Welcome to Milestone Moments, the show where
we explore the journeys that lead to success.
I'm Sheila Slick, your host and founder of Five
Milestones. In every episode, we will bring you
insights from the minds of entrepreneurs, leaders
and experts who will share not just their expertise,
but the milestone moments that have reshaped
their journeys and led to significant achievements.
So if you're looking for motivation, you're in
the right place. Subscribe now and discover the
milestones that mark the path to success. Welcome
to another episode of Milestone Moments in Business
and Leadership. I'm Sheila Slick, your host.
And today, my special guest is Sabine Kavenberg.
As the founder and CEO of Impact Communication
Coaching, she specializes in empowering leaders,
entrepreneurs, and teams to communicate with
confidence, clarity, and presence. She is a keynote
speaker and best -selling author who helps audiences
master the invisible stage. Those everyday conversations
where influence is built, trust is earned, and
opportunities are won. Welcome to the show, Sabine.
Thank you for having me, Sheila. I'm looking
forward to it. I am too. I know a little bit
about your origin and I love your story. You've
spent decades as an actress, as a director, as
a performing arts school founder, someone who
has lived on the stage professionally. So what
was the pivotal moment that led you to do what
you do today? I always have. lived the stage
that was my life I was a stage and tv actress
in Germany for 10 years and then I started directing
traveling the world before I moved to the United
States to open my performing art school so I
was always in the entertainment industry and
then in the capacity of the school I was teaching.
I was also helping aspiring performers get in
front of agents and casting directors. And the
one thing that I realized is the power of stories.
Of course, as an actress, I was telling stories.
But also as a director, I was telling stories
when I produced shows in my school. are when
we have a one -on -one conversation, when we
communicate with others. Because my talent, aspiring
talent, they needed to speak also in front of
agents and casting directors besides having their
audition piece ready. And when they started incorporating
stories and being their authentic self, getting
rid of the fear of having a conversation. Everything
changed. And when I was done with my school,
see, we all go through different stages, right?
That was the moment when I realized, okay, now
I have to make an even greater impact. First
of all, sharing my story, which I shared in my
new book, my newest book that is coming out,
Gumption. But also, how can I help others? who
have a powerful story that needs to be heard,
have powerful experiences and the skills that
needs to get out into the world. And that's what
I do today. I help those entrepreneurs, those
individuals who want to be seen. And that's my
superpower. So I know it was a little bit of
a longer answer, but this is in a nutshell what
brought me to where I am today. So you talk about
the invisible stage as the everyday conversations
where influence is built and opportunities are
won. Tell me a little bit about what the invisible
stage is. First of all, you know that performance,
the entertainment industry, is my wheelhouse.
And through my teachings and through my talks,
I take a lot of metaphors from the stage. And
one time I realized, wow, what makes some people
successful and others not? And that is the work
that you do on your invisible stage. You see,
when you are in the spotlight, Not necessarily
on stage, but by that I mean you are in front
of your audience, your clientele, a networking
group. Every time you're being seen, whatever
comes out here, out of your mouth, how you present
yourself, how you stand up, how confident you
are, that was done on your invisible stage. And
that the habits that you have, daily things you
do to gain confidence, to learn the skills. To
give you an example, from my own invisible stage
to the visible stage, when I was an actress in
Germany, I wanted to play one specific role.
And that was the role of Madame Tenardier in
Les Miserables. I always was the young ingenue,
but I wanted to play that character role. And
there was an audition in Vienna, Austria, which
is like 1500 miles away from where I lived and
played at that time. So I said, OK, what do I
need to do? I picked a song that was perfect
for that character. I had it even transposed
to one lower key so I can belt it out. I practiced
with my vocal coach and then I had it taped.
So I practiced every day with a tape and I became
that character. Then I took a night train after
I was done on Sunday night playing in Hamburg,
Germany to be Monday morning in Vienna, Austria
to do the audition. And I prepared so 100%. I
even took my tape recorder with me. That's how
long ago it was, right? We still had tape recorders.
And I had that transposed sheet, sheet music,
because you always have a piano player there
and they play the sheet music. But if it's handwritten,
it's a little bit harder and it was a hard song.
So I came in with my sheet music, tape player,
and I said... This is the song. But just in case,
I also brought a tape recorder. If you want me
to use that, I'm happy to. And you know what
the piano accompanist said? Oh, yeah, please
use your tape because it was hard to play. Good
for me because I knew how to work. I practiced
it over and over again. So I did it. I performed
and then they said. Can you go upstairs with
our musical director and practice a song? Oh,
I knew it. That was one foot in the door. So
I went up. We tried. And then at one point she
said, well, I don't think you get it. I said,
yes, I get it. I get it. Let's go one more time,
two more times. And then I have it. I was so
confident and I didn't want to let go of that
opportunity. So she did it again and I got it.
So I went down, auditioned. And three days later.
I got the phone call and they offered me the
role. See, the months, weeks, even sometimes
months, of working on the invisible stage made
that five minutes that I was on the stage worth
it while because I got the part. And that's what
I'm talking about when I talk about the invisible
stage. It's almost like behind the scenes, the
preparation behind it. Now, I just learned a
very interesting new fact. I know that you can
act, that you can sing, and you can dance, but
I just learned today that you can also play instruments.
Yes. You have a lot of skills that you can pass
on and teach. I think that's, you don't just...
speak it, you walk the talk. You have all of
this experience behind you and you're multi -talented
in so many different ways. So you have the signature
studio day. Can I go learn some of these skills?
What is that about? Oh, that's a good question.
And talking about the different skills that you
have, I can sing, dance, act. In the entertainment
world, on stage as actress, we are considered
a triple Threat, meaning I not only act, but
can also sing and dance. So, and as you know,
I always take those metaphors. And I was thinking,
hmm, how can I help my clients even more? And
then it hit me. We have to become a triple threat.
Now, let me explain what I mean by that. And
that leads me to my signature studio day. It
has never been easier to become a coach, an author,
having courses online, having a website and all
this good stuff, right? Guess what? If something
becomes easier, at the same time, it becomes
harder. Let me explain. When something is easy
to do, more people flock in. But this is where
you can set yourself apart, where you can elevate
yourself as the authority. Become a triple threat.
And by that I mean, yes, you have an expertise.
Well, first of all, you've got to learn how to
share it. Become a speaker. Even if you don't
want to become a public paid speaker, still become
a speaker. Because the more you speak in front
of audiences, the more you get the word of what
you do. That is one. Number two. What else can
you do? Well, look what we are doing right now.
Having a podcast, having a YouTube channel. You
have podcasts also visually, right? You can share
more of your expertise. You can be in front of
more people. And then third, how about a book?
Because when you are an author, you set yourself
up already as the authority. And guess what?
And I'm sure you do something similar. I get
so many inquiries to be on my podcast. Guess
what I do? I look them up. Where are they? How
is their social media? How is their website?
Is this professional? Do they have professional
video? How do they talk? How do they speak? Do
they have a book? What is the audience that they
have? All these kind of stuff. And oftentimes
people forget that. So with that said, I thought,
how can I help my people even more? With my signature
studio day, I want to help those individuals
who have a powerful story, but they may not yet
have the material necessary to raise as an authority.
In this one day, we film their signature talk.
Like it's a mini TEDx style talk, five, six minutes,
right? That's all you need to have for your website.
It's professionally edited. It's in the state
-of -the -art studio. But that's not it. The
weeks prior, I worked with each one individually.
On Zoom, so you don't have to fly into Tampa
where the event is taking place. I work with
everyone individually. Again, that's my superpower.
I hear what they say and then I can help them
craft that signature talk that also has that
story component that is super important. And
it is built in a way that is effective. Then
when we finally meet at that day, we meet the
day before in the evening. It's a very small
group of people. I max out at eight because I
want to make it a boutique experience. Also,
the people will bond together. They will know
each other. They can collaborate with each other.
And of course, I will be there. You can pick
my brain, right? So we have that preparation.
And then at studio day, not only will you be
able to... record your talk and it's all prepared
because we had the time before. There's also
a professional photographer who takes your pictures,
your headshot and your lifestyle. So while you
are on set, while you're doing the recording
and while we are mingling and all of that will
be sent to you ready. So no extra charge for
anything. It's all included in that one day.
So you have your talk, you have your images and
we also prepare your speaker one sheet. So you
have everything that you need to send it out
to speak on stages, either it's paid or non -paid
stages. And so I'm very passionate about, and
this is what I've done for three decades. So
I know I'm the right one to help someone who
is ready and sees that this is what I need right
now. Well, then definitely get in touch with
me. And I'm sure you put the link in the show
notes as well. I will. And I actually have a
question based on that. This is a way that I
understood it and I want it clarified. The invisible
stages in my mind, what we had talked about earlier,
is where you help people prepare for what's going
to happen at studio day. So you can first prepare
them and you walk them through it. And then studio
day is the actual day that you meet in person.
Am I correct? That is correct. Yes. Okay. And
then two, when you mentioned books. I completely
agree with you. And not only do you see, do they
have a book? You want to know, well, what's her
story? What value can they bring if I invite
them on the podcast or if I invite them on the
stage? And I think that a book, many times, is
the starting point. If someone wants to be a
coach or if they want to be on that stage. So
I'm working with a few people right now that
are doing exactly that. But what's really clear
is the message they want out there. So can they
come to you and you help them prepare the talk
as well? Absolutely. That is what I do. And also
even when somebody is unclear on their message.
I had you, by the way, as my guest on my podcast,
Become Empowered, and I invite the listeners
to check it out because you shared so many beautiful
information there of how they can get started.
But you talk about a story. You don't have to
write a whole book. My first collaboration was
in somebody else's book, and I shared part of
my story. wrote or collaborated and I was the
one who curated the stories and women were that
was their starting point with one story and that
led to another and to another and one of the
authors because she was in that book which became
an Amazon number one international bestseller
she was able to get so many speaking gigs So
I can just invite the listeners to get in touch
with you because that's what you do. You help
them. And then eventually it can go into something
more substantial. And I just wanted to share
with you, this is the latest book that I call
Gumption. And I explain the invisible stage more
in detail. I talk about the framework. I talk
about so many different things. That will help
someone. And by the way, the invisible stage
stories are in there as well. But that is what
happens. Now, all of these things together. I
already know I'm a triple threat in the entertainment
industry. But I am also a triple threat now in
the coaching and speaker industry. Because I
do have books. I have a podcast. And of course,
my own programs. I think that's all wonderful.
Now, you also have a group which is Vibrant Voices,
and I'm a member of your group. I enjoy meeting
weekly, not just with you because I learn a lot,
but with a lot of other women that are all coming
together, that human connection. Can you tell
us a little bit about Vibrant Voices so that
we can invite anyone tuning in to meet us both?
Yes. And I'm so glad that you said that. I'm
so passionate about building communities. And
one of the things with my Vibrant Voices network
is everybody who's there has a voice. And we
want to make them so vibrant, so energetic, and
also being heard. And networking is when we meet
on a weekly basis, besides going and coaching.
guests coming in and doing some, some coaching,
but we also work together every single week.
We work on our introduction, how we can improve
our quote unquote elevator pitch, right? When
you meet somebody for the first time, which is
by the way, I know. a problem for so many people
when I ask them, so what do you do? And they
go from left to right to up and down and have
still no clue. And then I just checked out. You
have to be able in one or two sentences to say
what you do, but most importantly, who you help,
the problem that you solve. And we work on that
even before we get started to get into the nitty
gritty. And then there are relationships are
being built. And I just wanted to share this
with you. I had a conversation earlier with someone
and she mentioned she started her new business.
And she said, but I'm only surrounded by the
people that I know from my job, not many entrepreneurs,
not many other people. And that is crucial. You
got to surround yourself with people. with like
-minded people that are looking for the same
thing and that are supportive of each other.
And that's another beautiful thing with a vibrant
voices network. Well, I've enjoyed it and I learn
a lot. And you also have the opportunity to be
on the hot seat. You've been able to take the
time to revise some of our social profiles and
then we give each other feedback. And those kind
of tips are invaluable, especially when you have
a group of professionals that are all in that
same place. So before we wrap it up, what would
you say to that woman that is waiting until she
feels ready? That woman that perhaps... has shrunk
or is shrinking in rooms where she does belong,
what would you say to her? Beautiful question.
The very first thing I would say, don't wait.
Start now. You know what they say, the best time
to plant a tree was 10 years ago, if you want
to have shade, right? The second best time is
now. And you said something. There are many...
People who are waiting to be ready. And that
is the killer of any progress that you make.
When I started out, before I became an actress,
I was a claim adjuster. I hated it. And I had
a chance meeting with a teacher who asked me
if I was still active in acting. I said no. But
one thing he said. was the pivotal moment for
me to start my career. And that was, what a shame
Sabine, you're so talented. And that woke me
up. He's right. But here's the thing, when I
had no idea, right? As I mentioned to you before,
but if I would have waited to be ready, if I
would have waited to, well, let me figure things
out. If I would have waited to do whatever. I
would have never been here where I am right now.
I would have still be stuck in a job that I hated.
And so my biggest advice is don't wait. Go for
it. Start somewhere. And that somewhere can be,
talk to me. I'm always open for people to just,
if they are lost or just wanted to get some advice.
And you can do this by. TalkToSabine .com. Just
go to TalkToSabine .com and schedule an audition.
No, no audition. Schedule a time with me. As
long as I don't have to sing on the audition,
I will go find you. That is not one of my strengths.
So is this where we can also find links to all
of the different things that we talked about
today, like Studio Day and the Vibrant Voices
Network? Would it be that same dot com? So this
dot com that I gave you is to schedule a time
to talk with me. But where you want to go, where
I have tons of free resources as well, you can
find the Vibrant Voices and all the information
about the Studio Day. Just go to sabinekevenberg
.com forward slash resources. Well, thank you
so much for joining me today, Sabine. I really
enjoyed our conversation. Oh, I'm so glad that
I was able to share this information. Thanks
for having me. And thank you all for tuning in
to another episode of Milestone Moments in Business
and Leadership. Until next time.