058: Ten Lessons I Learned in My First Year of Podcasting
Podcast is: Mike Murphy Unplugged
Topic of Podcast: I teach podcasters and creative entrepreneurs how to create content and discuss tools and gear and business and mindset. You know.
Bottom Line: The podcast teaches what I know and what I learn as I build my own online business.
1. PODCASTING IS A BIG TIME COMMITMENT AND REALLY HARD WORK.
Duh. But, no really it is hard work. I have a weekly podcast that is 15–18 minutes long. No guests. Just me and it eats up my time more than anything I have ever done. It is just the amount of time thinking about topics and then organizing it and writing and recording and do the blog post and, newsletter. Once I get done with an episode, the week flies by and back at it. I’m preaching to the choir if you are a podcaster. I understand why people podfade. It’s kind of a pain in the butt, but I’m proud of the content I’m making and I am a better person because of my podcast.
2. I AM PROUD TO BE A ONE MAN BAND.
Be yourself. Always. It’s so much easier. I am carving my own path and do not ask for permission or validation from anyone. I listen and learn and am inspired by those in front of me, but everything I do is all me. I started this podcast to help myself find my voice and to help people along the way. I’m a work in progress and do not pretend to be anything I am not. I’m struggling just like everybody else to be happy, helpful and successful, but the thing I am most proud about is I just keep chipping away knowing that I am moving forward and making progress personally and professionally and there is no sugar coating on my brand. What you see is what you get. Feels good.
3. PODCASTING HAS MADE ME A BETTER :
General:
Teacher, thinker, organizer of thoughts, and writer, graphic and web designer, photographer, animator and video enthusiast, audio engineering and recording.
Skills:
I am a lifelong learner of technology, but I’m exploring and pushing my tech chops up a notch because I want to get better at everything and teach it all:Mac and iOS devices, Adobe (Audition, inDesign, Lightroom, Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, After Effects, Mobile Apps….)…the list is long.
4. PODCASTING HAS MADE ME:
Personally:
More confident. I feel competent to teach. I am not an impostor. I found my voice and style. I actually am starting to value my skills and talents. I trust my instincts more. I listen to my gut. I am a better communicator. I am a better decision maker, I get stuff done…..I’m just better because of podcasting.
5. PODCASTING CAN BE FUN AND CREATIVE.
Heck, I recorded a podcast:
On a nude beach under the Golden Gate Bridge.
On an airboat surrounded by alligators.
On the beach looking out at the Gulf of Mexico.
I like to think of myself as a crash test dummy in that I spend most of my free time turning the knobs and just seeing what happens. That is fun for me.
6. SCRIPTS ARE NOT SO FUN:
My least favorite part of podcasting is writing the episode (but kind of important). I really do not enjoy writing the podcast episodes because my brain and back hurts when I am done, but I am proud at each finished script. They will be vital in writing my book and I have so much content to repurpose. I just have to write the book and repurpose my content and make more videos and products. Oh, so much fun.
7. DONE IS DEFINITELY BETTER THAN PERFECT.
Audio and artwork and show notes and and all the minutiae not as important as you think at launch day. Do your best. Podcasting is not a competition with other podcasters. Your audience tunes in to listen to you and does not pay attention to the things you beat yourself up about. The ‘big deal’ stuff when launching a podcast was gone after the first month.
8. HAVING TEMPLATES IS BIG FOR PRODUCTIVITY:
My show notes, cover art, episode art, etc. Makes stuff easy. With the exception of writing the script (which is a template), the rest of my process is pretty easy and fast for me to get it all done.
9. I STINK AT SELF-PROMOTION AND ENGAGEMENT.
Yup. Part of my uniqueness. I’m working on it:
Please subscribe to my podcast.
Please sign up for my weekly newsletter.
Please hire me to solve problems for you.
How was that?
10. FEEDBACK & REVIEWS MEAN A LOT.
I don’t get a lot of feedback or engagement, but when I do it makes it all worth it.
One year of podcasting has made me proud on many levels.
Thanks for listening. Here’s to Year Two!
Cheers,
Mike
