062: How to Launch a Professional Podcast on Your First Try (and Get Sweet Revenge): Interview with Jeff Brown [Podcast] http://ift.tt/1f0gggu @jeffgoins #blogging

Your fingers tremble with adrenaline as you grip each hold. Each time your foot slips your heart jumps a little higher. At last you’re on the edge of conquering the peak. But, instead of reaching the summit, the guide tells you, “No, this mountain isn’t for you. Go back down.”

The death of a dream hurts. You invest your heart and energy toward climbing a mountain you thought was yours only to face rejection at the top. What separates you from the rest of the dejected climbers is how you learn from failure and tackle a new mountain.

This week on The Portfolio Life, professional podcaster, Jeff Brown, and I talk about the trajectory of leaving a stable job to pursue entrepreneurship and the hidden lessons he learned from getting fired.

Listen in as we discuss how Jeff’s background in radio prepared him for a new career in podcasting, and why he is singularly responsible for all my success.

Listen to the podcast

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Building a professional podcast starts here

No one wakes up one morning and decides to climb Mount Everest, laces up their sneakers, slings a backpack over one shoulder, and grabs a granola bar on the way out the door expecting to be home in time for dinner.

Reaching the summit of the tallest mountain on Earth is not a feat to be taken lightly. It requires weeks of preparation to buy gear, get a permit, schedule flights, and hire a guide. Not to mention the months or years of practice climbing smaller peaks to build skill and endurance.

Starting a professional podcast is no different. With the exception that you probably won’t die from exposure or gravity while recording an episode.

One reason podcasts fail or fizzle out is because the host neglects these two tenets of excellence: practice and preparedness

During our conversation, I found it interesting when Jeff mentioned he spends more time preparing for a show and practicing the questions than actually interviewing his guest.

“You become what you practice.” —The Art of Work (Tweet)

If you want to launch a podcast that gets noticed and opens new doors of opportunity, your best bet is to prepare for success and put the rest of Jeff’s insight into practice.

Show highlights

In this episode, Jeff Brown and I discuss:

The trajectory of leaving a day job to pursue full-time entrepreneurship
The long tail of revenge
How to adapt to a changing market and thrive
Key attributes to building a professional podcast
Common podcasting mistakes
How to get started and pick a podcast topic
Selecting the right format
Defining your ideal listener
Tricks to expert interviewing techniques
How to monetize a podcast

Quotes and Takeaways

Failure is sometimes a favor in disguise.
“Approach everything you do with excellence.” —Jeff Brown (Tweet)
Don’t be a jack of all trades, but master some.
“Perfection is a moving target that prevents us from launching.” —Jeff Brown (Tweet)
The hidden power of podcasting lies in your audience being able to hear your voice. It garners trust in a way text falls short.
“Filling your head with facts and stories is only part of the equation. You actually have to start putting it into practice.” —Jeff Brown
Avoid awkwardly addressing your audience.

Resources

Read to Lead Podcast

What do you want to start? What project are you working on? If you launched a podcast what would the topic and format be? Share in the comments