Meet Joe M. Turner

We were lucky to catch up with Joe M. Turner recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe M., 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?
As a speaker, performer, and writer, communication is the primary skill on which my business is built. I think there are three keys to my success in communication in all of these areas.

First, I happened to be born into a family of great communicators. Many of my relatives were teachers, and many became trainers and writers of various sorts. My grandmother was especially influential in my childhood, and she was an English teacher for thirty years. She constantly urged my brother and me to speak clearly, to enunciate properly, to use correct grammar, and to read voraciously. I seriously doubt I would be as good in front of an audience as I am today without that early training.

Next, I was blessed with excellent teachers in my educational journey. My high school teachers and college professors built on the foundational writing and speaking talents that I had and taught me to write with clarity in different genres. I had excellent directors both in school and in professional theatres who trained me to be effective on stage or in front of a room.

Finally, there’s no substitute for experience. I’ve been doing this long enough to make a lot of mistakes and to learn something from most of them. I’ve got enough “flight time” that I’ve seen a lot of challenges and learned effective ways to deal with them.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My professional work proceeds from this basic idea: I help organizations amaze their audiences. Putting that into practice takes two forms, which has led to my two-pronged service offerings.

In one form, I help my clients by DOING/PERFORMING amazing things as an entertainer. I use my performing skills of magic, mentalism, and music to deliver quality entertainment at corporate events, in theatres, at meetings and conventions, and in other contexts such as at colleges or on cruise ships. But in all of these environments, I’m a performer and I’m the one “on stage.”

The other form my work takes is by SHOWING/TEACHING my clients how to amaze their audiences by doing what they do more effectively. In this context I am usually keynoting at a conference or other meeting, or serving as a consultant for film, theatre, or television. I help people understand how principles from magic and theatre are relevant to the experiences that they are giving to their own audiences: customers, members, colleagues, students, donors, and so forth.

Coming from a background that includes both corporate management consulting and professional theatre, I have benefited from having a unique skillset and point of view that lets me deliver valuable insights to my clients in the professional manner they expect, while representing their brands well at their events or on their projects.

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 three most important traits I would encourage people to develop are clarity of thought, clarity of communication, and the will to act.

Clarity of thought gets a bad rap in a lot of contemporary discussion, especially online. The idea that you are willing to draw lines, make distinctions, and establish definitions can make some people uncomfortable because they fear being considered closed-minded or judgmental by other people who may dislike the constraints of defined terms. I challenge you to realize that you cannot effectively advocate for any belief or point of view if you aren’t willing to define your terms . The modern reality is that you will catch some heat when you insist on clarity of thought. Precise thinking is critical to meaningful achievement.

Clarity of communication means that you write and speak in ways that make it clear what you are thinking. You’ve put the effort into reasoning and thinking with precision, but if you can’t get the idea across to your reader or listener, you’ve lot a lot of the benefit of that work. Practice writing in short and long forms: blogs, essays, and longer articles. Improve your vocabulary and understanding of grammar. Read the great books. Study the classics — even going back to the Greeks and Romans. (Pro tip: It may sound odd to suggest it, but listen to old radio show performers. Their diction is amazing because they didn’t have the additional help of video or subtitles. Your own speaking will be better for the exercise.)

Finally, the will to act is the most important trait. A mediocre plan put into action is more effective than a great plan that was never implemented. It is easy to put off putting words on paper, or getting yourself to a networking meeting, or planning your own event. You can stream your way through highly bingeable pieces of pop culture and be able to talk about them in detail with your friends. But is that getting you closer to your goal? Look at your friends and connections who are actually achieving their goals and you will find a more fully developed “will to act” than you will find in the rest of your circle of contacts.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
This isn’t a traditional question for a business interview, but I think the answer is absolutely crucial for anyone who wants to live successfully.

Like many parents and families when I was growing up in central Mississippi in the 70s and 80s, there were strong ties to family, church, school, and community. There were a lot of high expectations. There were clear boundaries for behavior and there were meaningful consequences for crossing those lines. In those days it was more common that Mom and Dad would both be present in the home and that they would stay together when times got hard. That kind of stability is extremely valuable.

But that’s not what I think is the most impactful specific thing they did. That thing, which I’ll tell you in a moment, is something that everyone can do for their kids, albeit maybe in varying degrees.

What is it? Travel.

My parents would save up all year, then take two weeks off from work. We would load the trunk, get in the car, and drive. We’d leave Friday night after work, and we’d get home 14-15 days later in time for them to be back at work on Monday. In the course of my youth we drove to 48 states, all the Canadian provinces that border the US (plus Nova Scotia), and even a short drive into Mexico. I also got to take a senior spring break school trip to Europe, but that was a very special circumstance. It’s really the domestic travel that I think was so valuable.

There is no substitute for travel. Spending time in different parts of the country not only developed my love for my nation, but also equipped me to communicate. It helped me learn to value that there are both similarities and differences among us.

There are people who have never left the state they were born in, or perhaps never been outside the region of the country where they live. I think it’s immensely valuable to explore other regions, to see the natural wonders of North America, and to have your mind and experience broadened by travel. I will always be grateful to my parents for those summer trips. Hours in the backseat may have seemed like drudgery then, but as an adult I have really come to appreciate how worthwhile it was.

Save up for a year and go spend some time somewhere else, even if it’s just for a few days. Take a full suitcase and an open mind.

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