If there’s one thing this crazy age of experimentation teaches us, it’s persistence: That it’s oh-so-simple to try new stuff, but it’s borderline excruciating to get so good at something that you’re confident doing it in any situation.
That line Malcolm Gladwell came up with in Outliers about it taking 10,000 hours to master something – it’s such a truism. And who these days can devote 10,000 hours to just one thing?
I know my musical career was hampered by me giving up guitar three years in. But podcasting is getting more exciting and enthralling for me as each months go by. It’s a keeper.
But what I learned in 2011
is that to be successful on the path to 10,000 hours, you have to do it more than talk about it. Sure, I had some big fun on the Double D Guys show, and The Podcast Guy Show, was a blast. The European Podcast Award Show has been fun to make and educational, and the Today’s Timeshare and Fractional Focus programmes gave me depth of understanding when you apply web radio in a corporate scenario.
But the one thing about all this stuff is that I have been remiss in practicing what I preach. I advocate consistency, frequency, long-term commitment – and the truth of 2011 is that I haven’t stayed sufficiently focused to live by my own mantra.
Eating one’s dog chow
Double D Guys was insanely fun, but didn’t have a purpose. If we can figure out how to rebirth the concept with a mission, it will be a huge success.
The Podcast Guy Show lost its way a little as I concentrated less and less on monitoring what businesses wanted from web radio. Feedback is hyper-critical to any show – and though I knew it, I didn’t capitalise on my own teachings.
The two shared holiday ownership shows floundered because of a lack of communication between myself and my client, on whose behalf the shows were delivered. Together we didn’t give the podcasts due care and attention. The learning here is similar to the Double D Guys example: We didn’t have an objective or goal in mind with the creation of each and every episode.
2012: Focus, Simplification, Justification
Next year is slow, steady, methodical. Everything will be measured, everything will be rationalised, everything will happen for a reason.
Two shows will continue to be part of my life, and hopefully yours.
The Podcast Guy Show will be relaunched to share with you my experiences as a podcaster, including a rundown of the most effective ways to run your web radio show. I expect at this stage to produce The Podcast Guy Show monthly, though if there is call for it after the first quarter, I may increase the frequency.
The Podcast Guy Show will not only document my podcasting journey, but yours. I will be talking to you much more often to solicit your ideas and insight into what makes web radio work – and together as the podcasting community we can brainstorm ideas and look at new ways to do things better.
What are your three words for 2012?
Talknology
One of the things I realised was I needed to create a show that would consume most of my time in its production and delivery. I bought the Talknology.tv domain last year and have been conspiring on how it forms part of my business.
This week it all started falling into place.
The Talknology platform will be video-led. As someone who has spent three decades working with technology (ok, so I was 8 when I got my Spectrum 16k, but you get the idea) I feel I know a fair bit about how to make it work for you, so I’m going to be developing a concept that helps people who don’t yet get tech to start using it to better their lives.
As a result of pouring myself into Talknology you’ll be getting the very latest thinking into how to make podcasting work for you and your business.
Much more to come
This website will be transformed in the coming weeks to embrace better my mission and philosophy. Talknology.tv will be launched, and we’ll be taking things from there.
I wanted to write this to reassert my commitment to web radio and video, and the podcasting genre at large. We are in for some real surprises and treats in 2012, and I wanted to check you wanted to be part of Team Podcast.
Together we can all share in the success story of this medium. I can’t wait to get started all over again!
