Starting Something New is Hard

When was the last time you learned how to do something new? Something that you didn’t have the skills to be good at right out of the gate? Something that was hard?

When the idea fairy whispers in your ear, the idea of doing something new can be sexy and alluring. But, when it gets down to brass tacks, resistance, self-doubt and procrastination will likely show up.

This is what I have experienced in starting my podcast. I have had several false starts, and I am almost (really!) ready to release She Talks Business into the world.

The challenges I’ve faced, what I’ve learned, and how I’ve overcome them.

1. Who, not how.

After several false starts, when reading Dan Sullivan’s book Who Not How, I realized I needed a “who.” I needed someone who could manage the process for me so that all I needed to do was show up and do my part. My executive assistant, Michelle, took this on. Even though she knew nothing about podcasting, she was able to map out a plan with all the details to help me keep the momentum going.

2. Take immediate action.

I have some pretty amazing friends who are spectacular and willing to have a conversation with me for the show. I immediately began reaching out to people, and then let Michelle coordinate the interviews, prep the questions and manage the parts that needed to happen after the show. This allowed me to build momentum and the desire to keep going. Having conversations with friends felt fun to me, it didn’t feel like work.

3. Get clear on a plan.

While I was recently in Miami for The Trust meeting, I had a conversation with a colleague, Tanya Dalton, about her podcast and how her podcast led to a publishing deal for her first book, The Joy of Missing Out. She shared with me how she plans her shows 13 weeks in advance and the seed of an idea was born. I took that idea and immediately shared it with someone who I thought could help me (another “who”) and I began planning and executing.

4. Get the right equipment.

Steve Dotto, one of those amazing friends who agreed to be on my show immediately, gave me some lessons on how to improve my audio quality. Steve has been podcasting for years and the simple but effective tips he gave me helped build my confidence and feel like a pro, instead of an amateur.

5. Tell people about it.

When I shared the artwork on social media and spoke about the show, I received so much encouragement. People have reached out to ask me about the show, which has made me accountable to deliver. When you put yourself in the public eye and share your plans, you will feel a stronger sense of responsibility to do what you say you are going to do.

6. Create space.

I’ve recorded seven conversations with colleagues, my trailer and two solo episodes. I’ve also given my team the space they need to set up my show in a way that will be powerful when it’s released.

While done is better than perfect, pro is better than amateur. I want all the moving parts to have the attention to detail they need to set everyone up for success. I want the audience to be impressed so they keep listening, I want my team to have the right systems in place to support me, and I want to feel proud of what I release so I can keep on keeping on.

Starting a podcast is hard when you’ve never done it before.

Some folks might say it’s easy—just press record and release your show. The truth is, there are a lot more moving parts that go into releasing a show.

The show needs to have a home on your website including artwork. It also needs an audio player, transcripts, show notes, and more. If you’ve never created all the marketing assets that go along with a show, you may not realize how much work is actually involved.

It’s “easy” to record yourself talking, just like it’s “easy” to write a book or start a business. The hard part is feeling like you’re doing it well and then, the really hard part is doing the marketing for whatever it is you’ve created.

Next week I’ll share with you three personal insecurities I’ve uncovered, how I dealt with them, and why they make me a better business advisor and coach.

What’s something new you want to start? Let me know in the comment section, below!