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It’s hard to believe that One-A-Day vitamins are older than me. Miles Labs introduced them in 1940, making them 73 years old.

I’ve been a customer and I know the value of taking daily vitamins.

But vitamins and podcast content aren’t the same thing. Podcasts are so much more valuable. 😉

I am not being critical of anybody who releases an episode a day, or multiple episodes a week. While I’ve never done a daily podcast, I have been known to release up to 3 in a single week.

I have no idea how people do a daily podcast. The sheer grind of that would depress me to no end.

I have no idea how people consume daily podcasts either. I’ve tried to keep up with a few, but in short order I’ve declared podcast-listener-bankruptcy and given up. I don’t subscribe to any daily podcasts.

Sometimes I’m asked by people who want to start a podcast, “How often should I post a new episode?”

I usually tell them, “As often as you want. Just try to be consistent.”

People get hung up on making sure everything they do is perfect or highly valuable. The other day I heard a guy say the path to success is to “be awesome.” Well, there you go. Be awesome!

Easier said than done. Truth is, I don’t know anybody who is always awesome. And I don’t believe that everything you create must be awesome!

I’d like to challenge you to consider something about content. All kinds of content. Audio. Video. Blog posts. Books. Magazine articles. Anything.

How often do you experience content that is profound?

Permit me to define profound very simply. Let’s assume that profound is something that you remember a month later. A podcast you remember a month after you heard it. A video you remember a month after you watched it. A book you read and remember a month later. A magazine article you read and remember a month later.

My guess is, there aren’t many pieces of content that you remember a month later. Most of the stuff we consume is consumed and forgotten. And when you think about it, that’s how it has to be…otherwise, our heads would explode.

Profound really deserves a better definition though. How ’bout we ramp it up and say that something is profound if it changes our life?

Do you consume content that changes your life on a regular basis? 

Spiritual alert.

I do, but it’s only one book. The Bible.

Nothing else I consume regularly has a profound impact on my life. Nothing.

Does that mean it’s not worth consuming? No. It just means profound (life changing) is a very high standard to meet.

As content creators, I don’t mean that we shouldn’t aim for profound. I just mean we shouldn’t avoid creating content unless it’s profound because profound is really difficult to achieve.

Contradiction alert.

The more you produce the more likely you can create something profound. I believe that (mostly). That’s not always true, but I believe it’s mostly true.

In 1972 a guy named Willis Alan Ramsey released a critically acclaimed record. I wore out two copies of this record when it was vinyl.

It was a one and done deal. To my knowledge he didn’t produce anything before that record, or after. Come on, we all know how rare that is! It’s crazy.

Ramsey was (is) an exceptional talent. Or, maybe when your first content is so spectacularly well received you just call it a day. Maybe if you hit a home run at your first “at bat” you earn enough money to ride it out.

I don’t know if that’s true for Ramsey or not. I love this record and still listen to it regularly.  I saw Willis live in concert a lot while I was in college so I’m an avid fan. Bewildered perhaps, but still a fan.

Willis Alan Ramsey is not typical.

For every hit song most artists likely have written countless others that weren’t even worthy of being recorded. It’s just how the odds work.

Profound is extraordinary. Everything else is…well, ordinary.

Can you produce profound content without producing the ordinary content? Not likely.

For one thing, you won’t likely be able to predict or even recognize profound. How many times have we read or heard interviews with musicians who vowed they thought a song would be a hit, only to realize that another song – one they thought would never make it – turned out to be “the one.” Predicting hits is as difficult as predicting what content will be profound.

Bloggers and podcast producers often comment how something they produced that they thought was awful turned out to be among their most popular stuff. You just never know what will resonate or catch fire.

For another thing, there’s the proficiency issue. People can argue all they want about perfect practice making perfect, but there’s real truth to practice making perfect. Unless you’re a moron, you’ll figure out how to improve your practice. You’ll ask others who know more than you. You’ll observe what others are doing. You’ll stick with it and work at it. And over time, you’ll improve.

Will you be able to produce something profound?

Maybe not. There are so many other elements involved. Like talent. Uniqueness. Opportunity. Luck.

Here’s what I believe – the more you stick with it and the more you produce the more likely you are to figure out how to produce something profound. Yes, I think quantity matters.

Whatever you do, do it a lot. Do it as often as you can.

Will it be too much?

Maybe. Maybe you’ll find that you’re producing more content than you can sustain. Fine. Step back and figure out a pace that you can sustain. Be consistent.

Maybe you’ll find that you’re wearing people out with more content than they can stomach. Fine. Step back and stop blitzing people. Slow it down in hopes you can become more attractive.

That might mean you still write, video, shoot photos or record audio as much as you’d like…you just don’t put it all out there for public consumption.

But what if the one you don’t release is the one that might be your hit?

What if Willis Alan Ramsey hadn’t released his 1972 record? It would be the world’s (and his) loss. That’s what.

Besides, how many songs have you listened to that you quickly forgot? See, we all have amnesia when it comes to most content – good or bad. So I say, produce all the content you want. Stick with it. Grow, get better and don’t be afraid of producing too much. Or not enough.

Quit worrying about everything you do being profound or remarkable.

Even a blind pig can find a truffle every now and then.

Surely you’re smarter than a blind pig.

Me? I’m working on it. Being smarter than a blind pig that is.

 

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:47 — 24.0MB)

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Those of us with the “heart of a teacher” have an innate urge to explain so we can foster understanding. Or greater understanding. Especially when we’re asked a question.

The other day I was talking with a gentleman and attempting to answer his question. It was a question I had been asked before so I didn’t hesitate to provide a thorough, albeit succinct answer. The answer is tried and true. Honest, forthright, to the point, but very authentic.

But first, a bit of background about this conversation.

We’re a time zone apart and at least a dozen states separate us.

We had been missing each other all day…by now we had each engaged in a short voicemail dance. He wanted to talk with me. We had exchanged emails prior to the voicemail exchanges. This wasn’t a call he was avoiding. He sought out this conversation.

So “tag,” I was it. I called him back. This time, he picked up right away. I did what I always do (a professional habit developed when I was young), I asked the question, “Is this a good time to talk?”

“Yes, it’s an ideal time,” he responded.

“Great, I know you’ve got questions so I’ll answer anything I can,” I said.

Within seconds the question was posed and I began to answer. Comprehensive, but only about 3-minutes long. Maybe 2.

“I hope that helps clarify this project for you. Do you have any other questions?” I asked.

“I think that’s the longest answer I’ve ever heard to a single question,” he said.

Offended, but not showing it, I sincerely replied, “I apologize.”

Then…I shut up.

He didn’t do what most people would do in that situation…say something like, “Oh, that’s quite alright, I appreciate the details.” No, this man insulted me, then went right on with another question.

Even my dogs learn pretty quick when I scold them. Last time I checked, I’m smarter than my dogs. My wife doesn’t always think so, but I think she’s wrong.

Hesitant to even answer any more questions, I kept my answers as short as possible. I was careful to avoid coming across like a jerk (like him). I concentrated on NOT giving as I had received. It just usually never works. Whoever said “fight fire with fire” never successfully put out a fire. Besides, turn the other cheek is sound advice.

My mind said, “Say no more!” I obeyed. Sorta. Short, concise answers with extremely limited details. They seemed good enough for him. Not a naturally inquisitive fella, I supposed.

“Fine,” I thought. No problem. I’m not trying to be his buddy. I’m just trying to explain a project that has big benefits to him and no cost whatsoever, aside from a bit of his time. It’s a non-business project for me, but it has some serious business benefits for him.

For the rest of the call I purposefully toned down the energy in my voice to mirror his lack of personality. Hopeful that if I sounded more like him in tone and pace, he might warm up.

Nope.

I carefully measured my words, tone, pace and length of my talking. The call ended well enough, but I thought of the countless thousands of interactions I’ve had in my life – with people from all over the world. And I considered (thankfully) how infrequently this has ever happened to me. I’m pretty accomplished at breaking the ice with people. Mr. Iceburg won this round.

After more than 15 minutes on the phone it was very clear to me – he’s just not a friendly man. Silently I wondered about this man’s family and friends. Surely they see somebody very different than the man I saw (heard). But I don’t know.

My conclusion, which admittedly may be incorrect, was that he’s a self-centered, impatient man mostly interested in his own gain.

Which is perfectly fine with me, given the nature of my interaction with him (or any future ones I may have). It’ll take a lot more than his crassness to put me off. I’ve got more tenacity in my left (non-dominate) hand than he’s got in his whole body!

It’s just likely his nature. I’m too experienced to take it personally even though I did take the challenge very seriously. The challenge to crack his communication code.

We’ve got another call scheduled soon. We’ll see how that one goes, but I’ve learned my lesson. I’m going to shut my mouth and let him lead the way. I’m going to do everything I can to see if I can’t find a way to get him to warm up. Challenges like this invigorate me. It’s a study of psychology and communication.

I’m determined to win the next round. I’ll let you know how I fare!

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If you have a chance, please leave me an honest rating and review on iTunes by clicking Review on iTunes. It’ll help the show rank better in iTunes.

Thank you!