one year of world’s your oysta

Dear Paula,

One year ago, you decided to pursue the dream you've always had of starting your own show and turned it into a reality. With no formal training, just a genuine curiosity in people and a love for storytelling, you embarked on this journey. There were no budgets, no equipment, and no producer; just blind faith that you would eventually learn to operate the equipment, put on a good show, and attract some listeners. Slowly but surely, people started tuning in, and each month, your audience has grown.

However,

You are struggling to celebrate the one-year anniversary because, in your mind, the podcast doesn't feel like a success worth celebrating. You don't have a tremendous audience, your reels aren't going viral, and your social media engagement is flat.

But,

Take a step back and remember why you started. When you began the show, you never mentioned who would listen or how many followers or subscribers you wanted. All you knew is that you wanted to tell stories, to learn about how others achieved success, and to inspire people through stories of your own and of your guests.

Instead,

Let’s reflect on the accomplishments. You’ve learned to operate an entire sound & video studio, you’ve produced almost 50 episodes, and shared the stories of 40+ successful, colorful, and inspiring people. You’ve had hundreds of conversations with friends, family, and listeners about your guests and their stories. You’ve learned how to brand, market, and promote a podcast. You've connected on a deeper level with friends who have been on the show and with those who let you know they listen, and you’ve created a small but mighty community that keeps you going when you want to quit.

Take your own advice and lean in to celebrating the small victories and being okay with not being an overnight success, an immediate expert, or a viral podcast sensation. Learn to enjoy every step of the process of building your show and making it better each week.

So,

While in this first year, you’re not celebrating any grand victories, you are celebrating the fact that you started, you are learning, you are still passionate, and you’re moving forward.

And,

Congratulations! Because getting out of bed and creating content every day is challenging. It's harder than any job you’ve had before, and more emotional than expected, but wow, do you love it.

To Year 2! Maybe this is the year we go viral ;)

With Love,

Paula