Many people think podcasting is easy. It certainly can be, but what often is missed is just how much of yourself gets put into each episode. Your time, energy, blood, sweat and tears can all go into making your show. With such devotion can come a swell of emotion.
Like with all aspects of life, podcasting can get tough.
On the latest episode of Should I Start a Podcast, I had the opportunity to chat with Tyson Franklin, the Business Mentor, Podiatrist, Speaker, Author and host of the ‘It’s No Secret Podcast.’
They spoke about Ronsley’s career as a podcaster and how he contends with the emotional side of podcasting.
What ROI Are You Getting From Your Podcast?
All too often, people think that a return on investment or ROI, is purely a monetary affair. Let me assure you, it really isn’t. Within podcasting, your ROI can be attributed to so many emotional factors.
It could be a return in fulfilment, return on relationships, friendships, increased networks and even just connection and conversations.
If you’re investing your time and effort in your podcast, but getting nothing out of it, then that effort becomes unsustainable, and you can become despondent. This is why 97% of new podcasters end up only having an average of seven episodes under their belt- their ROI just wasn’t sustainable or desired.
For Tyson, he found his niche and his passion. Once he got on track with podcasting, he totally ran with it, mainly because his ROI was the conversations he was having besides anything else.
So, ask yourself, what element of your podcast enriches your life that little bit more? When you find that little spark that brings you podcasting joy and fulfilment, then you can safely say it’s time well spent.
Practice Makes Perfect
Have you ever spent time creating something only to rediscover it a few years down the line, and cringe at how amateur it was? This is what every podcaster has and should contend with, particularly in the beginning stages.
Did you know how to ride a bike without training wheels the first time your feet stepped onto the pedals? Or swim like a pro the first time you splashed into a pool?
Just a guess, but I’m sure your answer is ‘no.’
You get better at everything when you add just a pinch of repetition.
Over the last six years, Ronsley has racked up at least 900 podcast episodes, this is why he is a podcast rock star. Hitting almost 1,000 shows is an amazing feat for any veteran podcaster, but it was practice and persistence that got him there. However awesome his success is, even today the road isn’t all roses and rainbows.
“You still make the same mistakes, similar mistakes that you made at the start. Everyone is trying to get so perfect and it’s not necessarily about that. It’s about the repetition.”
Every time you switch that mic on and hit record, every time you interview, edit and send an episode into the world, your skills and expertise are improving.
One thing you’ll realise as you start producing your show is how much you as a person can develop and grow alongside your show.
You Will Fail and Be Rejected, But That’s Okay
For any podcaster out there, it would do you some good to remember that failure and rejection are an integral part of your show’s evolution. Why?
“We fail more often than we succeed,” says Ronsley, but you know what? That’s okay.
“Failing is not a bad thing. It’s really, really important.” It’s how we develop and grow, as people, from cradle to grave. So, when it comes to podcasts, “a lot of times we don’t try something new because we’re scared of failing,” says Ronsley.
The main highlight to take away from this is, even someone as renowned as Ronsley gets rejected. His latest podcast, The Psychology of Entrepreneurship entered him into a new world of guest rejection.
Although he was sending out show invites, left, right and centre, he still got rejected. But, it’s all fine. “I get rejected and I fail quite often, I just get better at dealing with it.”
As your show grows, so will your credibility. As a result, you’ll encounter less rejection and moments of failure.
“It’s such a personal development journey for me more than anything else,” explains Ronsley. “I think it’s really, really important to build your self-confidence and your self-worth.”
To hear the full episode of Ronsley being interviewed by Tyson Franklin, tune into Should I Start a Podcast, by clicking here.
Author: Ronsley Vaz
Ronsley is the founder & chief day dreamer at AMPLIFY. He is an author, speaker & serial entrepreneur.
He has a Masters’ degree in Software Engineering and an MBA in Psychology and Leadership. He is known as the creator of We Are Podcast – the first Podcasting Conference in the Southern Hemisphere, and the host of The Bond Appetit Podcast and Should I Start a Podcast. He has an audience of over 3 million in 133 countries.