I believe that in order to build a lasting habit you need to start small and be victorious. We love to act when we are successful. Love that dopamine.
So when I decided to start a podcast, I knew I needed to start small, where I could actually succeed from day one. And I mean small.
The definition of success for the first week was to book the podcast room at my coworking space for the following week. That's it. Book the room.
The definition of success for the second week was to show up at the appointed time. No set agenda for what I would do once I was there. Just show up. I figured I would learn where the room was located and maybe get a sense of the equipment setup. My stretch goal was speaking into a microphone to say something that could become the first episode.
I should mention that I don't even know exactly what this podcast is about yet. That's part of the point. If I waited until I had the perfect concept, I would never book the room at all.
I am proud to say that I succeeded in both first weeks. And when I showed up at the podcast room for the first time, there was someone already there. I was surprised and didn't know what to do, so I stood awkwardly near the door until she noticed me. She explained that she usually set up and worked in there before her recording time, which was an hour later that day. When she moved to get up and leave me the room, I implored her to stay. I'd already done what I set out to do. Would she be up for a conversation about her experience podcasting?
This is how I met Emmy Sendow. She's been podcasting long enough to refer to it in seasons. Emmy interviews impressive women in finance, focusing on investments and inspiring young women to follow in their footsteps. (Check out GAIN Meets.) She gave me very practical advice, including a recommendation for AI recording and editing software. But more than that, she reminded me that speaking about something that matters to me is worthy of my time, even if no one listens for a while. I have to start somewhere. Her generous spirit and calm demeanor set the bar high for what I want to do in this same room.
My conversation with Emmy was far more meaningful than I expected thirty minutes in a podcast studio to be. I set out to find a room, and I found a mentor instead. That, it turns out, is the reward of starting small. When the goal is just to show up, everything that happens after showing up is a win.
I still don't know exactly where this podcast will go. But I know I will keep booking the room.