Tag Archives: why

Podcast

Putting Your Why In Your Podcast Content – PTC 361

Leave a comment
Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

In this episode, you get the first session from my most recent Podcast Profits Bootcamp. Here, we help you discover why we podcast. Then, we help you incorporate that “why” into your podcast content.

I had a client tell me, “If we are able to generate leads, that is awesome. If we are helping change people’s lives, and they are reaching out to us, that would be a success. Becoming a resource is the goal.”

SUCCESS

What does success look like to you? Have you determined your passion?

Your podcast allows you to leave your mark on the world. You can spread your message and make an impact if that is your desire.

Before you can reach that goal, you need to define that goal.

Making money with your podcast isn’t enough. You need to develop a deeper desire. A deep, meaningful goal will motivate you to get in the studio every week and record an episode.

If you haven’t defined that meaningful purpose, finding the motivation to sustain a consistent podcast will be difficult.

During this episode, we will help you find your “why”. 

Then, we will help you incorporate that “why” into your podcast content.

It is important to provide your audience with a little of your story and the reason you create your content in each episode. This allows your audience relationship develop. Your listener gets to know who you are.

RELATIONSHIPS

On each episode, include a bit of your why and your story. This is how your listeners get to know, like and trust you. This is how relationships are built.

Next week, we will talk about reviewing your episode to reach your goals and get better.

If you don’t have a mentor who can take your hand and walk you every step of the way, go to www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/apply, click the button and apply to have a chat with me. We will develop your plan and see how I can help and support you to achieve your podcast goals.

Podcast

Why You Podcast – PTC 354

Leave a comment
Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Understanding why you create your podcast is critical to your success. Without a powerful why, it becomes very difficult to do the work necessary to reach your goals.

There are two big reasons you need a powerful why. Today, I want to help you find that.

Before we begin, I would love to know what you are struggling with. Can you take 3 minutes and tell me about your podcast journey? You will find it at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/feedback.

I am working to make sure this podcast gives you the content you need to reach your goals. There are challenges you are facing and hurdles you are trying to overcome. This podcast is designed to help you with that. But, I need to know where those struggles are.

A workshop is also in the works where I will take your hand and walk you through every step of the way to your goals. I just need to know about your dreams.

If you could answer 9 quick questions to ensure you are getting the content you need, head to www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/feedback. It will help shape the content you get each and every week. It would also mean the world to me.

EXTERNAL

There are two big reasons you need a powerful why. One is external and one is internal.

Simon Sinek wrote an incredible book called “Start With Why: How great leaders inspire everyone to take action.” It is one of my favorite business books, and I highly recommend it.

In the book, Sinek says, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.”

Everybody wants to get behind a great cause or person or champion or underdog. It is all about the why.

This podcast exists, because I love coaching. Coaching of all sorts.

My first coaching opportunity came when I was in high school. I coached youth bowlers.

My dad started me bowling when I was littler than I can remember. Probably 5- or 6-years-old.

I was so young when I started that the bowling center didn’t have shoes that fit me. I bowled in my socks.

When I was 12, I started bowling competitively in leagues and tournaments. In my freshman year of high school, my dad and I won a national tournament.

That is when I became a youth coach. Coaches in my league trained me to help young bowlers get into the sport. It was great. I loved seeing the excitement on their faces when they would succeed. That set me on the path to coaching.

It also set me on the path to being on the bowling team in college. But that is a different story.

Since those bowling days, I’ve coached our fraternity floor hockey team. I began coaching radio talent in 1995 with my first radio program director job.

The local hockey organization asked me to be a high school hockey coach when my son hadn’t turned one yet. He is now playing for a 20-and-under team in Minnesota.

MY PODCAST WHY

In 2009, I began listening to podcasts. The creativity and diversity with the format was captivating. I loved it.

The more I listened, the more I realized that these hosts could benefit so much by learning a few of the things we used everyday in radio. How to attract an audience, how to create marketing campaigns, and ways to create fans were just a few of the ideas.

That’s when I took my decades of radio experience, the passion I have for coaching and all I learned earning my masters of business administration and wrapped it into one.

I love coaching. Seeing podcasters succeed drives me everyday. When a podcaster discovers something that takes their podcast to a whole new level, I get incredibly energized. It’s magic.

That is my external why. People see that passion and they come to work with me.

What is your external why? Do your listeners see that on your show? Can they feel that in the products or services you offer?

Your audience will come for your why. What you do simply supports that why.

INTERNAL

My son playing in Minnesota brings me to my internal why. It is the second piece to your why puzzle.

My son is a senior in high school. This past weekend, we took him to Minnesota and dropped him off with his billet family.

Kids that play junior hockey tend to live with families that help and support the team. He and another player live with a wonderful family so they can both play hockey.

We chat with them quite often. It’s not the same as being there full time, but it is close. My wife and I will drive up to see the home opener in a few weeks.

And that’s why I do this. I can load up the laptop and drive to Minnesota anytime I’d like to see him play. The location freedom is important to me.

Being able to see my son in Minnesota or my daugther who is attending college out East whenever we would like is the reason why I created this business.

They say enjoy the time your kids are at home, because the time flies by. I always knew that was true. I didn’t realize how true until I pulled away from the college campus dropping off my daughter last fall. Leaving my son at his billet’s house brought it all back again.

That is why I love what I do. It allows me to live the life that I love. I get to coach people and lead them to their success. At the same time, I can do it anywhere, anytime while spending that time with the ones that mean the world to me.

In his book, Simon Sinek says, “Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress: Working hard for something we love is called passion.”

Where is your passion? Why do you do what you do?

YOUR WHY

Many people say they want to own their own business, because they want to call the shots or vacation whenever they want.

Is that really your why? Is it the control over the work or is it something deeper?

Why do you want the freedom? Could there be something more important that you will achieve by experiencing success with this journey?

Calling the shots isn’t a why strong enough to make you put in the crazy hours it takes to make a business a success. Vacation whenever you’d like won’t inspire you to do the work necessary to grow when you only have 28 downloads. Or 36. Or 52.

There are never enough downloads. When you hit 100, you’ll want 1,000. After 1,000, you will set your sights on 5,000. There isn’t a finish line.

Inspiration comes from something deeper. It is your son playing hockey 6 hours away from home. A true why comes from your daughter alone trying to find her way at college 1,200 miles away and you can’t hug her. Inspiration comes from your mom in a hospital bed 3 states away and you want the freedom to be there anytime you want.

What’s your why? What’s your real why?

Find that and you’re ready to start your journey toward success.

STRUGGLES

If you could answer 9 quick questions to ensure you are getting the content you need, head to www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/feedback. It will help shape the content you get each and every week. It would also mean the world to me.

Also, come back next week. We’ll talk about the workshop to help you reach your goals. I’m putting the finishing touches on it this week. It’s exciting. I can’t wait to tell you all about it.

In the meantime, if you don’t have a mentor who can take your hand and walk you every step of the way, go to www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/apply, click the button and apply to have a chat with me. We will develop your plan and see how I can help and support you to achieve your podcast goals.

Podcast

Your Why and My Story – PTC322

Leave a comment
Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

If you want to create a successful podcast, you need a strong “why”. If you don’t have a powerful reason for creating your show, it will feel like work trying to record it each week. This week, I will show you my “why” and share my story.

TRAINING

Before we start, I have a few great resources for you this week.

I am doing another free workshop for you. It is called “6 Ways To Make Money With Your Podcast”. If you want to make money with your podcast, this will help you develop your strategy.

In this workshop, we will develop ideas for your show. You will receive a workbook to give you a clear focus for your strategy.

Do you want to leverage your audience and authority in your niche to monetize your show?

Do you want to grow your audience to consistently produce your show and promote your content in just a few minutes a day?

On this training, you will discover …

  • How to transform your show into a successful podcast using your personality
  • Why some podcasts don’t make money and how to avoid these pitfalls
  • How to attract your ideal clients with your podcast
  • How to keep listeners coming back episode after episode to grow your audience
  • And much more

Get registered at www.podcasttalentcoach.com/growth.

LIBSYN

If you need a host for your audio, be careful of the free services. Companies that offer their service for free often have a difficult time making money. If they aren’t making money, they can’t stay in business very long.

If your hosting company closes their doors and goes away, your audio goes away as well. All of your work is down the drain. Find a solid company and pay for great service.

I am now an affiliate of Libsyn. My show has been hosted on Libsyn since it began back in 2013. They also have fantastic support to help you set up your feed and move your show if you need it.

You can get your first month free using the coupon code PTC at Libsyn.com.

PODCAST EDITING

If you are spending too much time editing and posting your podcast and not enough time trying to attract listeners or building a business around your show, I now have a team ready to takeover your editing.

There are three packages available. You can start with the basic service that includes simple editing, mixing and mastering. Or you can go all in with the premium service that handles YouTube video, promoting, SEO, timestamps, show notes, and more.

You can find all of the packages at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/editing.

WHY YOU NEED A WHY

To build your podcast audience, you need a strong “why”. Building an audience takes consistency. Consistency builds trust.

People are creatures of habit. They typically listen to your podcast on the same day each week. It is a habit.

When your listeners come for your show, you new episode better be there. If they come and you haven’t posted on schedule, your credibility begins to deteriorate. You said you would do something and you didn’t.

Getting into the studio and recording a new episode every week takes dedication. If your purpose isn’t well-defined, it can become a struggle to make yourself stick to the schedule.

When you have a burning desire to lose weight, going to the gym is much easier. The same is true with your podcast. When you have a true, devoted “why” and purpose, getting into the studio become easier.

Find your “why” somewhere in your story. How did you get here? Why are you passionate about your subject and niche?

MY STORY

My whole life I wanted to own my own business and be my own boss. I grew up with a single mom in a household that was probably in the low income bracket, but I never knew it.

Sure, we were challenged by money. We may have been broke at one time or another. But we were never poor. My mom never had that mentality.

Mom waited tables at night, cleaned houses during the day, and created amazing wedding cakes on the side. She did whatever it took to provide for us.

That is probably why I never knew how little money we had. It wasn’t until I had to fill out financial aid forms for college that I discovered our situation. The application required parental tax forms.

My mom’s tax return said she made $12,013 in the past year. Even in the 80s, $12k wasn’t a lot to live on.

She taught my brother and me the value of hard work. And I started early.

I was hustling Christmas cards door-to-door off the back of Boys Life magazine by the age of 10. When I was 12, I bought two cases of gum at a white elephant sale and sold it out of my school locker.

If there was a gig to be had, I was trying it. We held magic shows and homemade haunted houses for the kids in the neighborhood in our garage. I was throwing newspapers and babysitting.

When I was 15, I was doing magic shows for birthday parties. My sister-in-law was my agent booking me gigs. Her son was my first show.

ARCHITECTURE

By the time I was 12, I knew I wanted to be an architect and own my own firm. I loved being creative within a set of strict parameters. It was my creative and analytical sides working together.

I started taking classes and had my first job as a draftsman by 17. I was on my way.

College took me to the University of Nebraska to study architecture at one of the best schools in the country. However by the third year, I realized I was on the wrong path.

Computers had come in and taken over architecture. It lost the magic drafting had once held for me. My corporate ladder was leaning against the wrong wall.

THE NEW DOOR

Then one day, a new door opened for me. I discovered radio.

My brother was working part-time at a local radio station. The manager called to see if my brother could fill in for somebody, but my brother wasn’t home. I knew the manager from another job I held. He asked if I would be interested in some part-time hours at the station.

I was a broke college kid at the time. Extra money is always a good thing when you’re in college. So, I took the gig.

For my architecture degree, I needed a few electives. Like any good college student, I looked for the easy classes and found Broadcasting for the Non-Major. I was already working in radio. How hard could that class be?

One night in class, the manager of the campus station came into the room. He said he was looking for a music director for the station. No experience necessary. No need to be a journalism major.

I had always loved music and was a broke college kid. Extra money is always a good thing when you’re in college. So, I took the gig … and loved it.

That gig turned into a full-time opportunity at another local station. Soon, I was building a career in broadcasting.

I finished my architecture degree and stayed in radio. That first full-time job paid me $12,000 a year. Though it was the same money my mom was making, my parents thought I was crazy. We just paid for a degree in architecture and I was taking a radio job for $12k.

NOT ENOUGH

Though I was having a lot of fun, the credit card companies and the tax man were soon hunting me down. Turns out it is hard to make ends meet on $12k.

I picked up another job in a warehouse and a third job DJing weddings. Just like mom taught me, I did what I had to do to climb out of that hole.

Soon I was making $26,000. Then $36k. Then $46k. I paid my dues doing overnight radio, but it was paying off.

My goal was to eventually own my own radio station. My desire to own my own business and be my own boss was still there. It just looked a little different. I even got my Masters Degree in Business Administration to help make my dream come true.

I had a passion for creating great radio. Coaching the talent was my favorite part of the job. I learned all I could building amazing radio stations with great music, entertaining personalities and fun promotions. 

One time, we had half a dozen contestants spend a week in a truly haunted house doing various challenges to win a trip to the Grammy Awards.

Another contest we created involved putting 6 listeners in a van to travel across the country to New York City. Along the way, they would do various challenges in different cities and vote someone off the trip. That loser would get bussed back to town as the others continued along the journey. The winner got to see the Michael Jackson tribute concert in NYC.

One winter, we invited listeners to build sleds out of cardboard boxes and clear plastic tape. They could decorate the racer any way they would like. On Saturday, we brought everyone out to the ski park to race the boxes down the hill. The winner got a wad of cash.

The promotions and marketing plans we were creating were generating buzz in the market. This was my life and I loved it.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

Until one day, radio became big business. With the passage of the telecom act in the late 80s, radio started to change over the next decade. Suddenly, the little guy was out and large corporations were in.

Big companies started buying all of the stations. Radio become homogenized. The little guys could no longer buy the good stations. It all started sounding the same.

This was no longer the dream I had. The creativity and entrepreneurial nature of radio had been sucked out. It was replaced with best practices and formulas.

PODCASTING

That’s when I discovered podcasting. The creativity returned. All of the freedom was back. We could one again entertain and control our own shows.

I finally started to really be myself and develop my own personal brand. Rather than being somebody others wanted me to be, I was allowed to be me.

Now, I have a thriving business helping others discover that same passion. I show podcasters how to create great content, grow an audience and build a business around their show without spending 30 years learning it like I did.

The magic is back and I’m spreading it as much as I can.

MY WHY

That is why I do this show every week. My “why” drives me to give you great content you can use each and every week. A burning desire makes it easy to get into the studio every week and produce this podcast.

Take 30 minutes this week and write your story. What is your true “why”? When you find it, your podcast content will start pouring out of you.

I would love to help you even more. Join me for my for my free workshop.

Sign up at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/growth.

It is a free workshop for you called “6 Ways To Make Money With Your Podcast”. If you want to make money with your podcast, this will help you develop your strategy.

In this workshop, we will develop ideas for your show. You will receive a workbook to help you develop a clear focus for your strategy.

If you want to leverage your audience and authority in your niche to monetize your show, and grow your audience and promote your content in just a few minutes a day, this workshop is for you.

Get registered at www.podcasttalentcoach.com/growth. I’ll see you there.

Have a great week.

Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Why Is The Bullseye Worth So Much? – PTC262

Leave a comment

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

My “why” really hit me last Wednesday night.

SALSA

It was early evening while I was sitting at the kitchen table eating some chips and salsa. Well, it is tomatoes and other ingredients and seasoning that I affectionately call garbage dip and pass off as salsa.

The chips were those little Tostitos that are about as big around as a golf ball. I don’t know why we even buy those. I have to eat them two at a time. Why not just get the bigger chips to start?

I have my laptop open enjoying some snacks when my daughter arrives home. After she sets her stuff down and hangs her coat, she comes over to give me a little sideways hug while she is standing next to me.

Well, I thought she came over for the hug. I quickly realize she is also there to snag some chips and salsa. Maybe the hug was just a bonus.

Emma is getting ready to finish her senior year of high school and head to college. She hasn’t decided the school or the major yet.

She wants to do everything. And usually does it.

MASTERMIND

It is a brief chat before I head down to my office for my mastermind call.

It is during that call with my mastermind partner Jon that things take a turn.

Jon and I spend most of the hour updating each other on our progress over the last week and goals for the upcoming days. We are working on books and courses and coaching. Things are good. Jon always inspires me to do my best work.

Toward the end of our call, I’m telling Jon about a few clients I’m working with and how we are defining the “why” behind what they do.

That’s when Jon asks, “What is your why? Why do you coach these people?”

I told Jon I love coaching. That’s why I coach podcasters. That is why I coach hockey. That’s why I love teaching my kids.

I get inspired when I help people reach their goals.

He says, “Yeah, but why do you run this business? Why do you need a business to coach people?”

It took me a minute. That hug from Emma probably made me better understand it.

MY DAD

This coaching business means I can spend more time with my kids. My parents split up when I was five or six. I was so young that I can’t remember exactly when.

My dad started taking us on the weekends. Over time, that became Sundays. Eventually, we were only getting together when I played hockey.

When I coach, I can coach from anywhere. I can do what I love while being anywhere my kids are. If Emma is performing somewhere, I can be there. If Simon is playing hockey somewhere, I can be there.

And, I can still serve podcasters and do what I love.

By running this business, I can be for my kids what my dad wasn’t able to be for me. That’s my “why”.

It took some chips and salsa along with my accountability partner to put it into words.

This weekend, Emma and I are going to the theater to see a production of Die Hard. Yep, the Bruce Willis movie turned into a stage production. We’ll see how that goes.

Even if the show turns into a melodrama, at least I’ll have a few more hours with my little girl before she conquers the world.

2020

That takes me into 2020. I’m putting the final touches on a really cool project. I’ll be rolling it out in a couple weeks.

The project just needs a little more feedback to ensure I have all the bases covered. I can’t wait for you to see it. Watch your e-mail for more details.

So, what is your why? Go a little deeper. Move beyond the superficial “why” like “I love to coach people.” Find the real meaning of what you do.

German philosopher Frederick Nietzche said, “He who has a ‘why’ can endure any ‘how’.”

What make you energized and excited? What makes you inspired?

How will you know when you arrive at success?

Once you have defined that true why, you can transfer that to what you do.

Your purpose is defined by your talents, values, passions and expertise.

Where do your strengths lie?

What things that come naturally?

YOUR 3 LEGS

In his book “Wisdom Meets Passion”, Dan Miller talks about the three legs of the stool that are necessary for any passion to become a business. He says without any of the three, the stool falls over.

We cannot just hope our passion will produce profits. Your idea needs three components.

What are you deeply passionate about?

What displays your strongest strengths?

Now consider your model for creating income.

It can be boiled down to these three points.

What are you good at?

List the things you love to do.

What does the world need and is willing to paid for?

Where those three come together is your superpower.

What do people ask you about? Take note when people say, “How do you do that and make it look so easy?” That is a big key. People ask me all the time how I speak in front of large groups or on the radio to thousands of people.

YOUR NEXT YEAR

I can’t wait to help you supercharge your next year. Keep an eye on your e-mail for more info on my new project. I would love to have you be part of it. I am building it to allow me to spend as much time as I can with my kids while serving podcasters across the globe. The best of both worlds.

When you are this hyper-focused, you can define exactly who you will target. You will know exactly what they need and are willing to pay for.

Focus makes your marketing much cheaper. There is far less waste.

When you start advertising, you can use a laser rather than a flood light. You can select your exact market rather than the entire marketplace.

It is similar for your sponsors. Spreading the message of a manufacturer of golf clubs in a podcast for golfers is much better than running an ad in the NY Times. The message matches the market perfectly in the podcast. The message in the newspaper is reaching everyone, many of which will never play golf.

When the message is laser focused, the conversion rate is much higher. The cost is lower, because audience is smaller and easier to reach.

When you have defined your “why”, your actions and plan are much more efficient as well. You know exactly what you are doing and why you are doing it. Everything else can be put to the side.

Take time this week and define your “why”. You will be surprised how energized you become.

 

You can find my podcast and other tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Why Are You Creating Your Podcast

Leave a comment

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Why are you creating your podcast – because you love it or to gain a ton of listeners?

Both. But, it has to be about your passion first.

Be passionate. Love what you do.

You don’t want to be forced to entertain a large audience with a topic that feels like work. You want a topic that you love and you can talk about for days regardless of who is listening.

Audience size is relative. A weight loss audience is going to be much larger than an audience for a podcast about magic. The topic is more universal.

An engaged audience is the right size. A golf coach who handles a few pros is probably making a lot more money than a golf coach who has a podcast and course. The podcast golfer has a large audience that is engaged on a superficial level. The pro golf coach has an audience of a few who are incredibly engaged on a daily basis.

Your podcast is the same. You need to find the audience that will help you reach your goals. Create your content for the people who love what you do.

When you compare your audience size to the big gurus or those in a different niche, you will only be disappointed. Comparing yourself to others is a recipe for let down.

Be selective about who is in your audience. Find the right people. You are creating your podcast for those people.

Talk about a topic you love. Give it to an audience who is just as passionate as you are. That is the recipe for success.

When you create a podcast around a topic that you love, you are creating your podcast for the right reasons.

 

Do you need help with your podcast? E-mail me any time at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let’s see what we can do.

You can find my podcast and other tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

Determine Your “Why” And The “How” Will Follow – Episode 175

Leave a comment

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Determine Your “Why” And The “How” Will Follow – Episode 175

Determine your why and find your purpose
Copyright: pixelsaway / 123RF Stock Photo

One of my favorite speakers is Simon Sinek. He is all about knowing your why.

In episode 170, we discussed what the pros say about branding. Simon’s book “Start With Why” was part of that episode.

During his talks, Sinek likes to use Apple as an example. Many branding expert use Apple, because they are so successful in creating passion for their product.

Sinek says, “If Apple were like everyone else, a marketing message from them may sound like this: We make great computers. They are beautifully designed, simple to use and user friendly. What to buy one?”

“Here’s how Apple actually communicates: ‘Everything we do we believe in challenging the status quo, we believe in thinking differently. The way we challenge the status quo is by making our products beautifully designed, simple to use, and user friendly. We just happen to make great computers. What to buy one?'”

“Start with why.”

 

Start with why. It is so critical to your success.

Why do you do what you do? Your motivation will begin there.

WITHOUT MY WHY

I began coaching hockey in 2004 after growing up playing hockey. I love the game and really wanted to stay involved. An opportunity to coach a high school team came along and I jumped at it.

For the first few years, I coached for me. I wanted to create a winning team. The players were decent. The league was decent. I wanted to feel the exhilaration of winning a championship.

For five years, it didn’t happen. We were an ok, middle-of-the-pack team. Years six required I switch teams when there were not enough kids coming out to form a team.

The league called and asked if I would coach a team for a private, Catholic school. I told them sure, I had no allegiance to any particular school. I just wanted to coach. They said, “Good, because we have a guy who wants to coach the team. However, he has been suspended from coaching for coming on the ice after an official.”

This was a great group of players I had never coached. Many were better than my previous team. I instituted my philosophy, systems and practice plans. We had good talent and played well. Again, we finished in the middle of the standings.

The following year, the suspended guy was ready to come back and the league asked if I would pick up yet another team. I explained that I was just getting started with this team and would really like to continue with them. League officials told me they would need to conduct interviews to select the coach.

At this point, I figured I was in a no-win situation if I went through with the interview. I would either get the job and have to deal with this guy and his kids all season. Or, I would not get the job and be out of coaching.

I called the league and told them I would take the new team. They said, “Good, because we have a guy who wants to coach the team. However, he has been suspended from coaching for forging his kid’s birth certificate.”

I thought, “Here we go again.”

When the suspended guy found out I was coaching the team, he took the four best players to another league.

Season seven was the pivot point of my coaching career. That team was made up of a bunch of new and inexperienced players. I had 2 or 3 decent players. By that, I mean middle of the road. The rest needed a lot of work.

As the season started, I instituted my philosophy, systems and practice plans. I quickly realized I needed to go back to fundamentals with these guys. Systems were way above their heads. We needed to practice the basics.

In our final game of the playoffs, we were tied 0-0 at the end of regulation. We went into a 3-man shootout. After 3 round, neither team had scored. It took 5 rounds before we finally lost 1-0 in a 5-round shootout.

That loss was our 24th of the season. 24th consecutive loss. We didn’t win a single game.

So much for my philosophy. So much for my systems. We were the worst team in the league by a long shot. We were losing games 14-1. It was painful.

That summer, I seriously considered giving up coaching hockey. I wasn’t sure I had what it took.

FINDING MY WHY

As the summer went on, the league called to tell me the team was no longer. Many of the kids weren’t coming back. Those that were returning would be spread amongst the other teams in the league.

That’s when my “why” hit me. Kids shouldn’t be leaving the sport. Kids should learn to love the game. And they surely would not be taught to love the sport by coaching who get suspended for inappropriate actions.

The sport needed coaches who could teach not only a love of the game of hockey, but how to have fun and how to become respectable, young adults. They need role models who can guide them through the obstacles of high school.

The league knew my ultimate goal was to coach Millard West hockey. My son will eventually attend the school. That’s where I wanted to end up. The opportunity was open. So, I decided to return the following season to coach the Wildcats.

My coaching philosophy changed that year. It began with my why. Show respect and have fun. That’s where it all starts. Show respect for your opponent, your parents, the officials, your teammates and yourself. If you can do that day in and day out, you will win in life. Just have fun while you’re doing it.

Respect threads through all aspects of the game. You’ll find it in the locker room, on the ice at practice, on the bench during a game, in the handshake line after the game, at school the next day, respect is everywhere. Respect makes the game much more fun.

That first season with Millard West was a buy-in season. I was inheriting a few players from the previous coach. I had a little different approach. It took a while for the players to get on board.

At the end of that season, we finished 5th out of 12 teams in the league. Sure, it was middle-of-the-pack. But, internally it was much better than previous seasons. The team had fun and came together as a tight-knit group. We had something.

The following season, everything clicked. We had a blast. The respect came from everyone on the team. At the end of the season, we were state champions. It was a great year. It never would have happened without my why.

Since that first year when we finished 5th, we have been in the championship game 4 of the last 5 seasons.

I learned I was trying to implement my “how” before I knew my “why”. My philosophy, systems and practice plans meant nothing, because I hadn’t developed my “why”.

Once I created that foundation of respect and fun, the “how” came naturally. The “how” wrote itself. I knew exactly where we needed to go and what we needed to do.

Players have come and gone on this team. Some have already graduated college. Yet, we continue the tradition of respect and fun. The winning is a byproduct. It is simply the result of our “why”.

WHY I COACH PODCASTERS

The same is true with my talent coaching. I have been coaching radio talent for 25 years. It wasn’t until I put the needs of the talent in front of my desires to win that I began winning.

I had been coaching on-air talent for 5 years at the time. I was giving them all of the knowledge I had learned over the past 10 years to be a better air talent. We weren’t winning.

We had launched a new radio station. There was only one other talent on the air with me at the time. I focused all of my attention on that one individual. In our coaching sessions, I would ask questions and learn what they needed to grow.

Week after week, he would get a little better. I learned to stop focusing on the problems and begin to work on his strengths. We would talk about the show. I would help him find the things he was doing really well, so he could do more of that. I encouraged him to take chances. Some worked, some didn’t.

Drip by drip we made improvements. Suddenly, we were number one. Top of the market. My “why” of helping talent improve by focusing on their strengths came before my “how” of winning. Winning was a byproduct. Focusing on other made all the difference.

FIND YOUR WHY

What is your why? Why do you do what you do?

Once you determine your “why”, the rest will fall into place. You need to find the meaning in what you do.

If you would like help defining your “why” and finding the things you do really well, let’s talk about some coaching for you.

You can get a complimentary strategy session online a www.PodcastTalentCoach.com under the coaching tab. I’d love to spend 30 minutes with you to determine your “why” and develop a plan.

You can find my podcast and other tools to help you create great content at www.PodcastTalentCoach.com.

Let’s turn your information into engaging entertainment.

Podcast

What Is Your Why? – Episode 086

Leave a comment

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

What Is Your Why? – Episode 086

Thank You

What is your “why”? Why do you do what you do?

WORK ON YOUR BUSINESS

I’ve been doing a lot of work on my business over the past few weeks. In “The E-Myth Revisited”, author Michael Gerber talks about moving your business forward by spending more time working on your business rather than in it.

That is exactly what I’ve been doing lately. Am I going down the right path?

I thought you and I could review my progress with the hope that it will help you with your process.

We all face the little voice inside our head telling us we are not good enough. Whether we have been doing this for six months or six years, we all need a little confidence boost every now and then. It is only natural.

I will be speaking at New Media Expo in a week. (Last week to save $100 HERE.) My review of my business was inspired by NMX. I want to be sure things are in place to make the most of the opportunity.

As I have stepped back to look at the big picture, I have been reviewing a few great books like “The E-Myth Revisited”.

START WITH WHY

Another book that has helped my review is “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek. The book is focused on the theory that people do not buy what you do. They buy why you do it. Turn your customers into fans by making them believe in your mission and purpose.

Have I sufficiently defined my why? I thought I had. Even after refining it a few times, I am not quite sure.

Podcast Talent Coach is just over 18 months old as a podcast. From the limited feedback I have received from you, I am not quite sure my “why” is clear enough to truly inspire you to create great work.

Podcast Talent Coach was launched to help podcasters gain more confidence in their content. When you open the mic, I want you to truly believe that your voice matters. I want to arm you with the confidence you need to beat back the butterflies and excuses in order to create powerful content episode after episode.

With the information I provide every week, you should be able to take your information and turn it into entertainment that is engaging for your audience and unique to you.

MY STORY

I have been in radio for 25 years. I have been coaching radio talent for 20 of those years. As I listened to podcasts, I realized so many podcasts could improve with a few tips I have learned and used over those two-and-a-half decades.

The coaching experience I have gained could easily be used to help podcasters create amazing content that could replace other entertainment sources if I could only reach those podcasters.

Eighteen months in, I have only connected with a handful of podcasters interested in making that amazing entertainment a reality.

As I step back and examine the progress, I come up with four possible explanations.

1. ALREADY GETTING IT

One reason could be you get all you need from this podcast and the free worksheets I offer. You don’t feel one-on-one coaching is necessary.

If this was the reason, I would see more downloads of both.

2. SPREAD THE WORD

Another explanation could be I haven’t done a good job spreading the word about the show.

When I launched, the show got a solid start. I hit a few hundred downloads quickly. Things slowed down quite a bit after that. A few hundred downloads is about average and nothing to sneeze at. I am grateful for each person that joins me every week. Thank you for being here.

As I continue to produce content for you each week, I am not seeing further growth. That concerns me.

3. PROBLEM SOLVING

A third reason I may not be seeing continued growth could be the market. Maybe I have not done a good job creating a solution to a problem my audience knows they have.

This is a likely reason. Most podcasters who have the confidence and ego to open the mic and create content every week believe they are good enough the way they are. They may not realize that there are steps they could take to create more powerful content.

It is also possible the problem I am trying to solve does not exist. As I help radio broadcasters improve their shows, many of them fear the critique then love the feedback and growth after the fact.

4. THE “WHY”

The final reason may be my “why”. It is very possible that I have not sold my “why” well enough.

I have defined what I do quite a bit. But have I really defined why I do it for you? Maybe not.

My love for great radio and creative podcasts drive me to do this show every week. I love being able to create great audio that people look forward to every week.

More importantly, I love sharing my knowledge of that process with others. You can create amazing visual images in the theater of the mind to inspire your listener with your podcasts. Inspire them in such a way that they cannot wait for the next episode.

That incredible anticipation of future episodes is what makes this medium so wonderful. Holding the attention of a listener to the point where they cannot get enough of you is an amazing feeling.

 

FIND THE GOOD

Dave Jackson and I do a show together called “The Podcast Review Show”. Each episode, we invite a podcaster on the show to have his or her podcast reviewed by the two of us. It takes a great deal of confidence to have two coaches review your show right in front of you.

Every guest is a little nervous coming on the show. They are not quite sure what we will say. They fear we are going to tear their podcast apart and affirm their belief that they are not good enough.

During the show, Dave and I look for areas of the episode that are really good. Our goal is to help podcasters do more of the good. In turn, that will replace the stuff that isn’t as strong. In the end, the podcast gets better.

Every guest fears coming on the show, but truly appreciates the actionable feedback at the end of the process.

JUMP THE HURDLE

Here lies my problem with Podcast Talent Coach. It is not easy to get you over the fear of being critiqued in order to get you the joy of the improvement. That fear at the front door is a pretty big barrier. It is very similar to the fear of getting in the roller coaster line in order to enjoy the exhilaration when you finally get off of the ride.

The anticipation and fear could be preventing Podcast Talent Coach from growing.

Then again, I am not sure what is holding me back. Maybe it is a bit of all four. My gut tells me it is probably the lack of communicating my “why”.

WHAT IS YOUR WHY?

Have you communicated your “why” well enough? Have you inspired your fan with the reason you create your content every week?

I haven’t come up with the answer to my problem quite yet. I’ll continue working on my business until I find the solution.

I would love your input. As a frequent listener to Podcast Talent Coach, what do you hear? What brings you back every week? What has prevented you from getting more involved with coaching?

E-mail me anytime you would like at Coach@PodcastTalentCoach.com. Let me know what you think. How can I better help you?

Thanks for being here. I truly value your attention every week. You mean the world to me. I will help you any way I can.