Episode Notes

Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk. You’ll recognize yourself in these true-life stories from women who are walking their lives while their lives walk them and the lasting difference these journeys have made. I’m your host, Diane Wyzga.

Welcome back to Part 2 of the podcast interview with my guest Dafna Gold Melchior who joined us from Jerusalem, Israel. Dafna is a clarifier. As a clarifier Dafna teaches researchers and entrepreneurs how to sharpen their message and communicate with clarity so they are prepared to clearly and concisely speak about the value of their work to high stakes audiences. As an entrepreneur herself who is striving for a global client base I asked Dafna, “How do your clients find you? Let’s hear what she has to say about this very vital building block for any enterprise as well as becoming a podcaster, reaching for the almost impossible, and the bold shift into her professional dreams. 

Minutes 39:24

00:00 to 2:01     Intro

2:01 to 6:10          Let’s Clarify It!, Growing Global Client Base + Tips: Being of VALUE

Q: How do your clients find you?

• Predominantly, word of mouth
• Cold calling is not effective; no one likes to be contacted out of the blue with no context
• Dafna reaches out to her network Networking respectfully and effectively is to lead with those who know the value of her work
• Get the introduction from someone who knows you and your work and the outcomes
• Testimonials from clients who know you and your work is the seal of approval, lowers the risk and shortens the trust building
• Develop a regular body of work (blog, podcast, YouTube) that people can experience, learn from, get value from and build from that
• “I did this and I did that and I am so fabulous!” is a complete and utter waste of someone’s time
• Not wanting to take up someone’s valuable time has been an internal hurdle as Dafna strives to demonstrate her unique value and how to show that to the world
• If you don’t share with people what you do and how you do it, you are being selfish
• When you hold back something valuable you might never know who you could have helped and how.
• Our teachers and mentors influence us in unexpected ways; in ways we ourselves might not recognize until years or decades later
• Who am I to keep my content, my skill set from the public?
• Social media platforms can get so crowded with trash and noise that it’s impressed on Dafna: when you ask someone for their time and attention (a valuable resource) it had better be a worthy ask and be of value to them!

6:10 to 10:25     Value

• Value is what Dafna intends to give by way of her new podcast, Let’s ClarifyIt!, which launched since last we spoke
• Dafna lucky to join the Akimbo Podcasting Fellowship (now Podcasting Workshop) – loved radio medium – podcasting is new radio
• Did not have concept; just wanted to learn technical side
• As soon as COVID hit Dafna knew she could create a podcast around working remotely; created Remotely Effective and aired 13 episodes in a few weeks
• Than what? Dafna felt she had exhausted the topic but her Ah Ha!: “I’m not the Working Remotely Girl; I’m the Message Clarifying Girl!
• So! Decided that if her podcast subject matter was aligned with her professional work and passion it should be of value and a hit both
• Audience can feel podcaster’s authentic excitement when you are on point
• Dafna created her one big podcast: Let’s Clarify It! which is exactly the same name as her  website, as her brand – it’s all out there now!
• Package concept: host-on-mic with tips on how to sharpen your message plus interview guests who can share own insights about the value of clear messaging plus invite other communication experts to discuss insights on clarity of message
• Host adds WOW! Which is shorthand for simply amazing work!!!

10:25 to 14:15     Pivot to Professional

Host: We do not pivot into something wonderful – as guest described – from a place of wonderful; the pivot happens from something nudging us along the way whether concerns, reflections, hiccups; and such. Curious to know how these past times of hashing out thoughts and trying this and discarding prepared you for being where you are today.

Q: What’s the journey been like as you’ve hashed out thoughts and reflections and Ah Ha! Moments along the way?

• Dafna was not prompted by crisis; but as youngest child has grown up is now able – after 21 years – to see her professional trajectory on its own and not through the lens of motherhood
• Dafna can now prioritize her professional work in the world
• In Dafna’s case this is a coming of age and stage for her
• On one hand the every day is simpler with older children but the issues older children are dealing with still require hands-on parenting
• Dafna is still a very hands-on parent and time is such that now she can devote more time to where she is going professionally
• For Dafna a suppressed hunger is now wide open and bubbling with possibility

14:15 to 17:00     Growing Internationally

• Dafna exploring how to take her work (Let’s Clarify It!) international
• Has created a strong presence in Israel; how to branch out  with what I do for Israeli researchers and entrepreneurs and  and offer it to British researchers and entrepreneurs?
• Bucket List: How do I turn what I’m doing into an international practice?
• Online platforms have leveled playing field remotely
• COVID is coming to an end in Israel
• Israel – as the start up nation with world-changing innovation
• Dafna feels privileged to be Israeli: the strongest tool is collaboration; it’s all about the inter and the multi-disciplinary
• On every level the questions being asked: what is the benefit, what are you doing, how will it be more just, more accessible, more something than the way we’re doing it now?
• When you ask people to change, to be different you better be very clear about the benefit for THEM!
• Dafna is honored to help as a game-changer on global stage!

17:00 to 23:00      TIPS for Becoming an Entrepreneur

Host: For those who are considering changing, to becoming an entrepreneur, starting their own business what tips to offer  based on her experiences and insights – discoveries, learnings, parenting and so on 

• Becoming an entrepreneur: begin with a strong passion to create a product or service that will shift the world
• Be very very clear: who is this product/service for and how come
• It’s meant to improve on something that exists
• Be realistic: processes take time to develop; returns are not immediate or short-term
• Change in parallel with a job or sort out how will pay the bills
• Accelerators: find a good quality accelerator program where you could come in with an idea and leave on the other side with basic training as an early stage company
• Have a growth mindset such as that based on Carol Dweck’s growth mindset research is super-valuable
• The greatest news is: growth mindset can developed and evolved if one is open to seeing an event as a chance, an opportunity
• Why Israel is such a start-up nation: cuturally it’s legitimate to responsibly, respectfully make mistakes, sand box it, ask what did I learn from what didn’t work, reverse engineer, apply learnings going forward, start all over again because the process is all legitimate

23:00 to 27:18     Reaching for Heights Despite the Odds 

Host: “Fall down 7 – Get up 8!” is a real way to be in the world. To reach for the odds, take on the challenge because of what you can learn. Dafna recently applied for a Leadership Course because Dafna had the chutzpah (the good kind of audacity).

Q: what fired you up to go through the steps come what may?

• Dafna became ware of a professional network being created across disciplines to advance large-scale global projects requiring industry/academia/government collaboration and bridging
• Looking for applicants who are accredited and well-placed in their fields – which Dafna is not – but was intrigued by these movers and shakers who might make an in-house place for her at the table where she could contribute, accelerate, amplify, advance the projects!
• Humbling to know is not the classic audience but still what’s the harm and you just never know?
• To Dafna it felt brave and ambitious and stretchy to try (Note to listeners: the application didn’t come though as expected but the reeeeach! is what mattered)

27:18 to 31:10     Reaching for the Odds Feels Stretchy and Brave

Host: Reaching for the odds feels brave, stretchy, possible, regardless the outcome. Dafna threw her hat in the ring and said, “Let’s go!” And as you tell us the story you add in how something better might ultimately happen.  

This is a marvelous listen to hear her step out, how it might unfold

• Dafna shipped the application and felt: “I shipped it; It’s out of my hands; I feel an exhale letting go of the expectation.”
• At the end of the day the experience as of value making the attempt, striving and connecting with her 20-year old self who was the Be All and End All! Who wouldn’t take “No!” For an answer
• There is something about having the chutzpah to give it a go; the chances are slim but go for it anyway
• Dafna feels like she is coming back into her own allowing herself to occupy her own space which is legitimate
• Now it’s about what Dafna wants to do; what are my aspirations? How do I connect with a girl with really big dreams and shooting for them?

31:10 to 33:07     Women Who Put Dreams Aside and Return to Them

• Women around the world probably hear this: I put this dream aside and here I am again
• Shirley Valentine: “The girl who used to be me.”
• When we were younger selves and nothing felt impossible
• Is profound and healing for listeners to hear: It is not too late. Sit with Look at your younger self and ask: what do you want to do now? How do you want to live? How should we go forward together?
• Host: This is the experience that comes with time and finding ourselves perhaps in Middle Earth Age.
• Now it is Dafna’s time – which is going to be something to sit back and say WOW!!!

33:07 to 39:24    Legacy

Host: Legacy is a heavy word and Dafna sees herself as too young. 

Q: As we sit here today what would you like to see happen in the world as a result of the work you’re doing connecting people, communicating, podcasting ideas, and so on

• Dafna would like to see more opportunities realized thanks to people being able to communicate very clearly what they are doing, to collaborate, to manifest revolutionary ideas to heal the world and populations
• A great privilege to be part of those experiences
• Intends to continue helping professionals connect and partner to manifest products and services that will help and heal
• Aim: repairing earlier human-caused problems, environmental innovations, healing, goodness, people being able to live good healthy lives, have access and opportunities to what they need to contribute

Host: Before I say thank you I want to mention that all social media links and connections to Dafna’s podcast and website  will be posted in the Episode Notes. Make sure you drop by, say hello to Dafna, consider consulting with her, make a connection and pass it on because all of this is like grape jelly on a toddler; the more we spread it around the more good we make in the world

Thank you very much, Dafna, for walking along with us and sharing your life journey story with us. I trust this conversation will be of very good use and inspiration to those who are listening even though they might now know that it will be of good use and inspiration. Thank you very much!

Dafna plans to host the host when travel is open and the Israel Trail can be walked

The door on Whidbey Island is open when Dafna gets to the States.

Here we are, at the end of the road but not the journey. Thank you for listening to this episode of Stories From Women Who Walk with your host Diane Wyzga and my guest Dafna Gold Melchior, noted podcaster, message clarifier and the founder of Let’s Clarify It! a communication clarifying company with global aspirations based in Jerusalem, Israel.  

Please take a moment to check out Dafna’s Let’s Clarify It! website and podcast  to learn more and perhaps work together. All links to to social media are in the Episode Notes.

You’re also invited to check out over 300 episodes of Stories From Women Who Walk found on Simplecast or your favorite podcast platform. This is the place to thrive together. Come for the stories – stay for the magic. Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, follow, share a nice shout out on your social media or podcast channel of choice, and join us next time! You will have wonderful company as we walk our lives together!

Production Team: Quarter Moon Story Arts

Music: Entering Erdenheim from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music

Sound Editing: Dawin Carlisle & First Class Reels

All content and image © 2019 – Present: for credit and attribution Quarter Moon Story Arts

ABOUT Dafna Gold Melchior 

Many people aren’t aware of the assumptions they make regarding what’s known to others about their disciplinary-specific information. I gently help them become aware of where there may be comprehension and interpretation gaps, using a metaphoric light purple highlighter marker, so that they can communicate more clearly and effectively with their audiences.

I specialize in message sharpening with entrepreneurs and academic researchers, helping to craft and articulate their messaging, making their professional information accessible to their specific target audience. Once the message is sharp, they are ready to hone their presentation and delivery skills for any pitch, conference or high stakes opportunity.

As a connector, I love introducing people who could be of interest to one another.

I grew up in the US then in Israel, served as an officer in the IDF and studied Communications and Political Science at Haifa University and Conflict Research at Hebrew University. I have served as a Spokesperson, Public Relations and Marketing professional for the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, the Israel Democracy Institute, JDC Meyers Brookdale Institute, the Jerusalem International YMCA and AnyClip.

Since 2014,  I’ve been a partner in Message Experts where I leverage my experience to help a wide range of organizations and individuals improve their messages and presentation skills. I work with Israeli and international academic institutions, government ministries, companies and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

I am extraordinarily bilingual in English & Hebrew.

Dafna and her family live, love and thrive in Jerusalem, Israel.

Keeping in Touch with Dafna

Social media links are:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dafna.melchior/

LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/dafna-gold-melchior-74a63616

Let’s Clarify It website:  https://www.letsclarify.it/

Let’s Clarify It podcast: https://www.audible.com/pd/Lets-Clarify-It-Podcast/episodes/B08K572QX7

About the Guest

ABOUT Dafna Gold Melchior 

Many people aren’t aware of the assumptions they make regarding what’s known to others about their disciplinary-specific information. I gently help them become aware of where there may be comprehension and interpretation gaps, using a metaphoric light purple highlighter marker, so that they can communicate more clearly and effectively with their audiences.

I specialize in message sharpening with entrepreneurs and academic researchers, helping to craft and articulate their messaging, making their professional information accessible to their specific target audience. Once the message is sharp, they are ready to hone their presentation and delivery skills for any pitch, conference or high stakes opportunity.

As a connector, I love introducing people who could be of interest to one another.

I grew up in the US then in Israel, served as an officer in the IDF and studied Communications and Political Science at Haifa University and Conflict Research at Hebrew University. I have served as a Spokesperson, Public Relations and Marketing professional for the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, the Israel Democracy Institute, JDC Meyers Brookdale Institute, the Jerusalem International YMCA and AnyClip.

Since 2014,  I’ve been a partner in Message Experts where I leverage my experience to help a wide range of organizations and individuals improve their messages and presentation skills. I work with Israeli and international academic institutions, government ministries, companies and the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

I am extraordinarily bilingual in English & Hebrew.

Dafna and her family live, love and thrive in Jerusalem, Israel.

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