It took six months.  Six months to push a damn button.  I couldn’t believe it took so long – and I was still terrified of that damn button.

Let me explain.  

As a kid, I had an orange plastic microphone.  After a backyard football game, I’d interview people: “Tell me about that game-winning throw all the way from that oak tree.”  If no one was around, I’d interview myself. In fifth grade, I started a sports magazine with three of my friends. We had dreams of taking down ESPN.  I had an innate interest to learn from successful people and create something with that knowledge.

Fast forward a dozen or so years, it makes sense that I now love podcasts.  It takes two of my favorite things – learning and creating – and mashes them together.  People like Tim Ferriss or Joe Rogan seek out knowledgable people, sit them down and have a long conversation. The guests tell them (and their audience) their secret.  I wanted the secrets. I crave that knowledge.

My roommate and I decided to create our own show.  “We’ll have the biggest show around millennial personal development”, we’d tell ourselves.  Night after night, we’d have the same conversation about how great it’d be. But paralyzed by fear of other people’s opinions, nothing was created.  Until six months later when we finally hit that damn “Publish” button. And I’m so glad we did.

A year and a half later, the show has had two names, I lost my co-host, interviewed dozens of successful people from different parts of life, 105+ 5-star reviews and over 100 episodes.  Here are a few things I’ve learned:

Start Small

“Start small, think big.” – Steve Jobs

You’d think that after six months of deliberation, our first guest would have been a major headliner – a major influencer.  Nope. We showed up to my boss’ apartment complex with a laptop, two mics (my co-host and I had to share one) and a six-pack of Ballast Point beer.  Though we had dreams of it being a big show, we started small.

Everyone Has A Story

“Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.” – Bill Nye

I’ve been fortunate to interview people from all areas of life – CEOs, professional athletes, writers, psychologists, entrepreneurs, veterans, the list goes on.  The common thread between them all is that there’s SOMETHING unique, a superpower, that has helped them become successful. You can learn something from everyone you meet.

Have No Fear

“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” – Jack Canfield

The fear of hitting “publish”, the fear of other people’s opinions, the fear of hearing my own voice, the fear of rejection, of being laughed at, of failure.  They’re all real. And I’ve dealt with them consistently throughout the whole process. But the only way to get from where you are to where you want to be is to look those fears dead in the eye and keep moving forward.  

Add Value To Receive Value

One of the best nuggets of advice I’ve gotten came from sales leader Ralph Barsi, who said: “In order to receive value, you need to add value to the marketplace.”  In other words, add value to people’s lives through the podcast, through writing, through helping others.  The more you do that, the greater value will be on the other side.

Deep down, I’m still that kid with the orange microphone, the kid typing up a sports article on his mom’s Gateway ‘98 computer, looking for knowledge and a story to tell.  I’m grateful for every download, every share, every review and every guest who comes on the show. I encourage you to check it out and let me know what you think.  

And whatever that “publish” button is in your life, don’t wait.  Press that damn button and keep moving forward.

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