Chapter 1: The Creative Struggle

As I sit down to write, I find myself feeling lightheaded and drained. The air is thick with a scent reminiscent of spray paint—peculiar, yet oddly enjoyable. My surroundings are devoid of vibrant murals or spilled colors; instead, they’re filled with soundproof panels that enclose me in this makeshift studio. Today marks a unique milestone: I’ve transformed my bedroom into a podcasting space.

While it’s true that many people launched podcasts during the pandemic, a striking statistic from Chris Williamson of Modern Wisdom caught my attention: “90% of podcasts fail to make it past episode three, and of those that do, 90% won’t reach episode twenty. This means that simply recording 21 episodes places you in the top 1% of podcasters globally.” As I just completed episode 70 of The Dare to Dream Podcast, this motivates me immensely.

However, I can easily understand why many give up. In the early stages, it’s challenging to pour your passion into a project that seems to lack an audience. Initially, people might tune in, praise your work, but inevitably, their interest wanes. This makes perfect sense; building the skills and guest connections necessary for an engaging show takes time, and incremental improvements often go unnoticed by listeners.

A fundamental truth stands out: you cannot achieve greatness if you throw in the towel. Mastery requires time, effort, and an unwavering commitment to persist through the hard times. Seth Godin refers to this challenging phase as “The Dip.”

Visual representation of Seth Godin's concept "The Dip"

Many aspire to excel in their chosen fields, yet most abandon their pursuits before reaching their goals. I’ve never encountered a successful individual who quit their climb. Their achievements were solely due to their determination to persevere.

Should you continue to nurture your aspirations?

For me, the reason I persist in my podcasting journey is the intrinsic joy I derive from recording. Engaging in deep, meaningful conversations with guests is incredibly fulfilling. When was the last time you had an uninterrupted discussion for over an hour? Podcasting embodies my passion for authentic human connections and resonates with my core values of curiosity, authenticity, and vulnerability. This is why I am committed to podcasting for life.

My motivation springs from within, rather than external factors. If you’re contemplating whether to sustain your dreams or abandon them, ask yourself this: Would I pursue this passion without monetary rewards for the rest of my life? If the answer is yes, keep going. If not, it’s likely that the challenges ahead will outweigh your desire to continue.

While I, like many, hope to eventually reap financial rewards from my dreams, it takes more than mere hope to navigate the darker moments of this journey.

Today, I faced a pivotal choice. Living with roommates made it impractical to commandeer the living room for recording, so I opted to convert half of my already compact bedroom into a podcast studio. I bid farewell to my previous sense of balance and welcomed this cramped but functional arrangement.

Welcome to my office, bedroom, and podcast studio!

At this point, you may be thinking that my setup looks less than ideal, and I would agree with you. Yet, despite its shortcomings, this space brings me immense joy because I am actively finding ways to keep going.

These are the "good times"

From now on, I’ll be recording my podcast full-time from my bedroom. While this arrangement isn’t perfect, it’s my current reality. Years from now, I’ll fondly reflect on this phase of my journey. These moments are the cherished "glory days" that many successful individuals reminisce about.

At present, I’m in the thick of it, fueled by hope, youth, and optimism. I will smile nostalgically when I look back at this experience, remembering only the positive aspects. I might forget the overwhelming fumes from the soundproof panels and the times I nearly passed out from inhaling them.

Maybe in the future, I’ll read this and cringe at my naivety. I genuinely hope so, as it would signify that I’ve gained valuable insights along my path.

Did anything I shared make you smile, reflect, or think? If so, consider following me on Medium and signing up for my newsletter, where I share weekly insights on becoming the best version of yourself.

Chapter 2: The Path Forward

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