How Joann Yancy Built Her Motivational Speaker Career Using Laughter to Inspire Learning and Create Life-changing ExperiencesLooking for something different? Well, this podcast is for you! In this episode of Solopreneur Journey, Joann Tolbert-Yancy has an incredible reputation as a motivational speaker of using her resounding voice and incredible humor to unlock doors many thoughts were forever shut. The owner of Jotoski Consulting has built a speaking career on belief in self and faith that had her in need of motivation while battling cancer; yet, still finding a way to motivate others. Her path to success has been organic and a natural love for making people laugh, learn and walking away knowing and feeling different. Brief Background of Host of The Solopreneur Journey Podcast, Ex-pat Entrepreneur Jewel Daniels Jewel Daniels is the head of Daniels Communications Global, a leadership development firm specializing in executive coaching, cultural competency, and developing leaders. She is also the author of four books, with her latest becoming a bestseller, https://jeweldaniels.net/new-book-profile (Three Sides of Every Crisis: Strategies to Sustain Business, Manage Your Career and Take Care of You). The book talks about how to find opportunities amid a crisis by learning to adjust your perspective so you can pivot, strategize, and take action to #kickthecrisis. About The Solopreneur Journey Podcast The Solopreneur Journey Podcast reaches out solo entrepreneurs, single-shingle, one-person enterprises who are just starting their business or killin' it in business. The show is ripe with information for those transitioning from careers to become entrepreneurs and growing to become larger companies' business owners.  You will glean lessons from everyday solopreneurs. Plus, those who have scaled their business and featured guests who pay it forward to share leadership lessons, the power of collaboration, how to price your goods and services, negotiation, marketing, and practicing excellent EQ (emotional intelligence).  One of the show's strongest offerings is its ability to cover a broad spectrum of industries with people worldwide in a way that appeals to our audience by meeting people where they are along their solopreneur journey. Where All Things Begin[00:04:00] A chance meeting at the former African American Women, on Tour Conference leaves a memory about Motivational Speaker Joann Tolbert Yancy in thatpeople always walk away feeling motivated. Getting to a place of creating that experience for people comes from reading the energy in the room with a goal to accomplish two things: make people laugh so they are open to learning and ensure they walk away with at least one thing that motivates them.[00:07:26] Knowing what you want to do is one thing. Knowing how to do it is another. Joann found inspiration in discovering her voice by listening to the resounding words of  Barbara Jordan, the first black. woman elected to the United States Congress. That experience plus solid advice from a colleague on the “butterflies in the stomach” keep you grounded made for the beginning of a remarkable speaking career.[00:15:59] ‘But what happens when the stage lights flicker? Years of traveling global speaking and motivating professionals at tradeshows, conferences, women’s event would be met by the battle of the big C -cancer. How do you motivate others when you need motivation?   

[00:20:23] Speaking is an art where all the rewards and revenues are generated by one person. Surviving peaks and valleys in business means having multiple streams of income where Joann maintains a healthy revenue stream through her books and consulting services when not on the stage motivating others. Key to sustaining in business is knowing your market and your worth.

[00:26:05] The question often asked is how to build...