WHAT’S THIS EPISODE ABOUT?
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What is Your Path to Podcast Success?
Before we dive into everything about podcast success today, I first wanted to give you my definition of success so that we’re on the same page.
Success: Being so freaking excited about what I do – day in and day out – and being able to talk about podcasting.
Not that we’re seeing eye to eye on success, I wanted to take you back to the very beginning of my story. Back to 2009, when I was a baby-adult-college-grad, and brand-new mom.
Let’s Jump in the Hot Tub Time Machine to 2009…
It was awful to graduate from college right in the middle of a recession. At a time when my professors were saying, “Thank God I have tenure and can’t get fired from my job. Good luck finding one out there!” Real encouraging, right?
And on top of that, I had my first son that May. I literally had my baby on May 1st and walked across the stage to get my diploma on May 15th. So you can definitely say that things were changing very quickly. And I was having to grow up.
“…we think that we have this plan for our life and then all of a sudden, it takes a different turn…and I feel so blessed and so just filled with gratitude that everything has turned out the way that it has because there’s a lot of twists and turns to this story…”
After graduation, we moved to my hometown to live with my parents for a while. I found a sales job in the one industry I swore up and down I’d never work in – the medical field. And I was terrible at my job.
Plus, being a new mom meant a whole host of other things to deal with. Pumping in the car, nursing pads, and not being with my brand new baby as much as I wanted. And that was the hardest part of the job.
April 2009
Fast Forward to 2010…
We eventually moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area for a bigger and brighter future for our little family. And I was trying to decide if going back to college was the answer to my problems. “I could totally go back to school” was my mentality when I’d given up on finding a job.
Turns out, I really had no desire for another degree. Or to do any more studying.
Moving on to Corporate…
In 2011, I was hired for a temp position that I wasn’t sure would turn into anything serious. I knew I needed a job and I found one that paid decent money for what seemed like an okay job working for a general contractor. Low behold, that temp position turned into an accounting clerk position and eventually a project accountant over the next 3.5 years.
“…things were turning around things were looking up. I thought this is it. This is the corporate job that I’ve been waiting for. I’m going to be in this position until I retire when I’m 65 or however old I could retire…”
Then we moved, again.
This time for my husband’s job. And as nice as my company was to offer me a work-from-home-position in our new town, I knew it was time to go down a different path.
Let’s Move to the Country…
In 2014, I was officially a stay-at-home-mom who had no clue what my next move should be. I felt lost. I felt like I needed to be the best SAHM there ever was. And everyone’s Pinterest-Perfection surrounding me wasn’t helping.
“…I only really identified as a working mom…I had my job and I had my children, my family, right? So all of a sudden, here I am, and I’m just like, okay, now I’m just a mom? Is that who I am? Is that what I want to be…”
I knew I needed to find out what I wanted to do with my life. So, I started exploring my options. I became obsessed with cooking and working out. I tried my hand at arts and crafts with the kids, which I’m not good at. And I eventually stumbled into the world of writing and journaling.
I also found other stay at home moms online who were doing this thing called blogging and making money doing.
“Someone’s paying them to write every week? Sign me up!”
This is what sparked my interest in learning how to make money online.
Path to [Podcast] Success
It’ll only take 2-minutes to find yours…
Here’s a Quick Message from Amy…
A Message from Amy
Blogging to Publishing My First Book
Writing and journaling eventually led to me starting a blog that I like to say I failed miserably at. But don’t feel bad for me. If I hadn’t failed at that blog, you wouldn’t be listening to this podcast or reading this here today.
The blog eventually fell to the bottom of the priority list when my third son was born, so there it sat. Collecting metaphorical dust on the internet.
After I groove my new in having 3 kids, I decided to go back to writing. But the blog wasn’t fun anymore.
“I know. I can turn these 50+ blog posts in a book!”
And the idea to publish Rookie Devotionals was born.
2018, The Year of the Podcast
We moved yet again in 2017 and 2018. (I know, 4 times in 5 years is a lot of moving!)
But something really important happened in 2018. That was the year that I started my first podcast.
I’d been watching a blogger who’d had lots of success since my early SAHM days. She was making a solid 7-figure business and was very inspirational for someone wanting to learn how to make money online.
It was her that inspired me to create a podcast because she started one of her own. And that was my first step towards really achieving podcast success.
2017, Speaking at First Women’s Conference
2019…I Went All-In!
I don’t know if you know this about me, but I don’t half-ass anything. Pardon my language, but it was the best way that I could make sure you understand my passion.
When I decided to start podcasting, I was committed. I went all-in. And in 2019, I was challenged by friend and mentor, Amy Porterfield, to go all-in as the go-to podcast expert for female entrepreneurs.
Yes, I still serve guys.
Yes, I still speak to some folks who are just podcasting for a hobby.
But I put my stake in the ground as the go-to podcast success coach in 2019.
And here we are today.
Me, teaching podcasting across multiple platforms, courses, memberships, guest interviews, and even a book that comes out on 10/20/2020!
“So all of that to say 11 years later, here we are today. Here we are today. So…what is your path to success? What does that actually look like?…it’s not a quick and dirty…version…[or] do this and microwave your success and then it will happen…This has been a very long personal process if I’m being really honest with you…”
2016
2020
At the end of the day, my journey isn’t over.
On the contrary, I’m just getting started! But I share all of these pieces of my 10 years+ journey to show you that nothing happens overnight.
And there’s a good chance that you’re in the middle of something right now that will lead to you success in a few years.
But the key is to keep moving forward. Keep reaching towards your goals and dreams (personal and professional) and podcast success is totally achievable.
You just have to be aiming in the right direction.
RECAP: What Does Podcast Success Look Like to You?
- My Podcast Success Story…
- Amy’s Resource
Links Mentioned in This Episode:
- Learn More About Amy Porterfield Here
- Amy’s Quiz: What’s Your Personal Path to Creating a Profitable Digital Course?
- The Poddy Report
- 500+ Podcast Ideas for Any Industry
- Proffitt Podcast Online Community Facebook Group
- TheBestPodcastBook.com
- Facebook Group for Podcast Book Launch Team
- The Ultimate Podcast Checklist
- Proffitt Podcasting Course
- Podcast YouTube Channel
- 5-Day Podcast Bootcamp
[…] the podcast episode “What Does Podcast Success Look Like to You?”, I told you all about my journey. Going all the way back to 2009!) We don’t need to go that […]