Non-fiction writer Amy Lanci chats with me today about her new book, Listen Up! Unlocking The Secret Languages of Intuitives, Creatives and Analytical Thinkers.
Amy is doing a virtual book tour with RABT Book Tours. Details are below. Feel free to visit her other stops, too!
Bio:
Amy Lanci loves finding the gold within people. As a second-generation Chinese American, Amy was born and raised in the Los Angeles County area of southern California.
As a young girl, she was speech-delayed and quite scared of the world. Despite nine years of speech therapy, she remained awkward and shy for the rest of her childhood. Along the way, she discovered a love for writing that took the form of fictional stories and journal writing and a love for marine biology.
After earning her undergraduate degree in ecology, behavior and evolution from the University of California, San Diego, she began her career in sea turtle genetics as a contractor for the Marine Turtle Genetics Program at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center as an employee for Ocean Associates, Inc.
Although everything seemed okay from the outside, the inside was a much different story. Amy struggled with her weight, her emotional eating, and her ability to establish boundaries to protect her sensitive nature. Finally, at the age of twenty-four, Amy was pushed to finally work on her personal issues when she was diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disorder. She finally worked on her emotional eating, lost weight, healed her liver, and found her husband.
When she looked at her journey and her career, she decided to try something new. At first, she got certified as a health coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and started her first business.
After two years, the health coaching practice went nowhere, and she was at a loss. Her then-business coach, Tiffany Largie, challenged her to switch over her business to copywriting and communication. Within a week of changing over her website and her business cards to reflect this new direction, Amy got her first two paying clients ever. “It was as if the Universe was telling me, ‘Go that way!'”
While juggling her responsibilities as a wife and mother, Amy worked hard to build her business during her off-hours in order to pursue her dream. Every time she spoke on stage and presented her story, she was constantly reminded of what her gifts were and how she straddled the line between intuition, creativity, and being analytical. It was the path to becoming whole.
After the sudden death of her dear friend and coach, KeeKee Cornelious, Amy finally found the courage to jump fully into entrepreneurship. Eight days after receiving the sad news of KeeKee’s death, Amy sent in her three-month notice and wrapped up her fourteen-year career in science. Now she is on a mission to make sure she uses her gifts to help people translate their dreams into words to make sure they are heard. Are you having trouble describing “what you do” to your audience? Book a strategy call here to learn how to start speaking your audiences’ language!
Welcome, Amy. Please tell us about your current release.
More people are on the same page than you may think. They just may be speaking different languages.
When you consider how every community, industry, and culture of any kind has its own culture and language, then the way to successfully navigate any conversation is to figure out how to speak in the same tongue while still getting your message across. This is especially important when you are networking for your business, cultivating personal relationships, and climbing up the ladder in the corporate space.
So, how can you quickly assess what keywords and phrases are best to use when speaking to anyone who crosses your path?
Through listening, observation, and the power of discernment.
That’s where Listen Up! comes in. This power pocketbook dives into the language commonalities of three communities: Intuitives, Creatives, and Analytical Thinkers. It provides simple observational and communicative strategies for becoming a better communicator without manipulation or persuasion.
Making a great first impression can be difficult but with the right knowledge, you can be sure to make an impact. The book offers tips on how to learn how to get people to know, like, and trust you quickly by using body language as your ally. It also offers advice on icebreakers—or questions that help draw out conversation—and confidence-building exercises so that you feel more comfortable speaking up during conversations with others.
The book covers how to communicate effectively by understanding how words are interpreted across different communities. Additionally, it provides specific tips on improving your speaking skills through active listening (e.g., repeating back key points), and storytelling (e.g., telling stories that grab attention). All these strategies help create deeper connections with our audience which makes them feel more comfortable in our presence and results in more effective communication overall!
Listen Up! is an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to become a better communicator and build stronger relationships with those around them without the need for manipulation or persuasion. Whether you’re looking to make new friends or strengthen existing relationships this book has something for everyone looking to become a better communicator!
What inspired you to write this book?
My own journey. I started my professional life as a lab technician in the world of sea turtle genetics. That’s where I really tapped into the analytical part of myself as I worked day-in and day-out in the lab, conducting experiments and DNA extractions quite frequently. I attended many presentations and conferences where I was immersed in the language of scientists and researchers.
But I was always a writer at heart, which is how I expressed my creativity. As a kid, I wrote my own fictional stories where I got to be the hero at the center. When I moved into the world of entrepreneurship, I suddenly was able to express my creativity through different business ideas and ventures.
Along the way, I embarked on my spiritual path and discovered all of these communities who were dedicated to investigating their inner worlds and the unknown mysteries around all of us.
Through my immersion, I realized that I “accidentally” learned the languages of all of these populations and I was unconsciously switching back and forth. It was then that I realized that perhaps, if more people understood these languages, their communication would vastly improve.
What exciting project are you working on next?
I’m looking to dive into the world of children’s books, inspired by my daughter. Stay tuned!
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I was a kid. Around 10 or 11 years old, I recognized that writing gave me a sense of calmness and allowed me to express myself when sometimes, I had no idea how.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I used to write full-time. When I started my current business, my main services were writing marketing copy and content. Now I have moved more into the consultant’s role and while I may do some writing in my business still, writing my books is my idea of play during my off-time.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
After I finish writing, I make a point to step away from the work for at least 2 hours before reading it over again. That way, my mind is refreshed and I can more likely spot gaps or mistakes in my writing. I learned a long time ago that if I force myself to write and edit without any breaks, I’m more likely to create subpar work. That’s something I DEFINITELY try to minimize, as much as possible.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As a child, I wanted to be a screen writer or an archaeologist. I feel like I get to do a bit of both now!
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
When you’re writing something that is important to you, you’re going to encounter resistance and writer’s block. That is natural. If you are often struggling with writer’s block, I would definitely recommend stepping away for a bit and then coming back when you’re ready. Plus, it could be a good excuse to read Steven Pressfield’s, The War of Art. I promise, it will give you a whole new perspective on why we have writer’s block, and it may blow your mind!
Links:
Website | Untold Story Enterprises | Milkcrate Mastermind | Facebook | Instagram
Book tour stops:
June 1 – Liliyana Shadowlyn – Spotlight
June 2 – Our Town Book Reviews – Excerpt
June 3 – Nana’s Book Reviews – Spotlight
June 5 – Buffy Kennedy – Guest Post
June 6 – Book Reviews by Virginia Lee – Spotlight
June 7 – On a Reading Bender – Review
June 8 – Crossroad Reviews – Spotlight
June 9 – The Avid Reader – Interview
June 12 – Tea Time and Books – Spotlight
June 13 – Texas Book Nook – Review
June 14 – Momma Says to Read or Not to Read – Spotlight
June 15 – HERE!
June 16 – The Faerie Review – Spotlight
June 19 – Books Blog – Spotlight
June 20 – Matters That Count – Excerpt
June 21 – Book Corner News and Reviews – Spotlight
June 22 – One More Exclamation – Review
June 23 – Just Another Reader – Spotlight
June 24 – Book Junkiez – Excerpt
June 26 – A Book and a Latte – Review
June 27 – The Indie Express – Review
June 28 – RABT Reviews – Wrap Up