Episode 241: Storytelling Discussion with Professional Speaking Coach Michael Davis and TEDx Ocala Speaker Janan Sarwar, PharmD

Janan Sarwar, PharmD and I met Professional Speaking Coach Michael Davis at The Medipreneurs Summit in Cincinnati, OH in August 2022. During the session Michael led, we learned storytelling skills. Michael has a passion for helping people get their messages and stories out into the world. The focus of our discussion today is public speaking, storytelling, and relating to others in spoken or written word in spite of our various backgrounds, experiences, and priorities.

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Bio – Michael Davis, https://speakingcpr.com/

Michael is a recovering terrified speaker and founder of Speaking CPR, LLC. He specializes in transforming professionals into influential communicators who effectively sell their products and services, and increase their visibility.

His passion for his work began when he was humiliated in front of his first grade class. This experience convinced him to never again stand before people or be the center of attention.

With the help of world class mentors and industry experts, he discovered how to become an impactful speaker, trainer, and coach.

His expertise has served business leaders, sales professionals, and speakers on five continents. He’s helped TEDx speakers create and develop talks that have achieved over five million views. He’s written seven books about business storytelling, — including The Book On Storytelling — and online courses focused on improving your presentation skills.

In his spare time, he loves to spend time with his long-time partner Linda and the overlords of their house (chihuahuas Sky and Riley). He loves exercise, Indy Car racing, watching movies, visiting beaches, and consuming stories in every format.

Bio – Janan Sarwar, PharmD, https://globalbookshelves.com/

Janan Sarwar, PharmD, is a dynamic publishing professional, pharmacist, pharmacy career coach, and entrepreneur based in Louisville, Kentucky. She is the CEO and founder of the company Global Bookshelves International, an independent publishing house focused on creating an empathetic world. Inspired by her eldest daughter’s storytelling podcast for children, Salaam Storytime, Janan recognized the transformative power of stories in nurturing empathy from an early age. Through a diverse catalog of books and immersive storytelling experiences, Janan and her team aim to break down barriers, celebrate cultural richness, and foster mutual understanding.

Highlights from our conversation

Michael Davis became Janan’s speaking coach in November 2022. First, Michael helped Janan with a Toastmasters speaking competition. Now, he is helping her create her message and storytelling framework for her TEDx Ocala talk (November 2023).

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, the organization’s membership is approximately 270,000 in more than 14,200 clubs in 148 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators, and leaders.

Michael had a fear of public speaking because he was humiliated by his first grade teacher. When his fear impacted his career as a financial advisor, he decided to get help through Toastmasters. His speaking skills improved because of Toastmasters; he became more effective at his job; and he discovered a love of public speaking and storytelling. Michael still attends Toastmasters meetings today.

Pharmacists are process-oriented. Michael’s teaching style, which has lists and formulas, appeals to pharmacists. Janan became interested in working with Michael because he suggested that there’s a science to storytelling. That resonated with her.

Janan talked about the speech that she is crafting for TEDx Ocala (November 2023). It’s about the transformational power of reading.

Janan also talked about a book she is publishing in March 2024. It’s called Shaky Quaky Jake. It’s about a little boy who has essential tremor (“ET”), which characterized by involuntary shaking (similar to Parkinson’s Disease). Global Bookshelves International partnered with the International Essential Tremor Foundation to publish the book during ET Awareness Month 2024. Janan gained 9 years of experience in publishing (pharmacy-related textbooks and nonfiction titles) while working at the American Pharmacists Association (APhA).

The second half of our discussion aimed to inspire pharmacists, pharmacy students, pharmacy techs, etc to use their voices. Scenarios and topics we covered:

1. How a pharmacist, student, etc. can craft a message to affect positive change in the pharmacy profession. Example audiences include a State Board of Pharmacy, a politician, and a national, state, or local pharmacy organization.
2. How a pharmacist, student, etc can craft a message to get buy-in and gain trust from peers so that we can all get on the same page and work together to affect positive change in the pharmacy profession.
3. How to pick an impactful story to tell peers, politicians, a Board of Pharmacy, or a national, state, or local pharmacy organization.
4. How to relate to others through storytelling.
5. How to collect stories and store them for future reference.
6. Finding common ground
7. Prioritizing problems
8. Creating goals
9. Having a call to action
10. Presenting solutions
11. How to speak in public on community issues, such as poisoning prevention, career days for kids 10-18 years old, and substance abuse prevention and treatment.
12. Being a better questioner. (Don’t have the answers, have the questions.)
13. Avoiding the curse of knowledge
14. Reconnect with that curious little 2-3-year-old child you used to be who constantly said, “Why? Why?”
15. “Disturb” an audience into taking action.
16. Preparing for a Career Day speech (ages 10-18 years). Specifically, sharing your “Why” and your thoughts about your career when you were age 10-18.
17. How a speaking coach can help a pharmacist entrepreneur craft their value proposition and adapt it for different audiences.

Practice makes progress.

- Evaluation and feedback from trusted friends and colleagues leads to progress.
- Listen to yourself and watch yourself on video too.
- An AI tool called Yoodli can help as well.

If you want to be the speaker everyone wants to hear, get in touch with Michael Davis. https://speakingcpr.com/, mike@speakingcpr.com, or 513-315-6825.

If you need support on your journey to publishing an important story, contact Janan Sarwar, PharmD. https://globalbookshelves.com/

Links from this episode

Michael Davis on LinkedIn

Janan Sarwar on LinkedIn

Speaking CPR, LLC https://speakingcpr.com/

The Book On Storytelling by Michael Davis (Kindle and paperback Amazon.com link)

Global Bookshelves International, LLC https://globalbookshelves.com/

https://www.tedxocala.com/

https://thehappypharmd.com/

Medipreneurs https://www.medipreneurs.com/

Toastmasters International https://www.toastmasters.org/