Yes or No?

A crossroads

This is our 149th episode. I say “our” because quite literally without you there is no podcast. I mean that. It sounds cliche but that’s why there have not been episodes for the last few weeks.

As much as I enjoy my voice, my humor, my unique take on things, I don’t enjoy recording this for myself. There’s gotta be a you out there to balance the equation.

Small audience

A very small percentage of people who publish—whether it be social media, or books, or a combination thereof—actually reach a large audience. I’m not in that small percentage. Rather, I’m in the large majority who create and publish and have a small audience. This small audience happens to also be mostly silent.

Creating an episode

You can imagine the work that goes into creating an episode. it includes:

• Creating a topic – This isn’t an issue of what is everyone talking about, or what has annoyed me this week. Instead, this is thoroughly thought out and I consider what uniquely I can explain that will help you to give you an edge
• Researching a topic – Yes, topics are actually research, by searches, reading, personal reflection and a combination of those things
• Distilling – This is the most important step for me. I need to distill the issue into digestible bites that you can eat in about ten minutes. I’d like to think I’m fairly unique on this one. Go read a 300 page self help book and see what I mean. THis list is a perfect example of ‘distilling.’
• Recording and designing – The episode is recorded and massaged for audio, the article is written (this varies depending on the subject), a graphic is designed for each episode.
• Promoting and connecting – I post to FB, Instagram (under two accounts depending on the subject matter), Twitter and LinkedIn. The podcast is then distributed to Apple, Google, Spotify, etc.
• Measuring and Feedback – I monitor where the podcast places in various markets, on Apple podcasts, spotify, etc.

It’s this last bullet point that has brought me to the crossroads: feedback.

Feedback

There is none. Well, none is harsh. There are a few individuals that have let me know that an episode made them think. And there are guests that have told me they had an unusually good time talking. Scott Adams actually said I was “really good at this” and that my questions were “unusually insightful.” John Mcafee said I was “a smart guy.” There’s more but you get the point that the feedback was appreciated.

The problem is that if my audience is not growing, and the relatively small audience is not providing feedback (good or bad) then the motivation to continue, nay—the actual logic of continuing—is in question. I’ve had no feedback on the fact that there were no episodes in January. Point in fact.

An entire library

This podcast of (so far) 150 ish episodes is an entire library of useful information, ways to look at things, and simple things you can do to improve the quality of your life. All for free.

A trifecta of usefulness

There are those that urge those who write to “get a podcast.” There are those that urge speakers/coaches to “write a book” and there are those that uge authors to “maybe consider speaking or a podcast.”

I am doing all three. Each element supports the other. You can sign up for my coaching because you like what I say here and want me to distill your stuff for you. You can listen to the podcast and decide you want a workbook and buy my coaching book. And you can hire me to coach for you and then decide you’d like to see me share this wisdom with a group by having me speak at your event. Add to that that I’ve just revamped the entire Alchemy Coaching System. No, Really.

But what then?

But should I keep doing this if there is no feedback?

To be clear, I am not construing success and popularity with interaction. The lack of growth of the audience is a separate thing—or maybe it isn’t? After all, if I’m doing something wrong that prevents the audience from growing—or you from sharing—then I would never know it, since there’s no feedback to tell me that. By the same token I wouldn’t know to focus more on a subject, or method, or format if no one reaches out to let me know. Do I know if you enjoy interviews more than the short single podcasts? No. Do I know if you appreciate the rather tight ten-minute window I force myself to stay within? No. I should. And you should let me know.

The end or the beginning?

So, we are on episode 149. It’s up to you if episode 150 is a new beginning with feedback, or a goodbye.

You decide.

“If you choose not to decide you still have made choice.”

– Neil Peart of RUSH, “Freewill”

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