In this episode of the Sparks by Ignium Podcast, Phil Rose continues the discussion of storytelling, communication, and creativity with Jeff Bartsch. Jeff shares his journey from music to communication development, emphasizing the importance of understanding audience desires. They explore infusing soul into work, strategic storytelling elements, and effective audience communication.

Phil Rose talks to Jeff Bartsch, covering a range of topics related to storytelling, communication, and creativity. Jeff shares his personal journey of musical development and how it leads him to pursue a path focused on meaningful communication and storytelling. He also discusses his entrepreneurial journey, from coaching television editors to specializing in thought leader and communication development for the accounting and financial world. The discussion delves into the concept of thought leadership, with an emphasis on understanding the audience's desires and obstacles to create impactful storytelling.

Phil and Jeff engage in a deep conversation about the essence of communication and creativity, delving into the idea of infusing soul into one's work and connecting with the audience on a deeper level. They draw parallels between playing the piano and building with Legos to underscore the importance of mastering the fundamentals and creating meaningful connections in storytelling and creativity. The discussion also touches on the concept of attaching meaning to ideas and the significance of understanding the audience's perspective, highlighting the transformative power of communication.

The conversation covers the core elements of strategic storytelling, including identity, desire, obstacles, and change, and emphasizes the significance of understanding the audience's identity and desires. They explore the concept of understanding the audience's identity, desires, obstacles, and the change they seek, emphasizing the need for businesses to communicate effectively by addressing the audience's problems. The conversation also touches on the strategic level of communication, highlighting the importance of choosing who to communicate with and who not to, in order to narrow down the market and effectively serve the audience's needs.

(Some of) The main points for listeners:

Jeff Bartsch’s Journey to Playing from the Soul:
Reflections on his musical journey.
Transition from being known as “Jeff the Piano Guy.” Realization of playing from the soul and connecting deeply with the audience. Shift from technical skills to infusing emotion and meaning into music. Impact on communication and human connection in his career. Transition to Thought Leadership:
Jeff’s shift from coaching television editors. Focus on thought leadership and communication development in accounting and finance. Significance of helping accountants become thought leaders. Effective communication and emotional connection.
The Power of Storytelling:
Highlighting storytelling’s role in connecting with the audience. Tailoring narratives to resonate with the medium used. Fundamental communication and storytelling skills.
Empowering Accountants to Become Thought Leaders:
Leveraging fundamental skills. Overcoming the “curse of expertise.” 

Case study: Virtual CFO Hannah’s successful communication of financial meaning to the CEO.

o    Meet virtual CFO Hannah, a master of balancing company valuation and employee compensation.

o    Discover how effective communication about financial numbers transformed her interactions with the CEO.

o    Learn how Hannah’s ability to convey meaning behind the metrics elevated her role and impact.

o    Jeff and Phil explore the transformative power of creativity and communication.

o    Beyond mastering the basics, they discuss infusing soul into work and creating something meaningful.

o    Drawing parallels between playing the piano and building with Legos, they reveal the magic of combining disparate elements.

o    Jeff Bartsch unveils the strategic use of storytelling in communication.

o    Dive into the core elements of impactful narratives:

o    Phil and Jeff dissect niche targeting in marketing.

o    Explore the art of tailoring messages to specific audiences.

o    Uncover the secret sauce for connecting deeply with your listeners or clients.

The “Thing Under the Thing”: Meaning and Perception

o    Journey with Jeff and Phil as they explore the concept of the “thing under the thing.”

o    Using the Hollywood Walk of Fame and iceberg analogy, they reveal how personal interpretations shape our reality.

o    Understand why attaching meaning to ideas matters—different perspectives, same object!

* How do you make your story connect with others as individuals?

* What is the strategic level of storytelling in your business?

* What is the thing under the thing that you need to consider?

* How do we use strategic communication in your business?

* How do we go beyond the features to think about the story itself and the emotional connection?

Jeff Bartsch is the founder at Story Greenlight, an agency that helps experts

and professional advisors tell their stories, serve more clients, and expand

their impact in the world. Jeff built his reputation as a talented storyteller

and communicator through his successful career as a television editor in

Hollywood, where he worked with major media outlets including ABC, NBC,

Universal, Disney, Apple, and many others

With thousands of students and clients in over 50 countries, Jeff has

established himself as a leader in his field. In addition to his work with Story

Greenlight, Jeff has written a book, Edit Better: Hollywood-Tested Strategies for

Powerful Video Editing, and his commentary on the entertainment industry has

been featured in prominent publications including Time Magazine, USA Today,

and The Associated Press.

 

After 20 years in Los Angeles, Covid-driven change allowed Jeff to jump fully

into remote life. He now lives closer to family in Cleveland, Ohio, with his wife

and two young children.

 

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