One Question to Ask Yourself Before Starting a Podcast
The quickest way to lose momentum in starting a podcast is to tell yourself that you “should” make one.
I spend a lot of time talking with big dreamers. More often than not, people who want to start their own podcasts are already high achievers, and a podcast seems like the logical next step in their trajectory. But when I ask them why, I hear a lot of, “I feel like I should.”
But as we know from so many other sectors of our lives, the word “should” is exhausting. There’s so much pressure! So much judgment! “Should” is a joyless word and concept.
So as you’re working on your podcast dreams, I want you to focus on one really important question: “What do I want to get out of this?”
Get as specific in answering it as you can. If the answer is “get rich” or “get famous,” I hate to break it to you, but you’ve got an uphill battle ahead.
Here are some examples of more specific, attainable goals:
I want to create an evergreen, educational resource my clients/customers/followers can access at any time.
Example: Super Together
I want to elevate voices and perspectives that aren’t heard anywhere else.
Example: Strict Scrutiny
I want to connect and collaborate with other leaders in my industry.
Example: What Is American Food?
I just want to have fun! (For real-- just wanting to have a fun podcast as a hobby is a perfectly legit reason to start one!)
Starting a podcast and sustaining it takes a lot of time and a lot of energy-- probably more than you realize right now.
So defining what you want to get out of having a podcast will energize you on days you don’t feel like booking a guest or pulling out the microphone or writing a show note. It will serve as your North Star, honing your vision and guiding all the choices you make along the way. At any decision point, ask if this will get you closer to your own personal goal. If it does, blaze ahead! And if not, there’s no guilt or shame or “should” in casting it aside.
Want a little more help in refining your vision and getting a podcast out of your brain and into people’s ears? Book a one-hour consulting session with me!
