How to tell your story in 2020: Interview with Jeff Goldblatt

Knowing how to tell your story can be a key differentiator for your business, career, or life.

Telling your story will help you identify yourself and inspire others as well.

This incredible interview about the power of storytelling comes from a former FOX News Channel Correspondent, a father of four, a jellyfish eater, and public relations rockstar.

He was a TV news journalist for 25 years, won 3 Emmys, and has reported live from Iraq and Afghanistan!

Please welcome to Everyday Power, the founder of Jeff’s Journeys, Jeff Goldblatt!

Getting to know Jeff Goldblatt

Jeff Moore:

Hey Jeff, thank you so much for taking the time to meet with us.  

We’re here to learn about your journey and how to tell our stories.  

Could you tell us more about who you are and how you arrived at where you are today?

Jeff Goldblatt:

I spent 25 years in the TV news business on-air.

For nine of those years, I was based in Chicago as a correspondent for Fox News.

I covered 9-11, the war in Afghanistan, and even did the first national network interview with Barack Obama.

This was when he announced that he was running for U-S Senate in Illinois before he even ran and became our President.

Bottom line, I got to cover many of the world’s most prolific events!

As I reached the pinnacle of my career, I learned that life’s a journey for all of us.  

Originally, I transitioned out of TV and into social media and communications strategy consulting.

Longing to return to my roots of storytelling, I launched Jeff’s Journeys, LLC, to help global brands tell their story.

I applied principles I learned from my time on TV to help my clients tell their stories.

Why telling your story should be a priority

Jeff Moore:

While working in an organization or even building a business, it’s easy to get caught up in the endless checklist of tasks and chipping away at efficiency.

Many people are not prioritizing the power of their stories.

Why is it so important to tell a story?

Jeff Goldblatt:

Currently, a critical brand differentiator is telling a story.

The highest-level PR firms are now hiring journalists and have partnered with creative teams to see the need.

I encourage people to go out there and talk about themselves, to tell their stories.

Sitting on the sidelines in life gets you nowhere.

Taking chances gets you somewhere.

“SITTING ON THE SIDELINES IN LIFE GETS YOU NOWHERE. TAKING CHANCES GETS YOU SOMEWHERE.”

The more you try to identify your brand,  the more you learn what your brand is and what it stands for.

With the power of social media, anyone has the opportunity to be a brand publisher. 

From the biggest brands like Ford to the mom-and-pop names, everyone has the same opportunity to tell their story.

You may not have the same following, but you have the same opportunity!

“YOU MAY NOT HAVE THE SAME FOLLOWING, BUT YOU DO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY!”

It costs nothing to organically post on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

I’m inspired by you, Jeff, because you started from nothing, just one post, and now you are promoted by many!

Jeff Moore:

Thank you.

Jeff Goldblatt: Thank you for realizing that there’s a nation of people who needed to hear you.

You’ve made great traction because you tell your story and know there are people out there who want to hear and share stories.

How to start telling your story

Jeff Moore: 

How should someone go about telling their story?  

Jeff Goldblatt:

First, you must BE AUTHENTIC.

There are many pretenders out there.

There’s no need to fabricate; just be true to yourself.

Authenticity allows you to prevail and endure because you’re true to yourself.

What happens next?

Jeff Moore:

What’s the next step?

Jeff Goldblatt:

I would start by documenting what you do daily.

Have several posts a day.

Get out of the office and network.

Ask people for their social media contact information and have them take yours.

Make connections with people beyond a traditional business card.

Get a digital card.

While networking at a party, when people ask for your card, say, “I have a digital card.

What’s your cell phone number?”

Now you’ve made contact right there on the spot.

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Don’t let fear hold you back!

Jeff Moore:

I love that!  

What do you say to people afraid of sounding stupid or believing no one cares about what they have to say?  

Jeff Goldblatt:

That’s all fear, and it’s ok to have fear.

But, as Mr. Zig Ziglar said, “failure’s an event, not a person.”

It’s better to try than not to.

You will find your footing while trying, despite the temporary bruises.

Your audience will find you. 

(As a note to the reader, Zig Ziglar International is a client of Jeff’s Journeys)

Jeff Moore:

Once someone is ready to start, what platform should they use?

Jeff Goldblatt:

The vehicle for telling stories has now changed.

A Syndacast study recently said that in 2017, 74% of all Internet traffic would have some form of video content.

Using social media to share videos is the best way to go.

Jeff Moore:

Wow!

How long would you say the video should be?

Jeff Goldblatt:

Since we live our lives on the go, and we typically look at social media in passing, it’s desirable to have a video be 30 sec or less.

If you want more views, you want to keep it short.

Jeff Moore:

Love it!

Jeff Goldblatt:

I’m very excited about what I’m doing.

Without my journey, my success would not have been possible.

It was my missteps that brought me to my current position.

Although I’m in my late 40s, I made a commitment to reinvent myself.

To stay relevant.

I refused to shrivel up and melt away.

Failure is inevitable

Jeff Moore:

I once heard somebody say that success inspires, but failure empowers.

Could you share a failure that led you to this moment?

Jeff Goldblatt:

I’ve had a lot of bumps along the way.

In 2010, when I was the main anchor in Chicago for the local Fox station, new management came into the station and decided not to resign my contract.

It was hard not to take it personally at first.

This all happened to me in the throes of the recession.

And I ended up taking it on the chin financially because the TV news industry was going through major changes at the time, and it was difficult to find a position.

Going from a top Fox News correspondent to a freelancer in months was very humbling.

But I was determined to get the right role for me.

After a two-year job search, I found the right opportunity on air in San Antonio.

But at the end of my contract in San Antonio, I couldn’t come to terms with my future value with the station, and it was time to try something new.

Without the unexpected detours in my life, I wouldn’t be here, which led me to Jeff’s Journeys, where I bridge consulting and content marketing.

There was no name for what I was trying to do in San Antonio, so I created one.

I now have the opportunity to work with an amazing group of clients, including the team at Zig Ziglar International.

It’s the highest level to be working and spreading innovation, hope, business, and leadership skills with so many.

IF YOU’RE NOT HAPPY OR SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING, YOU NEED TO HAVE THE STRENGTH TO MAKE THE DECISIONS EVEN IF THEY’RE HARD.

Control your life.

Take charge of your journey.

My biggest failures became my biggest opportunities.

It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.

I learned that the journey in life is how resilient you can be.

That’s what defines you long-term.

Tell your story and build relationships

Jeff Moore:  

Many new business owners build their businesses by operating in silos and locking themselves in an office.

What’s the power of building relationships?

Jeff Goldblatt: 

Networking and making meaningful relationships are hidden talents because they are hidden needs in the business world.

To build meaningful relationships after an event, you have to:

• Take notes of your conversations with people
• Follow up with phone calls
• Look for possible alignment and how you can provide a service to someone you meet

For example, look at my story and how I connected with Zig Ziglar International.

Randomly this past summer on Facebook, the name Edwin Britt popped up.

I could have easily passed up this opportunity because we had not spoken last since we were roommates during our first jobs right out of college.

Instead, I chose to connect with Edwin, and as it turned out, he asked me to mentor his daughter in pursuing a career in TV news.

I agreed, and we stayed in touch.

At first, we often talked about Zig Ziglar International, and I would offer support for their work.

I realized that there might be a business opportunity here.

Fast forward, he introduced me to their amazing CEO, Michael Ray Newman, and we decided to create a partnership where I work with their team to help grow their brand!

Looking back at all the people with whom I have crossed paths over the years, from a business perspective, many conversations didn’t lead to business.

But what’s the harm in picking up the phone or direct messaging someone just to see if there is an alignment in life?

A couple of minutes of your life could be a potential promise opportunity and much more!

All the moments of your story matter

Jeff Moore:

Famous psychologist Abraham Maslow, talked about every moment being critical.

You either take one step forward or one step back into comfort.

You made the conscious decision to send the message.

 What’s your thinking behind taking risks?

Jeff Goldblatt:  

I am wired to take calculated risks.

We make ourselves better, as individuals and collectively, by communicating and scaling out our ideas; by collaborating. 

Take my 13-year-old son.

He’s very interested in digital accouterments.  

So, he decided to reach out to a few brands, and he offered to represent them on YouTube as a product tester.

He’s just 13 years old, and he decided he wanted to do this!

He researched their email address, but he was nervous to reach out.

I asked him, “What’s the big deal?

Even if they don’t write back, at least you took the risk, right?”

When he reached out, they did respond and explained they were looking for someone with more followers.

As he contemplated how to respond, I said to him, “What’s the worst and best that can happen?

Again, at least you took the risk!”

As you take risks, it’s important to do your homework first.

Reaching out to someone is helpful if you know something about that person and their company.

It’s like fishing, if you throw out the line hundreds of times, eventually, you will catch that fish!

Jeff Moore:

Jeff, we spoke about risks, networking, and the power of telling your story.  

But lastly, as we ask all of our guests, how do you define Everyday Power?

Jeff Goldblatt: To me, Everyday Power is standing for something.

If you stand for something, evolve, and commit, you will be more powerful!

Although your finish line may evolve a bit, you commit to being powerful daily.

I commit daily to being a good husband, a good father, and giving back.

It may look different day to day, but I make daily commitments to pay it forward and grow.

That’s what Everyday Power looks like to me.

Tap into your Everyday Power

Jeff Moore:

Thank you so much, Jeff.

If somebody wants to contact you to learn more about you and find out what you offer, how would they contact you?

Jeff Goldblatt:

My website is jeffsjourneys.com.

My email is [email protected].

As I said, you never know what’s at the other end of that line if you don’t take the chance.

If you are interested in storytelling or networking, I would be more than happy to try and help you.

Jeff Moore:

Jeff, thank you so much.

It was an honor.

Thank you so much for your time for the interview and for explaining how to tell your story.