The Three Months of Polishing That Are Costing You More Than You Know

I've seen this in podcasting more than I'd like to admit: Someone records a solid first episode. Maybe a few of them. They listen back, cringe a little, and decide to hold off on promoting until it's better.

Three months later.......... they're still holding off.

The gap between the show you have right now and the show you imagine you could have after more preparation is smaller than you think.

And the cost of that gap, measured in listeners you didn't reach and feedback you didn't receive and relationships you didn't start building....... is much larger than you think.

Here's what Brene Brown's research on vulnerability tells us: The fear of being perceived as inadequate is one of the most universal human experiences.

It's totally normal and human to feel that way.

And the thing is, the standard you're holding yourself to is almost certainly higher than the one your audience is using to evaluate you.

They're not asking whether you're the best podcast they've ever heard. They're asking whether you seem real, whether you know what you're talking about, and whether they want to hear more from you.

You can answer all three of those questions with a show that's still finding its feet.

More importantly, the fastest way to close the gap between where your show is now and where you want it to be isn't more private preparation.

It's more public feedback.

Real listeners notice things you can't. And they also tell you what's working in ways that your own ears never will.

Get it out there. The show improves in the audience, not in the studio.

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