We recently connected with Elliot Gindis and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Elliot, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?
I have always believed effective communication is the key to everything, and nowhere is this as important as when teaching, and especially when teaching complex topics. Many years ago, when I was in engineering school, I would listen to my professors drone on about some concept that may have gone completely over my head while sitting there in the classroom. When I got home to study I would review the same topic, teaching it to myself, and realizing with both joy and anger that it wasn’t all that complex, but that the professor’s explanation of it made it so. But why? Wasn’t it their job to explain everything in the most elegant and straightforward way possible. Clearly I was asking for too much. It seems the true role of a professor is to overwhelm and befuddle the student with their endless knowledge and so called mastery of the subject. I resolved to never repeat these mistakes if I was ever in that position.
I got my chance years later when a co-worker asked me to take over her AutoCAD class at a local university where she taught in the evenings. AutoCAD is a drafting software used by millions of architects and engineers; an electronic pen and paper if you will. I had mastered it a few years earlier, as it was needed for work, and when I was asked to teach it, I felt like I could step into that role. Now looking down from the top, I didn’t think AutoCAD was overly complex, but it can certainly seem overwhelming to someone on the bottom just starting out. I knew I needed a different approach to stand out from other instructors and teach the way I wanted to be taught.
It was along process, and certainly took years to perfect, but I consciously broke down complex topics and attempted to present them in a simple way. “Explain it to me like I am a 5 year old” was my mantra, and students responded very positively to my approach! I started by first identifying the order of the topics to be taught. From the high level of knowing the software and how it was used, I identified what was important right away, and what could wait, creating a building block approach to teaching. I then distilled the software into just a handful of essential concepts that were used the most often and reinforced them many times over, before slowly building in more details and other concepts.
This method of effective communication with my students, carried me for many years, and into my current business of financial education. When I became a financial advisor, after years of investing and collecting certifications, I again found that simple topics become complex only after someone tries to explain them incorrectly. As before with AutoCAD, I tried to explain things in a logical, and straightforward manner, focusing on only what is essential, and building from there. Students have always appreciated direct and straightforward communication, and this approach works, no matter what field you are teaching in. The results of this approach can be found on my YouTube channel at Keystone Financial Academy.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My main focus today is on financial education and advisement. I run a growing YouTube channel called the Keystone Financial Academy which can be found at this link: https://www.youtube.com/@KeystoneFinancialAcademy
The channel focuses on bringing viewers informative and entertaining videos on personal finance, investing, and related topics. I try to make my channel relevant to anyone trying to get their financial house in order, and those trying to learn how to invest the right way and avoid pitfalls.
Additionally, I run several other financial education businesses. One is a personal finance MasterClass that I offer on Udemy.com. It covers the essentials of credit, debt, savings, and budgeting, and can be found at this link:
https://www.udemy.com/course/keystone-financial-academy-personal-finance-masterclass
I also have a very comprehensive textbook called the Keystone Financial Guide and it can be found here: https://keystonefinancialeducation.com/
Finally, I run a series of corporate financial webinars in partnership with a company called SelfReboot. These are only available through your company’s HR department, but you can book them by getting in touch with SelfReboot at https://selfreboot.org.
I also do personal one on one financial advisement and retirement planning, but since I started my YouTube channel several years ago, I have been more focused on that, as I can reach far more people via that platform.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The number one skill is of course mastery of the subject you are teaching. If you don’t have to think of the subject matter, you can focus on the teaching and communicating part, and your presenting will come across as smooth and authoritative.
The second quality to have is interest in what you are teaching and communicating. Not only will you enjoy discussing it, your interest and enthusiasm will come across to your audience. As a side bonus, doing what you enjoy will ensure you never work a day in your life.
Finally its essential that you have business and marketing savvy. It is said that you are always a salesperson, its just what you are selling that changes. This is very true with your own business such as my financial education. Youi always have to market yourself and think of ways to reach new audiences in a competitive market. Your knowledge alone won’t cut it.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I have read many books that have given me ideas, inspiration, or taught me specific techniques. However, one that stands out and directly influenced me is the “Millionaire Fast Lane” by MJ DeMarco. While the book doesn’t introduce any radical ideas, DeMarco does distill business and entrepreneurship success to several key factors. The book shifted my focus toward using a replicable, online strategy of creating valuable digital content that can reach a wide audience, and be created once and sold many times over, such as my webinars, Udemy classes, and YouTube content. It has shifted me away from one on one point of sales (such as a one-time lecture, or taking on a client for advisement), and made me realize that real success lies in creating replicable content that can reach a wide audience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://keystonefinancialeducation.com
- Instagram: @ejgindis
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/keystonefinancialacademy/videos
- Other: Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/course/keystone-financial-academy-personal-finance-masterclass/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com SelfReboot: https://selfreboot.org
