But first…

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on previous segments from our weekly newsletter. So if you want this type of content first, check out the link at the end of this post!

Now, let’s dive into today’s post!

It’s the Time for Shifting Your Life and Creating Your Future!

Continuing on the popular trend of what’s “in” and what’s “out” for 2024, this year something that is an absolute “in” is the concept of creating my own future.

Here’s the truth…

If you don’t take back the reigns of your own narrative and become the author of your own story, then others will dictate it for you.

So what does that mean exactly?

Well, a lot of times, without even knowing it, we let life simply happen to us. 

• We go with the flow on social plans.
• We do the tasks we’ve been assigned at work. 
• We attend the events others want to go to.

And before you know it, you’ve got a whole year filled with things you didn’t necessarily set out to do.

This year I’ve decided to focus instead on living intentionally – when it comes to where I spend my time, the healthy boundaries I put in place, and even who takes up the majority of my precious time. 

You need to start being the driving force behind what your life looks like so that you can anticipate what is to come.

After all, the best way to predict your future, is to create it! 

Let’s look at my simple framework for shifting your life and creating your future.

1. Put It On Pause 

Every single day we spend so much time simply reacting to what is going on around us — your phone, your kiddos, your job, you name it! 
So, stop. Put it on pause. 

Hold up a second, and just take a little time for yourself. Time that isn’t just reactive to the endless noise that surrounds your daily life. Take some real time to just be by yourself, free from distractions, and focus on what you want your life to look like.
Now answer some questions: What’s really important to you? What are you truly passionate about? What are you exceptional at? What is your purpose in life?

2. Think Big, Get Focused 

When you’re creating your future, it is not the time to hold back. 

Let go, and think BIG! 

What are you capable of when you reach for your maximum potential? Just think about what you can accomplish if you bring your whole self to the table. 

“If you aim high, your success will be monumental.” – Michael Annese

Now, once you’ve got a clear idea of what is important to you and what you are capable of, it’s time to get focused. See your vision, imagine it being done, and think about the possibilities!

3. Make a Move! 

It’s time to take ACTION!

Just take a small step towards the future you want to create. And then, prove to yourself that you are committed to making your vision a reality.

Accept nothing less than your personal best, and serve yourself a taste of your new future, a taste of what is to come.

A Final Word on Shifting Your Life and Creating Your Future!

What you do with your time matters. It shapes what is to come. So make every minute count! 

Your life, your vision…Make it happen!

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on a segment of our weekly newsletter. 

Want this type of content while it’s still hot off the presses? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Podcast Playbook! By signing up, you’ll also get our 50 Genius Ways to Repurpose Your Podcast Content PDF straight to your inbox!

But first…

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on previous segments from our weekly newsletter. So if you want this type of content first, check out the link at the end of this post!

Now, let’s dive into today’s post!

Year Planning: How to Get the Most Out of 2024

Let’s start off strong with this great quote…

“Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction.”

Germany Kent

The end of the year still seems so far away, and there are a lot of things that have to happen before we get back into review mode. But thinking back on my review from last year there are a few things that stand out:

• The benefits of stepping into new things
• Speeding up your process to speed up your progress
• Giving your journey an identifier to dictate your direction
• The power of a strong network in all areas of your life

These lessons have helped me so much as I was sitting down to shape my goals for the new year. So how can you implement these into the nitty gritty when it comes to some year planning?

Let’s dive into…

Year Planning: Three Action Steps to Help You Get the Most Out of Your 2024

1. Add in new experiences 

Research shows that as we age, life seems to go by faster because we are experiencing fewer things for the very first time. This has caused us to spend the majority of our days on auto-pilot because no new skills are required.

This got me thinking that if we continue down that trajectory, how out of practice we will become!

So instead, let’s focus on injecting new experiences into our daily lives. Planning your day, month, and year can help you to do this – simply make it a habit!

For example, here are some ways to add new experiences into your podcast:

• Adding in video.
• Selecting ways to monetize.
• Changing up the format.
• Experimenting with new ideas and topics.

Now this is just a quick example for your podcast – so just imagine the ways you can find new experiences in your personal life too!

2. Choose your word 

Next, let’s choose your word! What is a word or phrase that outlines what you want to achieve this year?

To help with this, let’s fill in the blank:

2024 will be the year of _____.

Your word or phrase of the year might be fitness related, or it might be work related. For me, 2023 was the year of continuously reinventing myself. 

This year I keep being drawn to the idea of “novelty” (and this fits in perfectly with the goal of injecting new experiences into my daily life!).

Simply put, I’ve gotten tired of chasing the trends just to get there and to realize that there is already a new trend. So instead, this year I will be operating with the phrase “pivoting towards novelty”.

When the trend goes left, I will be going right! Essentially, the aim is to be a trendsetter, not a trend follower.

So how will you finish this sentence?

2024 is the year of ___. 

3. Continue to build your network 

As I mentioned, there is power in having a strong network in all areas of your life! This rings true when you are trying to grow your podcast, build your audience, reach new listeners, find the right guests…the list goes on!

For this year, it is time to prioritize relationships. Not only in your personal life, but also in your podcast and in your work life! 

These connections can prove to be so valuable when it comes to the impact that you want to make in this world.

So make a point to attend a podcast event, reach out to your favorite podcasters, find new ways to connect with your listeners online and in person, and really invest in building a strong community around your message and your “why”.

Here’s To You, 2024!

So, let’s make 2024 the best year yet! Use my three action steps as a guide, make them your own, and you’ll be on your way to making the most out of 2024.

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on a segment of our weekly newsletter. 

Want this type of content while it’s still hot off the presses? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Podcast Playbook! By signing up, you’ll also get our 50 Genius Ways to Repurpose Your Podcast Content PDF straight to your inbox!

But first…

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on previous segments from our weekly newsletter. So if you want this type of content first, check out the link at the end of this post!

Now, let’s dive into today’s post!

Goal Setting and the Decision-Making Process

In the spirit of the New Year and the task of setting goals for yourself, I wanted to touch on something that is sometimes overlooked in this season.

During the goal-setting process, more often than not, we are faced with some daunting crossroads. So what do you do when a potential goal brings you to a fork in the road? What tools do you use when you get to these crossroads and you are unsure of which path to take?

The tricky thing about a goal with different outcomes is, how do you pick up speed to accomplish the goal if you don’t know the destination?

Now, it feels like so far it’s just been a series of questions. Which is quite fitting since my strategy for making a decision at a fork in the road is to ask myself three clarifying questions…

But more on that later!

First, let’s look at some tools for making big decisions.

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

Albert Einstein

Inevitably, when you face a fork in the road you might also be faced with a big decision. Whether that’s to start a podcast, or not? To leave your job, or not? To start a business, or not? To get married, start a family, move countries… the list goes on!

So where do you start?

Tony Robbins laid out Four Rules for decision-making, which include:

1. Write it down
2. Get clear about your feelings
3. Let go of fear
4. Recognize your values

This strategy has worked wonders when making big decisions. Once you become clear on the obstacle/opportunity in front of you and know what you value, you can move past the fear and take the right road for YOU!

Read more on that here. 

So to get even more clear on which path to take, let’s dive into those three clarifying questions to help you make a decision when you are faced with the fork in the road.

Goal Setting: 3 Clarifying Questions For When You are Faced with the Fork in the Road

1. Where in your life do you desire something more?

In which area of your life, business, podcast, wellness, etc. are you constantly craving something better? Something more than what you’ve achieved thus far? 

This is a strong indication that it’s time to make a change and to pivot towards that new desire.

Whether this is changing up the format of your podcast, spending more time writing, or even focusing on building your personal brand – there are always new opportunities for “more”!

2. What truth are you ignoring?

If you’re standing at the crossroads there is always something that led you there to begin with. So what are you avoiding looking at because it’s too hard or uncomfortable to deal with? What is your inconvenient truth?

This can be as simple as a marketing strategy that isn’t working, or a sponsor partnership that is no longer aligned. Or it can be as life-changing as knowing when to call it quits or when it’s time to do a complete overhaul of your podcast or your personal brand.

Whether you’re starting over or starting something new, it’s scary and disruptive for your comfort zone, either way. But once you’ve nailed down the truth and faced it head-on, your path forward becomes so much clearer and you can make the best decision for yourself.

3. What do you need to let go of?

Now that you know where you want to go and what you need to change, it’s time to take a closer look at your habits, strategies, and activities and to get brutally honest. Which do you want to change? And what do you need to let go of in order to move forward?

I read today that “if you want to be the noun, first do the verb” (a poetic message by Austin Kleon here). 

This absolutely hit home for me!

If you want to be a podcaster, record podcast episodes. If you want to be a writer, then spend time writing! It’s time to let go of what you’re trying to “be” and focus on actually doing the work to get there.

All this said, there are two important things to remember when you hit that fork in the road:

Takeaway Points for How to Make Better Decisions…

► One: There is no right or wrong answer. Make sure to gather as much information to make the best decision for YOU! 

► Two: Nothing is set in stone. Make a decision, test it out, re-evaluate, and pivot if necessary.

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on a segment of our weekly newsletter. 

Want this type of content while it’s still hot off the presses? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Podcast Playbook! By signing up, you’ll also get our 50 Genius Ways to Repurpose Your Podcast Content PDF straight to your inbox!

But first…

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on previous segments from our weekly newsletter. So if you want this type of content first, check out the link at the end of this post!

Now, let’s dive into today’s post!

How to Turn Mistakes into Opportunities

As 2023 came to an end, I couldn’t help but reflect on all that has happened throughout last year. Everything from successes, to failures, to big lessons – they come to mind all at once! 

But as I was reviewing all the events, there’s something that I’ve been stuck on… where can I see the growth?

“Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to error that counts.”

Nikki Giovanni

Mistakes and failures are inevitable. That’s life!

But what I’ve come to learn is that they are much easier to swallow when you’ve turned them into opportunities. This can be through:

• Personal growth.
• Doing things better.
• Making a mindset shift.
• Taking a necessary reset.

More often than not, mistakes in podcasting are simply a result of something you haven’t yet learned, testing a new process, human error, and so on.

It’s not that you’re purposefully setting out to make mistakes or fail. You simply might not know the best way to do things yet.

Enter… opportunity!

As you learn new methods, and what works best you not only improve personally as a podcast host, but you can guide and teach others to do the same.

So what does it look like when you make this mindset shift?

Let’s dive into my Triple-A Framework for how to turn mistakes into opportunities.

The Triple-A Framework for How To Turn Mistakes into Opportunities

1. Acknowledge 

The first step towards growth is to actually acknowledge the mistakes you’ve made. Set out to find those valuable learning lessons and note them on your journey.

On top of that, find ways that you can improve. Where are the opportunities for real growth and how can you capitalize on them?

So whether you accidentally mixed up your calendar dates and missed a podcast interview, or you forgot to select the right microphone for your recording, step out and claim it!

From there, you can only do better! With things like a scheduling calendar that sends out reminders, or a proper pre-interview checklist – you can get it done!

2. Analyze 

Once you’ve recognized your mistakes and failures, now you can capitalize on learning from them in order to teach others. Analyze exactly where things went wrong, how you can do it differently moving forward, and what you’ve learned along the way.

“Without reflection, we go blindly on our way, creating more unintended consequences, and failing to achieve anything useful.”

Margaret J. Wheatley

Continue to analyze each learning opportunity by reflecting on your progress as you go. This will help you to see the path more clearly so you can always start better the next time!

This is especially true for your podcast. For example, the more you teach others about your podcasting process, the better your process becomes in turn.

Analyzing every aspect helps iron out all the kinks. And who knows? Perhaps your solution could be useful to others as well.. ding*ding* business opportunity!

3. Adapt 

And finally, the best way to ensure that mistakes aren’t repeated is to always have a learning mindset. When you use the feedback life gives you and you remain teachable, you are much more likely to be able to adapt to challenging situations.

Be sure to put your learnings into practice! Apply what you’ve learned so you can actually reap the benefits, turning those mistakes into opportunities.

Final Takeaway!

The podcast industry is changing all the time, with new technologies, new platforms, new equipment, or even podcasting styles – you name it!

Staying true to this learning mindset and allowing yourself to easily adapt is key for seizing those opportunities for your podcast.

When we learn from our mistakes and try to find the opportunities in each situation, you will see tremendous growth and improvement through these valuable lessons.

So find the lessons, strategize a plan, and adapt!

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on a segment of our weekly newsletter. 

Want this type of content while it’s still hot off the presses? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Podcast Playbook! By signing up, you’ll also get our 50 Genius Ways to Repurpose Your Podcast Content PDF straight to your inbox!

Trust us…it’s going to be fun……

But first…

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on previous segments from our weekly newsletter. So if you want this type of content first, check out the link at the end of this post!

Now, let’s dive into today’s post!

How To Take Effective Breaks

*Note: While this post does focus on podcast breaks, this strategy can be applied to almost all areas!

One of the biggest questions podcasters ask themselves is whether or not they can or should take a break from their podcast.

More often than not, a break is directly related to a drop in listeners, so this is not always the best option.

However, there are tons of ways to work around this while still getting in that much-needed break!

Some of these ways include:

• Creating short-form content for your podcast.
• Batch-recording episodes and scheduling ahead.
• Pulling episodes from the archives for reruns.
• Planning some juicy episodes for the new year!

So what are your next steps?

The key lies in creating what I like to call an “alternate podcast schedule”. In other words, finding ways to make podcasting feel like a break without actually taking a break from your regular publishing schedule!

If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ve heard me say this over and again: consistency is key! 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t be consistent and well-rested!

Now, drumroll please….here’s my not-so-secret strategy…

Instead of focusing on a “break”, try making the mindset shift to having more FUN!

​

Yes, that’s right… I’m saying, “Bring on the FUN!”

Fun Is As Good As a Break!

So now, let the effective breaks fun begin! Let’s dig into three ways to make podcasting feel like a holiday!

1. Host a Podcast Party

Who doesn’t love a good party? And what better way to have some fun and make your podcasting feel like a break than by hosting a holiday podcast party!

What does this look like, you might wonder?

Well, it can be anything from doing a live recording, to engaging your audience in the event, doing a virtual movie review or watch-a-thon, a virtual “pub quiz”, or even inviting a few of your favorite podcasters or guests on to the show for a little collaborative party behind the mic!

You could celebrate a podcast mile stone, a personal event, or just make it a “just because” celebration.

The options are endless! Just depends on what your vision is for your podcast party. So get planning!

2. Focus on Relaxation and Stress-Relief

A little R&R is exactly what you need to make your podcast feel like a holiday!

Whether you invite on an expert on stress relief or have someone on to give your listeners a much-needed self-care guide, everyone is ready for a few great tips on reducing the stress and chaos in our busy lives!

Let your podcast feel like a spa day, reduce stress levels, and build in that much-needed break!

3. Take an Off-Script Approach

And finally, for my last fun-focused way to have a podcast break, let loose! Try taking an off-script approach to your next couple of episodes. This is your time to finally color outside the lines a bit! Give yourself permission to take on some bold topics, create episodes you’ve always wanted to, or even bring on a guest or co-host to do a mini-series as a break from your usual content.

This approach allows you to cut down on some parts of your podcast process, giving you more time for some R&R in between, while still serving your audience and giving them valuable content.

So, be BOLD! Go off-script, and have the most fun!

Effective Breaks with Actually Stopping Your Podcast is Totally Possible!

If there’s one thing that should be clear from my not-so-secret strategies for having an effective break from your podcast without actually stopping is that FUN is the key! Changing it up and opening yourself and your listeners up to some fun is a great way to help you feel like you’re taking a break without losing your podcast momentum.

The goal?

Serve your listeners by creating an unexpected experience every step of the way! They get great content, and you give yourself something new and rewarding to try.

After all, they do say a change is as good as a rest! And a fun change must be even better!

So give fun a go!

You won’t regret it!

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on a segment of our weekly newsletter. 

Want this type of content while it’s still hot off the presses? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Podcast Playbook! By signing up, you’ll also get our 50 Genius Ways to Repurpose Your Podcast Content PDF straight to your inbox!

But first…

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on previous segments from our weekly newsletter. So if you want this type of content first, check out the link at the end of this post!

Now, let’s dive into today’s post!

Harnessing Flexibility in the Festive Season

Staying motivated and actually getting through your to-do list during the holiday season can be a daunting task.

When you’re stressed about travel plans, family gatherings, and your endless holiday shopping list, it’s often tricky to maintain focus and fight off the distractions.

But what if I told you the answer is simple? It’s time to harness flexibility!

Now, embracing flexibility is not an all-or-nothing approach. There are numerous ways to bring more flexibility and autonomy to your workflow when preparing for the holiday season.

So how can being agile help you get the most out of the holidays, both in work and in life?

Being flexible allows you to:

• Easily adapt to unexpected events without throwing you off course. 
• Reduce the stress of meeting those high standards.
• Pivot, adapt your ideas, and direct your content.

Whether that is throwing in a few holiday episodes for your podcast, or inviting on special holiday guests, or simply finding ways to bring the holiday cheer into your show – that flexibility to be creative is key!

Okay, so not quite convinced that a flexible mindset will lead to succes?

Let’s dive into exactly why it’s important and how you can implement flexibility into the fabric of your day-to-day.

Why embrace flexibility?

• Improved work-life balance.
• Enhanced productivity.
• Freedom to improvise.

How to implement flexibility?

• Let go of perfectionism.
• Learn to adapt.
• Be creative!

So now that you know why it’s important and how you can implement flexibility, here are three mindsets to take with you in this holiday season.

Three Mindsets for Harnessing Flexibility in the Festive Season

ONE: Be selective, but nice 

The holidays bring with them several additional to-do list items, so it is crucial to be picky with where you spend your time. Learning to say “no” and understanding when to delegate are some of the best tools in your holiday toolbox!

Stick to your plan, be selective with your time, and you will certainly avoid the unnecessary stress, leading to the inevitable fate of being the Grinch of the family!

TWO: Make your list, and check it twice ✔️

​The best way to avoid the to-do list overwhelm is to divide your tasks into manageable chunks and then schedule them strategically into clearly defined steps.

Be thorough in your note-taking during the holiday season! New ideas for your podcast may come to you while you are hanging a string of lights – so don’t let those bright ideas slip away!

THREE: Wrap your workflow up as a gift to yourself 

​The most essential element that goes into managing your time wisely is creating a streamlined podcasting process. Holiday-proofing your workflow can be like giving yourself a big box with a bow on top, full of time for concentrating on what matters!

A Final Word on Flexibility

As the festivities kick off, now is as good a time as any to get a stronger handle on managing your podcast workflow. So let’s get it done!

BONUS: Five Step Holiday Podcasting Process

When setting out on this holiday season, implement these 5 steps to keep yourself on track with your podcast so you don’t miss a beat!

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on a segment of our weekly newsletter. 

Want this type of content while it’s still hot off the presses? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Podcast Playbook! By signing up, you’ll also get our 50 Genius Ways to Repurpose Your Podcast Content PDF straight to your inbox!

This can bring with it all kinds of new stresses. But with all the things still on your to-do list, how can you remain productive without burning out? I’m going to share with you what I’ve learned!

But first…

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on previous segments from our weekly newsletter. So if you want this type of content first, check out the link at the end of this post!

Now, let’s dive into today’s post!

Pursuing Success without the Burnout – Is It Possible?

So often we can get caught up in the hustle and grind, while also trying to “have it all”. We’re consistently pursuing success – which is great – but how do we protect our wellbeing in the process? This can be especially difficult if you are internally driven by high or unrealistic standards. 

I talked about this in greater detail in a previous Podcast Playbook newsletter. So if you’re curious, read it here.

Somewhere along the way, we have become inundated with the belief that success is an all-or-nothing game; a game in which every milestone must be reached flawlessly! 

The truth? These big triumphs don’t sustain us. In fact, it’s the collection of small victories that truly move the needle.

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”

Oprah Winfrey

Now, the good news is…

It is possible to have success without the burnout!

Let’s start by really defining what success means to you.

In a world that is constantly telling you what to do, who to be like, and how to get there, it can be really hard to find your own voice.

But I’m here to tell you, that if you want to find that lasting success without the burnout, then it is crucial for you to define success on your own terms!

So let’s look at three keys to keep in mind when defining success for yourself.

1. Throw Comparison out the Window

Not only will comparison steal your joy, but it won’t actually help you get closer to achieving success. So throw that bad boy right out the window. Focus on what success means to you, and then invest your energy into achieving just that.

Just because other podcasters have already recorded all of their episodes for the rest of the year, doesn’t mean that will necessarily work for you. Set your goal – whether that’s being two weeks ahead of schedule, or one month – and then invest your energy into doing just that.

2. Create Success Categories

Your definition of success should always be specific to your current goals and needs. Therefore, you have to break success into categories past, present, and future.

“Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.”

Teddy Roosevelt

If you are just starting out on your podcasting journey, then it doesn’t help if your definition of success is the same as someone who is three years and 150 episodes deep. 

Yes, those types of goals may be in your future, but that is not where you are now. File that away for “future you”, and get back to putting your energy into what you need to do today to find success.

3. Set Your Own Standards

Whatever your definition of success, it is important to remember that you DO NOT have to live by anyone else’s standards. You are the author of your life, so make sure that you are writing accordingly. 

I heard an interesting phrase this week:

“Set up your expectations so that victory lies in every step!”

Perhaps your definition of success includes a fancy new holiday episode, or maybe you simply have time for a re-run. That is okay! 

Find what works with your schedule and what you can accomplish. When you are the one setting the standards for yourself, you will find so much more joy doing it.

Okay, so now you’ve defined success. What is next? 

Build in R&R(&R)! 

Yes, that’s right. You have to build rest, relaxation – and my personal favorite – reflection into your daily and weekly routine. Prioritizing self-care, or as I like to say, “the art of nurturing the soul” is essential if you want success without the burnout! 

So often, our self-care takes a back seat or becomes a casualty of our relentless pursuit of excellence. But if you are not at your best, then how can your results be the best? We need to “nourish” what carries us through our accomplishments!

Now it might be hard to see where in your schedule you can fit that R&R(&R). And I’m not here to tell you to spend more time at the spa than at work.. because that too is unrealistic if you want to achieve your goals. But you have to find moments to schedule it in.

To make this a bit easier, let’s look at this mindset shift:

“Self-care is not an act of indulgence, but instead it is a necessary act of self-preservation!”

Navigating this can truly require you to create a tapestry, weaving together both excellence and well-being.

By defining what pursuing success means to you and scheduling in your self-care, you honor both your pursuit of excellence and your prioritization of well-being. 

Now be warned: Pursuing Success is Never Smooth Sailing

The path that lies ahead is certainly not devoid of challenges. Consistently pursuing success is not easy. However, you will be continuously guided by accomplishment and fulfillment. 

So embrace this delicate art of navigating burnout, seeing it not as a burden to carry, but as a true testament to your strength!

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on a segment of our weekly newsletter. 

Want this type of content while it’s still hot off the presses? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Podcast Playbook! By signing up, you’ll also get our 50 Genius Ways to Repurpose Your Podcast Content PDF straight to your inbox!

But first…

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on previous segments from our weekly newsletter. So if you want this type of content first, check out the link at the end of this post!

Now, let’s dive into today’s post!

How Do You Respond When Things Don’t Go Your Way?

So, back to our topic, of reshaping how we respond when things don’t go our way. As I said, this was something that cropped up for me recently, and after some reflecting, I realized it all leads back to one main concept:

High standards! 

Now, there is nothing wrong with having high standards, especially as a podcaster, business owner, content creator, mom, wife, friend…the list goes on! 

These standards guide us to creating quality things and putting our best foot forward, giving it our all in everything we do.

But what happens when things don’t go as planned?

A little while ago, I was gearing up for another fully-booked calendar of podcast interviews, and things were going swimmingly. Only for me to get to my last interview, and guess what? 

I completely missed it!!

Somehow our calendars had the interview booked at two different times, and it honestly made me feel like I totally failed my guest, wasted their time, and I was so upset with myself for letting it happen.

After feeling horrible about the mishap and beating myself up about it, it hit me…why am I doing this? 

It honestly came down to the simple fact that I have set these incredibly high standards for myself. And although they are good, we need to keep an eye on just how we react to situations that don’t go as planned! 

Disappointment can be the first thing that sets in. But instead of feeling uncomfortable, disoriented, or like you’ve lost control, you need to find ways to calmly respond to these unexpected events.

In fact, we have to start expecting the unexpected! 

So, now let’s get to the good part…and dive into 3 key strategies to reshape the way you respond when things don’t go your way.

Personal Development Strategies: 3 Key Strategies For Reshaping the Way We Respond When Things Don’t Go Our Way

1. Shrink the Situation and Reevaluate

The first step is not blowing the situation out of proportion. Oftentimes we tend to build things up bigger in our heads than they actually are. And this can lead us to feel a lot worse. We then contribute these negative feelings to this “giant event”, when in reality it was actually much “smaller”. 

So shake it off, reevaluate the situation, and implement new strategies to help you prevent the mishap from happening again.

2. Take a Minute and Reflect

One of the best pieces of advice to help reshape the way you react to a situation is to simply not react at all. When you take a beat to assess the situation, and see it for what it is, you can prevent those negative thoughts and reactions from cropping up, stopping them in their tracks. 

This time of reflection can also help you reshape the narrative of the situation and help you identify what went wrong so you can course-correct for the future.

3. Get Perspective and Recalibrate

When things don’t go as planned, it’s so easy to feel like it’s the worst thing in the world and you can totally lose perspective. Instead, stop and try to see the bigger picture. This new perspective can help you respond to the situation in a much more constructive way. 

Then, once you are clear on the true perspective you can recalibrate your initial expectations to help you respond more appropriately.

A Final Word on Reshaping Mindsets

So remember…be kind to yourself. You’re doing amazing! The unexpected is going to happen. But it doesn’t have to derail us. Use these personal development strategies to help you reshape your mindset, and, as a result, help you navigate those high standards when things don’t quite go as planned.

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on a segment of our weekly newsletter. 

Want this type of content while it’s still hot off the presses? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Podcast Playbook! By signing up, you’ll also get our 50 Genius Ways to Repurpose Your Podcast Content PDF straight to your inbox!

But first…

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on previous segments from our weekly newsletter. So if you want this type of content first, check out the link at the end of this post!

Now, let’s dive into today’s post!

Strategies for Success: Want to set yourself up for success? Identifying time-wasters is key!

In the world we live in today, there seems to be a revolving door of time-wasters just waiting to be served up to you. 

As I’m writing this, there have been millions of things that pop into my “workspace” to distract me…

Everything from going over my own to-do list, to skipping between tasks, or spending too much time organizing the things I still need to get done instead of actually doing them!

So why is identifying time-wasters so important?

Most of the things that we consider time-wasters are just daily habits or routines that we’ve developed with little to no positive effect on our lives as a whole. They can also be classified as “busy work” that gives you the illusion of feeling productive without you actually making any progress at all.

This ultimately creates a vicious cycle – the more you waste time, the more stressed you become over your lack of productivity, the less productive you are.

Quick fact:

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a time-waster is “an activity that takes a lot of time and does not achieve anything important.” 

In fact, some of the biggest time-wasters can be directly linked to your own individual habits. Such as trying to multitask, getting held back by perfectionism, or even occupying your mind and time with “busy work”. 

“Lost time is never found again.” – Benjamin Franklin

Strategies for Success: Identifying Time-Wasters

When it comes to identifying time-wasters, these two are the most common culprits: 

Time-Waster Number 1: Multitasking

When it comes down to it, multitasking is such a natural human impulse. We are always striving to do more, tackle more tasks, and essentially.. get more done! We mistakenly think that we are built to chase many goals at once when actually multitasking can be a major pitfall for our productivity.

Our minds crave novelty!

And that novelty is often found in either a distraction or simply starting something new. Skipping between tasks satisfies that craving while also acting as a mirage, misleading you to think that you are being productive when in fact, research shows that it can decrease your productivity by up to 40%!

Time-Waster Number 2: Perfectionism

Another common limiting factor in your productivity is getting caught in the perfectionism trap. Focusing on achieving unattainable standards can lead us to spend far too much time on a task, without necessarily giving you better results. 

This is a topic that I’ve discussed at length! If you want to dive deeper into the strategies for stepping away from the limitations of perfectionism, read the article here.

So now that we know where most of our time-wasting occurs, let’s look at three steps to set yourself up for success, and re-focus on increasing your productivity…

Three strategies for success to help you re-focus and increase your productivity

Step 1: Know Yourself 

The first key to setting yourself up to be more productive is to truly know yourself. Take time to identify not only your most common time-wasters but also the daily habits that you’ve formed that are preventing you from being your most productive self. 

Next, take time to figure out when in your day you are naturally most productive. Use that to your advantage, making sure that you tackle the most important tasks when you are operating at the peak of your productivity. 

“Motivation comes after productivity!”

And finally, make yourself harder to contact in the times when you need to be the most productive. There’s nothing that distracts us more than the urge to clear notifications and answer those emails. And although they too are important, find the right time and place for it in your schedule instead!

Step 2: Build in Efficiency 

Streamline, streamline, and I’ll say it again – streamline! One of the biggest learning lessons I had from launching the podcast was that in order to work ahead of schedule and take the stress out of it was to create a succinct, streamlined process. 

But Carli, how do you keep distractions out of this streamlined process? Great question!

The more efficient your process becomes, the less room is left for time-wasters to creep in. And if they do, a great tip is to use a “distraction list” – a running document or notes folder where you can simply jot down any ideas or distracting thoughts so that you can tend to them later. 

Analyze every aspect of your work day and find repeatable shortcuts and ways to make your processes more efficient. 

Even the smallest changes can have huge results down the line.

“Productivity is not about how much you produce. It’s about how much you accomplish. Productive work is work that makes a difference.”

Chris Bailey

Step 3: Manage Your Energy 

Now, this last step is a crucial part of the plan towards setting yourself up for success. 

In order to give, whether to others or to your work, you have to operate from a “full tank”. Take time to reflect and recharge, and find ways to fill your metaphorical cup so that you are not running on empty. 

Manage your energy. Not just your time! 

This goes hand-in-hand with the task of planning ahead. When you have an active plan for the future work that you have to do, it frees up a lot of brainpower for you to use to accomplish your most important tasks. 

The same thing rings true when it comes to knowing when to ask for help! Sometimes to increase your productivity, you simply need to delegate!

Strategies for Success: A Work in Progress

Remember: cultivating strategies for success that actually work for you and yield results is a work in progress. But it’s important to realize that it’s not always about adding “something” to set yourself up for success. In many cases, it’s about taking away the things that are stealing your time, energy, and overall productivity. And that’s why identifying time-wasters is such a valuable exercise, and something that has really helped me set myself up for success. Because, at least in some small ways, I have that extra bit of time and energy to put into the things that help me move the needle. And that little bit extra goes a long way!

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on a segment of our weekly newsletter. 

Want this type of content while it’s still hot off the presses? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Podcast Playbook! By signing up, you’ll also get our 50 Genius Ways to Repurpose Your Podcast Content PDF straight to your inbox!

But first…

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on previous segments from our weekly newsletter. So if you want this type of content first, check out the link at the end of this post!

Now, let’s dive into today’s post!

Doing Things Differently – Some of My Top Productivity Tips

After almost 9 years of running a fully remote company, there are a few tips I’ve learned along the way. What it comes down to mostly is knowing yourself! 

The key to staying productive when you are the keeper of your own time is knowing where your strengths and weaknesses lie when it comes to time management!

Do you ever feel like you put in a lot of effort and simply aren’t seeing the results? Are there tasks related to your podcasting process that act as major bottlenecks preventing you from working ahead? 

Quick analysis: You might not be spending your time in the right places!

Now, as you’ve heard, there are certainly pros and cons to working remotely (and we dive into all our top tips for helping you master remote work in this post!) but the important piece is being able to distinguish between “busywork” and work that actually moves the needle!

This concept has been absolutely fascinating to me, especially while on the journey of creating, launching, and promoting a podcast. 

There is this tendency for us to “forge our own way” and although there are countless how-to’s and guides that show you exactly what you should and shouldn’t do during your podcasting process, we still seem to think we know better and we should just continue to operate through trial and error. 

But why?

That is exactly what I have been asking myself lately. There are tasks on my to-do list that take up incredible amounts of my time — but are they even worth it? Is the effort worth the results?

If the answer is ‘no’, then it’s time to re-evaluate! And it’s time to cultivate productivity tips that are all about staying focused on the most valuable tasks…those tasks that move the needle…

But more on those productivity tasks in a bit!

Here are a few things that have popped up as time-wasters for me on my podcasting journey:

1. Wasting time reviewing episodes pre-edit when you have a great production team! 

There’s an element of needing to relinquish control of certain parts of your podcasting process simply to make it more streamlined and dedicate your valuable time elsewhere. While reviewing my episodes was a great learning opportunity at the start, when you’re trying to work ahead and have other pressing, more urgent tasks to get to, this simply becomes a redundant task.

2. Spending too much time trying to put out a “perfect” product.

Of course, putting an emphasis on creating valuable content is something I live by. But when the task itself becomes too time-intensive then it’s time to re-evaluate. Instead of re-recording an intro five times or going through endless iterations of an episode title, focus on what works and simply get it done! Efficiency over perfection. 

3. Spending too much time creating social content and not enough promoting on other podcasts or interacting in communities.

Sometimes, without even knowing it, creating content to promote your podcast on social media can take up big chunks of time. This is often because the inner creative in me really loves creating shareable content, but does it move the needle as much as it should? Although it can be great to interact over the content you publish, there is so much more value in building relationships and fostering connections.

So how can you ensure that you are in fact leveraging your time on tasks where you will have the most success?

Productivity Tips: The 3 R’s of staying focused on the most valuable tasks

1. Re-evaluate ​

When you’re ready to start doing things differently, the first step is to re-evaluate where you spend your time. Start by prioritizing the big picture and make sure that your to-do list is aligned with achieving it. Spend time focusing on high-value activities that help you get closer to your goals and actually make an impact. 

It is easy to get caught up in menial activities, so it is just as important to implement boundaries and time limitations to help keep you on track. When you prioritize a small percentage of the right tasks, the results will be much more likely to move the needle!

“Focusing is about saying ‘No’.”  

Steve Jobs

So evaluate, spend committed time focusing on high-value activities, and limit non-essential tasks from draining your time. 

2. Reflect 

As you work through your day, be sure to also take time to reflect on everything that has occurred. Because our daily lives can be quite hectic, a period of reflection can help you see any missed opportunities and question your methods/tasks and their outcomes to ensure they are in fact the best use of your time. 

While reflecting on what didn’t work can help you avoid making timely mistakes, it is also important to recognize the things that do work so you can do more of it! 

“It’s on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly.” 

Claude Monet

So take the time to reflect, recognize what works, and implement it to achieve growth.

3. Reinvent 

The last and most crucial step is to work on yourself! Working on yourself ranks among the most frequently neglected of the high-value tasks. How often do you actually carve out the time to purposefully learn something new, work on a skill, or implement a mindset shift? As part of your process, challenge yourself every day to do better and be better! 

Truly moving the needle starts with a decision to reinvent yourself and move beyond the status quo. 

“People who cannot invent and reinvent themselves must be content with borrowed postures, secondhand ideas, fitting in instead of standing out.” 

Warren Bennis

A Final Word on Productivity Tips

All this to say, when you work and podcast remotely and there’s no one to keep you accountable, it is up to you to make sure you are spending your time in the right places! And you need to find productivity tips that work for you.

Re-evaluate your tasks, reflect on your daily occurrences, and reinvent yourself so that your efforts are leading you to results that move the needle and make an impact on your big-picture goals. 

The Founder’s Corner posts are based on a segment of our weekly newsletter. 

Want this type of content while it’s still hot off the presses? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, the Podcast Playbook! By signing up, you’ll also get our 50 Genius Ways to Repurpose Your Podcast Content PDF straight to your inbox!