carmen Leibel: Yep, yep. 

[00:13:44] Marshall Stern: We had to clear out June 30th. I remember walking away and feeling this, this, this weight, dysphoria. But it was like, it was a weight off my shoulders and this opportunity. because I'd been coaching for, for at that point 10 years or 11 years, but now this was going to be my focus. And but it did hit me.

[00:14:02] How about you? I, it did hit me a couple days later. I told you a story on the way back from Whistler. I just was in silence because I had, this was my identity for 20, at that point 26 years. 20, sorry, 29 years. 

[00:14:14] Carmen Leibel: Yep. 

[00:14:15] Marshall Stern: And it, and it hit me. But it, I had to go through that, and then greatest decision I ever made. Took me about 25 years longer than I thought to make that decision. But I did it. 

[00:14:26] Carmen Leibel: Nonetheless. For me, I think I, leading up to leaving and actually telling my news director I'm, I'm out of here, I was, I spent months before mourning the loss of that job I feel like... Hold on a sec. Hopefully you can edit that out.

[00:14:42] I have a little tickle in my throat. Yeah. 

[00:14:43] Marshall Stern: No, it's good. 

[00:14:44] Carmen Leibel: Ugh, it's so dry here. I feel like leading up to me leaving my job, I mourned the loss of it before June 30th for months. And there were tears even before I left, and then even before I told my news director I was leaving, I would be at home stressed, crying, hair falling out, unsure, scared, all the things.

[00:15:09] The weirdest thing is when I went into my news director's office, I booked a meeting with her, and I sat down and I laid it all out there, "This is what I'm doing. This is why. This is my path forward. I appreciate the before, you know, everything that's happened with – for me in this newsroom, but it's time for me to go on this new path."

[00:15:31] And I actually thought we were going to have a bit of a battle. And I thought it was going to be, there was going to be a heated discussion around it, and you know what she said was, "Carmen, I've been waiting for months for you to tell me that this is what you're going to do." Because I kind of planted the seed throughout.

[00:15:45] You know, I was getting hired for things, and she's a smart lady. You know, she kind of started to add it up. And I left that office, and I felt the hugest weight off my shoulders, like you described. It, I felt lighter. I felt energized. I felt excited. I felt... I was just, I knew that it was the right decision and I was going down the right path.

[00:16:10] And after my last show, I said goodbye to everybody on the air, said goodbye to everybody in the newsroom. I came home. My family was waiting for me, and they thought I was going to come home crying and just, "Wow, I can't believe it," and I walked in the, burst in the door just like, "Hi," like so excited. And they were like, "This is not what we were expecting."

[00:16:30] Yeah, so it was, yeah. I haven't looked back for one second, that's for sure. 

[00:16:35] Marshall Stern: Okay, so as we were talking about the June 30th, this podcast episode's coming out on June 30th. 

[00:16:42] Carmen Leibel: Awesome 

[00:16:43] Marshall Stern: I just, so – 

[00:16:43] Carmen Leibel: That's very appropriate. 

[00:16:44] Marshall Stern: Well, serendipity, I guess. Is that the right word for it? It is serendipi, serendip – 

[00:16:49] Carmen Leibel: Serendipitous

[00:16:50] Marshall Stern: Serendipitous. It is serendipitous, because my podcast, these episodes come out on Tuesdays, and June 30th is a Tuesday this year. Okay. So, it's coming out today, my friends. You're... If you're listening to it on the day, it came out, it's June 30th. So, my question to them, and then I have a question for you, question to them is what are you going to do about it?

[00:17:08] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. 

[00:17:08] Marshall Stern: Are we taking a leap of faith and finally doing something that has been scaring us? And if you haven't done it to this point, why not? 

[00:17:15] Carmen Leibel: Mm-hmm. 

[00:17:15] Marshall Stern: So, my question to you, Carmen, what kind of... because what we talk about here is, like, golden nuggets. We like to deliver these golden nuggets. What would you say to people out there that are, it's, it's June 30th, it's 2026, they've been saying they're going to do something, they're, they've been wanting to do this, but fear's been holding them back, they...

[00:17:34] That whole thing, "I'm not ready," or "I'm scared," or "I will when..." 

[00:17:38] Carmen Leibel: Mm-hmm.

[00:17:38] Marshall Stern: “I will when." If you – 

[00:17:39] Carmen Leibel: That, that will keep... You'll keep saying that "I will, I will, I will." It's time to bet on yourself and believe in yourself. Yeah. So many decisions that I have made have been risky. They've scared me. I've had people say, "Are you sure you want to do that?

[00:17:55] That might be a big mistake," with some of the things that I've done through, within this three-year timeframe of my business. And I've said openly multiple times to people, "I'm willing to take this risk, and if it ends up not working out the way I thought, I'm going to learn a lot from it." 

[00:18:12] Marshall Stern: Mm-hmm. 

[00:18:12] Carmen Leibel: And that is the truth.

[00:18:14] I've made some mistakes. I learned from them. I've taken some risks. The, to be honest, most of the risks I've taken have been the best decisions that I've made. So, if I didn't take that leap and leave June 29th, my first day of freedom, leap of faith day, June 30th, I have often thought to myself, where would I be right now if I didn't do that?

[00:18:39] And honestly, Marshall, I think I'd be in the newsroom feeling pretty miserable. 

[00:18:43] Marshall Stern: Hmm. 

[00:18:44] Carmen Leibel: I had done everything I wanted to do and needed to do in that newsroom. This is – I'm so aligned with this path, but I wouldn't have known that if I didn't take the leap. I would not have known that. 

[00:18:57] Marshall Stern: Yeah. 

[00:18:57] Carmen Leibel: So, bet on yourself, believe in yourself. 

[00:18:56] Marshall Stern: Love it.

[00:18:59] Carmen Leibel: And listen to your gut. 

[00:19:00] Marshall Stern: Just taking some notes. These are, these are amazing and awesome reminders, not just for our listeners, but for myself as well. It's a reminder I think we all have to hear. 

[00:19:11] Carmen Leibel: Mm-hmm.

[00:19:11] Marshall Stern: Because there's going to be days in the future that you might need to hear that again, right? We all... Listen, we're all human.

[00:19:18] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. 

[00:19:19] Marshall Stern: And, and I also love... One of the things about your story is I love just what your business is all about, right? Just it's empowering. I know it's not you, you don't work just with the youth, but it is empowering people to get their voice out there, to stand up with confidence. 

[00:19:36] Carmen Leibel: Oh, it's the best. 

[00:19:37] Marshall Stern: Right?

[00:19:37] To be able to... And we've talked about this before, and I work with another client who does very similar things with this being with the stage, with plays. And it's about having these youths, young adults, adults, people even in, in corporate who – diversity, right? It's people who just... It, it, it's more than like...

[00:19:56] Toastmasters is great. This is different. Right? 

[00:20:00] Carmen Leibel: Oh, yeah. 

[00:20:01] Marshall Stern: So how... I'm curious about your actual program. Tell us a little bit more about the details of, of how that works –

[00:20:07] Carmen Leibel: Sure. 

[00:20:07] Marshall Stern: ...and what's, what's involved. 

[00:20:08] Carmen Leibel: Sure. And thanks for asking. So, a big part of... So yes, I work with... I'll talk first, I guess, maybe about the youth programs.

[00:20:17] Marshall Stern: Mm-hmm. 

[00:20:17] Carmen Leibel: So, I, I work with students from grades four to 12, post-secondary as well. I would say, the majority of our programs run in elementary and junior high schools, and... Or, yeah, elementary and junior high. Oh, my gosh. The grade four, five, six program is so fun. The kids soak up the information.

[00:20:40] They, like I said earlier in our chat, I see light bulbs go off, and it's like, "Oh, you mean... Oh, you mean you can help me make my voice a little bit louder? Oh, body language is something that you can teach me how to, like, feel more confident in my stance in front of an audience?" But the elementary school program, for example, is I move into a school for five full days.

[00:20:59] My business is called Project Five. I created five simple steps to becoming a more confident communicator. And every day we... It's kind of a scaffolding approach. Every day we build on our skills. So, we talk about the importance of preparing what we're going to say, what happens if you don't have a, you know, a, a focus and a main message, and if you just wing it.

[00:21:19] We talk about eye contact. We talk about how to use our voice, body language, the mental side of things. And then on the last day, the students present. And day one very often, Marshall, I see kids saying like, "Oh, I'm not going to do this. I can't do this. I'm too scared." Day five, they're up there giving a killer presentation, and they're so proud of themselves.

[00:21:38] And I overhear them telling their friends, "I didn't know I could be so brave. I didn't know I could do this. Wow. I never knew I could use my voice this way." About a week and a half ago, I was working with a whole bunch of grade six students and one of the students told me that, she's like, "You've really helped me feel more confident in using my voice."

[00:21:59] "I can't believe you can so easily get up in front of thousands of people." And she's like, "You've given me the confidence to feel like I can do something like that, too." But what really got me was she said, "Carmen, this is your superpower." She said that in grade six. It really made my day. Like, totally.

[00:22:18] But so I, I run a similar program with the, the junior high students and then workshops with the high school students. And it just, it's a very effective way in helping youth of all ages feel more comfortable and confident in using their voice and realize that public speaking doesn't have to be so scary.

[00:22:38] Actually, you can think of it as an awesome opportunity to, to share something of value. You know? It's an opportunity to use your voice and make a difference in this world, and I really, really like to put the positives because we can focus so much on the negatives. Yeah, you know, you get scared when you're up there, and sweaty palms and nerves and stuff.

[00:22:56] I'm, I tell them, I'm like, "I still get nervous, too," which is the truth. And they're like, "Oh, you do? Oh, thanks for saying that." You know? Just totally, like, humanizing it, saying, like, mistakes are okay and, and so it's just, I'm really, really proud of the impact that this has had. That has been the root of it…

[00:23:13] …the whole time, the impact. And, and I hear from parents, I hear from teachers, I hear from the kids, like, weeks later just saying, like, I have a high school student who has reached out to me saying, like, "I, you, your,  session, your workshop with me gave me the courage. I never, ever thought I could speak on a stage."

[00:23:35] And now she wants to become an entrepreneur and use her voice, but she's... It just, it's, it really is helping kind of flick a switch for people, and it's, it's the most rewarding, it's the most rewarding job I could ever imagine.  

[00:23:48] Marshall Stern: I, I can, I can imagine. Like, I spoke to you, like, I've been involved with, on the board of a private school, like an elementary school. 

[00:23:55] Carmen Leibel: Oh, right.

[00:23:55] Marshall Stern: And, and right, we've talked about that, and I just see these kids and what they go through, and the ones that you could just see who's, who's sort of under, under the radar, and they don't want to step out of that and- 

[00:24:07] Carmen Leibel: Yep. 

[00:24:07] Marshall Stern: …and because what you're doing is not just, it's confidence. It's, it's basically, it is, it's leadership. 

[00:24:12] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. And we talk about that because it's not just about becoming a public speaker in front of thousands of people or becoming a news anchor, and we have these great discussions, why are we doing this? Everyday interactions, meeting new people, joining new sports teams, talking to your teachers, making new friends at a new school, all of that. So exactly, it's about everyday communication skills. 

[00:24:33] Marshall Stern: Interviews. 

[00:24:34] Carmen Leibel: Oh, yeah. Right? Big time. Job interviews, or maybe you'll be interviewed on a podcast one day. 

[00:24:40] Marshall Stern: Interviewed on a podcast one day. Yeah, it's about impact. I, I love that. So –  

[00:24:46] Carmen Leibel: Yeah 

[00:24:48] Marshall Stern: Okay. What would, for entrepreneurs, okay, public speaking, sure. Podcast, sure A lot of people hide behind, like, social media. 

[00:24:59] Carmen Leibel: Mm-hmm. 

[00:25:00] Marshall Stern: Okay? But it's still... What would you say... I'm curious, and I've got my... I'm just going to turn the page audibly, because I'm doing actually, I'm actually speaking in person at an event on Vancouver Island next week.

[00:25:13] Carmen Leibel: Hmm. 

[00:25:14] Marshall Stern: And my word for the, my... Well, Karli, our friend Karli Grove of Kantency Consulting, Kantency Consulting. 

[00:25:22] Carmen Leibel: Yeah, yeah.

[00:25:23] Marshall Stern: ...called it an ice bath. I have an ice, ice bath is my word for the year. I came into the year, my phrase for the year was to be uncomfortable... Sorry, not be uncomfortable. Be comfortable being uncomfortable.

[00:25:35] Carmen Leibel: Yes. 

[00:25:35] Marshall Stern: And so, I was going to get on out, because I could do this all, all day long, but in front of people, like, on stage – 

[00:25:40] Carmen Leibel: Mm-hmm... 

[00:25:40] Marshall Stern: …so-called stage, it's a little bit uncomfortable, right? I'm really good behind the camera. So, she said... Then we talked. It's an ana – It's a word. It's the ice bath, because you know those ice plunges at pools?

[00:25:52] Carmen Leibel: Yeah, they're not comfortable. 

[00:25:53] Marshall Stern: They're uncomfortable. So, I – that, that day, I, I spoke with her. I jumped into the ice bath at, at, at the pool that I go to. Oh my gosh, that... People sitting there for, like, 15 minutes. It's like I don't know how you, how they do it. 

[00:26:05] Carmen Leibel: I think the longest I've done is I, I think I did five minutes.

[00:26:09] Marshall Stern: That's, that's – 

[00:26:10] Carmen Leibel: That feels long.

[00:26:10] Marshall Stern: Four and a half minutes longer than I've done. But I still did the action. I did jump in. 

[00:26:15] Carmen Leibel: Yeah, good for you. 

[00:26:16] Marshall Stern: So okay. I want some tips. It's for me. This is for me and for our listeners, okay? 

[00:26:23] Carmen Leibel: This is our one-on-one. 

[00:26:24] Marshall Stern: This is the one-on-one ... with everyone. Because I'm speaking for the...

[00:26:26] Okay, I've got the stuff. It's a slide deck. I don't like slide decks, but I'm using it. It's a 30-minute talk. What's... How, how do... What's the, what's the biggest tip you can give someone who's doing a talk? 

[00:26:36] Carmen Leibel: Well, there's a lot. 

[00:26:38] Marshall Stern: I know. 

[00:26:40] Carmen Leibel: How, how long do you have? No. Well, first of all, I, I say this to everybody: sit and think about who your audience is.

[00:26:49] What is the main message you want to ensure they leave with? Because sometimes when we're preparing a speech or a presentation, a million ideas that we want to get across, and your main message gets lost. 

[00:27:02] Marshall Stern: Now, before, before you continue, so I want everyone listening to not click off saying, "Oh, I'm not going to do public speaking."

[00:27:07] This can also relate to, yes, job interviews and all that kind of stuff, but it also... And being at a networking event. And –  

[00:27:14] Carmen Leibel: Big time. 

[00:27:14] Marshall Stern: Yeah, big time. And it can also relate to messaging, like social media. 

[00:27:18] Carmen Leibel: Mm-hmm. Oh, yeah. Always. I, when I have a post on, on LinkedIn, let's say for example, I'm like, "Okay, who's my audience with this post?

[00:27:28] How can I be as clear as possible and not so wordy that my main message gets lost," right? Clarity is key if you want to be a top communicator, big time. Who is your audience? Who is your audience, Marshall, that day? 

[00:27:45] Marshall Stern: It's business owners. Like, there's... Yeah, it's business owners, small business owners. 

[00:27:50] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. 

[00:27:50] Marshall Stern: Local businesses. 

[00:27:50] Carmen Leibel: And do you know what your main... We don't have to go through it, but do you know for sure what you want your audience to leave with? 

[00:27:56] Marshall Stern: Yes. Yeah, 100%. 

[00:27:59] Carmen Leibel: Do you have a strong opening line to hook your audience in in the first 10 seconds of you getting on that stage? 

[00:28:04] Marshall Stern: Yes. 

[00:28:06] Carmen Leibel: Have you practiced it out loud?

[00:28:07] Marshall Stern: No. I'm, I'm working on that. Okay. But I will practice it out loud. Okay? 

[00:28:13] Carmen Leibel: Always, always practice it out loud. As soon as you nail the opening, I would say be sure to practice your entire presentation out loud with your slides. 

[00:28:22] Marshall Stern: Yeah. 

[00:28:23] Carmen Leibel: Yeah, always. And you want to... This gets forgotten very often as well.

[00:28:28] Practice your closing too. Because we tend to kind of let presentations land a little bit flat. You have a... We all think, "Okay, I need a good, bold statement off the top." You need something bold at the end, a takeaway, a call to action, something at the end, a question. You know, something that will keep thought-provoking at the end as well, and practice those out loud.

[00:28:53] As I'm go… driving, let's say, to a big event where I'm speaking or I'm the keynote speaker, I am practicing my opening as I'm heading there. Because the nerves are there. I still get nervous, too. But as soon as you nail that opening, you're like, "I got this." Because the nerves are the worst off the top.

[00:29:13] I'm sure you can attest to that. They're always the worst off the top. For me too. As soon as I feel like I got this, the, you know, I have the audience's attention, I've captured my, their attention, you know, then, then it's like, "Phew." And another thing that I do right before I head out there, if I'm an emcee on a stage or I'm getting ready for a big presentation or a workshop or a speech, I take a minute or two to get into the right frame of mind.

[00:29:41] Very often, the mental prep, the mental side of it is, is a huge part. And sometimes right before, we can tell ourselves like, "Man, I hope I remember all the right things," and "Ooh, what if they're, you know, what if I, the audience isn't into it?" Or blah, blah, blah, blah. We, we can very often give ourselves that negative self-talk, and what it is doing is making you more nervous.

[00:30:00] You're not setting yourself up for success in that way. So, I always kind of give myself a little pep talk before. And there is actually some Harvard research that backs this. This isn't just like Carmen from experience. There's, there's science behind this too. 

[00:30:15] Marshall Stern: Yeah. 

[00:30:15] Carmen Leibel: That when you kind of reframe it as like, "This is an awesome opportunity," the scientists at Harvard say, "Tell yourself that you're excited."

[00:30:24] Be like, "This, I'm excited for this." Right? 

[00:30:26] Marshall Stern: Well, and it's like Tony Robbins, whether you like him or don't like him, he talks about priming. And every time before he goes on stage, he has his little trampoline, and he jumps up on the trampoline. And he's got his music playing and he's, like, he's changing his physiological state.

[00:30:36] He's preparing himself. He's priming himself to, I mean, he's out there for like 12 hours at a time. You know, five days, five days in a row or whatever. But yeah. Perfect, yeah. 

[00:30:49] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. So, get yourself prepped mentally. It's a, it's... You actually perform better when you go into it with that – there, like I say, there's science behind it. You, you do a better job when you mentally prepare yourself and pump yourself up.

[00:31:02] Be like, "I'm excited. What an opportunity." Okay. Like, you know? How awesome is it that I've been given this opportunity? And the other thing is, is sometimes we, we fear the audience and we're like, "Ugh, you know, what if they, you know, what if they don't like what it is I have to say?" Or "What if they... Ooh, what if I, my opinion is, is different from theirs?"

[00:31:21] Or whatever. The truth of the matter is, first of all, you're the expert in the topic that you're presenting on. 

[00:31:28] Marshall Stern: Mm-hmm. 

[00:31:29] Carmen Leibel: And also, in most rooms, the room is rooting for you. 

[00:31:33] Marshall Stern: Right. 

[00:31:34] Carmen Leibel: They are not thinking, "Oh, I hope Marshall fails." 

[00:31:36] Marshall Stern: Right. 

[00:31:37] Carmen Leibel: They're like, "I'm so excited to hear what he has to say. This is going to be great."

[00:31:41] So we tend to overthink the audience as well, and that's just kind of part of that mental prep, and it, it goes a long way. I can't imagine not doing that. 

[00:31:52] Marshall Stern: I, I, I love that. And you know what? And, and the other thing I would suggest for people speaking, and I've, I've, I've... This has happened to me, is when you're looking at the, well, they say the trick, when you look at the audience, because I've been the emcee for, like, weddings or whatnot.

[00:32:06] They say, you know, I imagine everyone naked. Okay. So, but a –  

[00:32:09] Carmen Leibel: I don't like that advice. 

[00:32:10] Marshall Stern: Aside from that, because I can be kind of like, ugh,  want to hear why, but, aside from that, when you look at people's faces, if you're looking at their eyes, like you can see this, that doesn't, it's not always a bad thing.

[00:32:25] Now if everyone's like, you know, whatever, again, on their phone, maybe they're like disinterested, maybe they're texting, whatever. Maybe they're taking notes. 

[00:32:33] Carmen Leibel: Totally. 

[00:32:3] Marshall Stern: Aside You never really know. I remember I did a, I did a talk once and everyone just seemed like... And I, I, I thought I communicated proper. I thought it was fine.

[00:32:41] But I thought, okay, at the end it was like I started to feel like no one's interested. They're like all like just spaced out. But then afterwards people were coming up to me and saying, "Oh, thank you so much.” Like, I was just in, in shock with some of the things you were saying, and some of the things that I was doing.

[00:32:56] And people are... Right? And so just because people aren't, like, clapping and smiling and facial expressions can be totally misleading. 

[00:33:04] Carmen Leibel: And they can be. And also, you can... So, you look at someone who maybe they're on their phone, and you're like, "Ugh, are they taking notes? What's happening?" 

[00:33:11] Marshall Stern: Yeah. 

[00:33:11] Carmen Leibel: First of all, don't overthink it when you're on stage.

[00:33:13] You have other things to be thinking about, like your presentation. But then turn to the next person and they're probably looking at you smiling, and then you get that boost of like, okay, here, yeah, they get it. They've got it, you know? So, and no, the, the naked, I just don't think that that is helpful.

[00:33:27] Like, I just, how, I don't understand how that's helpful. 

[00:33:31] Marshall Stern: Yeah. 

[00:33:31] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. That, that's all. That's it. Okay. That advice really sucks. 

[00:33:35] Marshall Stern: Yeah. And you probably don't want to visualize all these people naked anyways. 

[00:33:37] Carmen Leibel: Well, that's just it. Like –

[00:33:38] Marshall Stern: It's just, it's like – 

[00:33:39] Carmen Leibel: That's weird ... 

[00:33:40] Marshall Stern: It's weird. Yeah. It is weird. Okay, before we go, so what would you say...

[00:33:47] One of the questions I love to ask, what would you say to young Carmen, younger Carmen, you know, before... What you know... How, how many years has it been? This has been three years, right? Three years. 

[00:33:57] Carmen Leibel: Less than three. I – 

[00:33:58] Marshall Stern: Coming up to three years. 

[00:34:00] Carmen Leibel: …three years in September- September is when I launched. 

[00:34:03] Marshall Stern: Launched, right.

[00:34:04] You made the decision three years ago. 

[00:34:05] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. 

[00:34:06] Marshall Stern: Probably a while before that, but you finally, you pulled the plug, so to speak, three years ago. Okay. What would you, now that you've learned what you've learned, is there anything you would tell three years younger Carmen that may, and other our listeners, that might guide you – 

[00:34:25] Carmen Leibel: I'm honestly, Marshall, I'm glad that I was afraid.

[00:34:29] Marshall Stern: Yeah. 

[00:34:30] Carmen Leibel: I'm glad that also I was naive. 

[00:34:32] Marshall Stern: Mm, okay. Tell us more. 

[00:34:34] Carmen Leibel: Well, I just think there was so much that I didn't know, and I might not have taken the risk, right? Being naive, it's you say yes to things because you don't know. And if you know the, the stress and, but then it leads to something amazing, we might say no to more things if we knew it all.

[00:34:55] I'm so glad, and I'm still learning, and I'm still naive in so many areas of things that I'm launching and trying. But it makes it, it opens the door to something else. And so, I believed in myself, I did, and my gut was telling me to listen to it and go, go for it. You can do this. And I think I'm really, I'm really proud of myself for listening to my gut even though I was scared.

[00:35:22] And so I think I would just say keep listening to your gut because it has served me so, so well, and I will continue to take risks and make mistakes and be naive in areas. And it's, it's part of the journey, and I'm, I'm so grateful for this journey. It is a blast. And for those of you who are like, "Should I take a leap?"

[00:35:44] Honestly, if you, if you feel like this is the right choice for you, listen to that because it is going to open doors to things that you didn't even know were possible, and it's so much fun. And I'm feeling creative, and I'm feeling energized and curious again, and it's just, it's been awesome. 

[00:36:02] Marshall Stern: That, that's awesome.

[00:36:03] And if you are going to take that leap of faith before or on June 30th, okay – today – make sure that you have some people around you that can support you. 

[00:36:14] Carmen Leibel: Yeah.  

[00:36:14] Marshall Stern: It might be financially support too, right? You might need that, but also just emotionally and in an advisory role, people to just sort of lift you up and help you on the path because it's not, it's not a, it's not an easy path.

[00:36:27] Carmen Leibel: Mm-mm. 

[00:36:28] Marshall Stern: It's an amazing one, amazing journey, right? 

[00:36:31] Carmen Leibel: But there's so much self-doubt at, at times, and it's just I've had many days and I've messaged girlfriends who are really close to me and who I feel like I can just vent to, and I'm like, "I don't, what am I doing? Who, who do I think I am making this..." I've recently brought on some new subcontractors, and I'm like, "Who do I think I am leading this team?"

[00:36:49] I'm like, "Do I even know what I'm doing?" And then other days I'm like, "I got this." Like, "I'm a leader." And it's just, it's, it's kind of a, a rollercoaster at times of emotions. Yeah. 

[00:36:58] Marshall Stern: It, well, there is the entrepreneurial rollercoaster, and it is, but it's, it, it's our emotions, for sure. Some days it's like, this is awes- that's why I always say I, when I work with my clients, I want them to be really, and I know you are, connected to their why.

[00:37:13] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. 

[00:37:14] Marshall Stern: If you're not connected to the why, they're, you're just going to give up because there's hard days. I mean, there's really hard days, especially, hey, I'm on the West Coast, you have winter. I was in Edmonton December 31st of this past year. There's snow. There's cold days. Dark, cold days. Here, it's dark, cold, rainy days.

[00:37:34] Carmen Leibel: Yeah, gray. 

[00:37:35] Marshall Stern: Gray days. And if you're not connected to that why, why you started it and why you are doing it, the mission you're on, which I know you're on a strong mission, which is awesome, so I'm going to include your stuff below because I want people to be able to reach out to you. 

[00:37:49] Carmen Leibel: Oh, thank you. 

[00:37:50] Marshall Stern: And check out all your amazing work that you're doing for our future leaders.

[00:37:55] Carmen Leibel: Yes. Thank you. And I have a new online program that I'm excited about that I'm just getting started with. Oh, 

[00:38:00] Marshall Stern: Oh, okay. Okay. 

[00:38:01] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. 

[00:38:02] Marshall Stern: Okay. Perfect. I'd love to hear all about that when it's all – so, it's launched yet or you're just working on it? 

[00:38:09] Carmen Leibel: So, it's, it's launched but I have so much work to do to, to let everyone know that it even exists.

[00:38:17] So it's my public speaking program for grade four, five, and six classrooms. So, I'm hosting the series. It's fun, it's interactive, it takes kids through the steps. It's the teacher, it's like plug and play for the teacher. I just, I've... because I go, go into the schools, but there's only, you know, so many schools that I can work in, and I live in Edmonton.

[00:38:37] I don't live in other provinces, obviously. So, I'm like, "I need to create something where people across the country can, can use this tool because it works, and the kids like it, and it's fun, and they learn, and they grow." And I have a couple of teachers in Vancouver running these programs.

[00:38:55] And they have emailed me saying, like, "After this program, the kids had to do another presentation, and we couldn't believe the difference in their skills." 

[00:39:03] Marshall Stern: That's awesome. That's awesome. 

[00:39:04] Carmen Leibel: So, that is my new, my new venture. One of my many. 

[00:39:07] Marshall Stern: That, that is, that is awesome. Have you ever, on a side note, it's completely off podcast, that's fine, I'm just going to ask this.

[00:39:12] Have you ever worked or reached out to Junior Achievement Alberta? 

[00:39:16] Carmen Leibel: I love working with them. 

[00:39:17] Marshall Stern: Oh, okay. Good. 

[00:39:18] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. They're awesome. They are, like, seriously such wonderful supporters, and we've done some collabs and yes. Absolutely. 

[00:39:25] Marshall Stern: Good. What about... And then there's also Futurepreneur. 

[00:39:29] Carmen Leibel: No. 

[00:39:30] Marshall Stern: Yeah. They're another organization.

[00:39:31] They're not, not necessarily just young, but they're like, it's like, yeah, Futurepreneur. They're another organization. 

[00:39:37] Carmen Leibel: Great name. Thank you. 

[00:39:37] Marshall Stern: Yeah. But Junior Achievement Alberta for sure. Yeah, they do some – I'm following them. They do some amazing stuff. 

[00:39:41] Carmen Leibel: They do. 

[00:39:42] Marshall Stern: All throughout – 

[00:39:42] Carmen Leibel: Yeah, I love them.

[00:39:42] Marshall Stern: They're throughout the world, I believe. 

[00:39:44] Carmen Leibel: I know. 

[00:39:45] Marshall Stern: Yeah. 

[00:39:45] Carmen Leibel: It's... They're huge. And they've been around a long time. 

[00:39:47] Marshall Stern: Long time. I remember them from Winnipeg, Junior Achievement Manitoba. Actually, one of, one of my colleague or friends growing up is the president of JA Manitoba. 

[00:39:56] Carmen Leibel: Cool. 

[00:39:57] Marshall Stern: I think it's JA Manitoba.

[00:39:57] Carmen Leibel: Yeah. No, they do wonderful things for kids, for sure. 

[00:40:01] Marshall Stern: Yeah. Any last parting golden nuggets –  

[00:40:06] Carmen Leibel: Ooh... 

[00:40:06] Marshall Stern: …on this June 30th day? 

[00:40:08] Carmen Leibel: Like I said, just trust your gut, bet on yourself and do it. Absolutely do it. Take the leap on this June 30th day. Even if it's a small decision that you've been putting off. It doesn't have to be quit your job and start a business, you know.

[00:40:24] Small decisions, small leaps lead to big things. Tiny tweaks lead to big, big changes. So –  

[00:40:31] Marshall Stern: Well done. 

[00:40:31] Carmen Leibel: Just trust your gut and go for it. 

[00:40:33] Marshall Stern: Love that. Carmen, thank you so much for being here. 

[00:40:36] Carmen Leibel: Thanks for having me. I'm so glad we met. 

[00:40:38] Marshall Stern: Gang, you heard it here. Get your in – get your comments below. We're going to be sharing this podcast.

[00:40:45] It's June 30th, so my email's below as well. What's the leap of faith you are going to take on this June 30th day? 

[00:40:54] Carmen Leibel: Mm-hmm. 

[00:40:54] Marshall Stern: And June 30th every year is Leap of Faith- Faith Day declared by Carmen and Marshall today on June 30th. Have a great week. We'll see you again next week on another episode of the Stern Truth Business Unfiltered.

[00:41:09] Thank you so much for tuning in to the Stern Truth. If you found today's episode helpful, we would love to hear from you. Please like, share, and leave us a review. Also, if you'd like to be a guest in an upcoming episode or join us in one of our Momentum accountability group sessions, simply email me to marshall@marshallstern.net.  

[00:41:31] That's marshall@marshallstern.net. And don't forget to hit the subscribe button so you never miss an episode. Until next time, keep pushing forward and leading with confidence.