Day 7 :: The Treasure

PodcastGrowthForTheHolidays

Lovely

Let’s go back to the act of listening.

I know for the most part, you have listened to something that had to do with this play-time that we’ve had together.

▸ There were audio pieces that went along with the emails and FB posts

▸ There was some editing involved with our play, therefore you HAD to listen.

▸ You heard your own resistance possibly about the process - even if it was not verbalized.

▸ There were other people posting their tidbits of audio and you heard them.

That last one = GOLD.

And that’s how I’m going to wrap up the week.

I can’t pinpoint exactly when I heard Cliff Ravenscraft (The Podcast Answerman) first talk about THE TREASURE of your listener(s).

But I can remember that the use of the word treasure really struck me.

For me at least, when I think of the word treasure it connotes a lot and it’s multilayered. I go back to when I was a kid imagining finding hidden treasure, looking through my grandmothers drawers and countless boxes knowing that I was diving into some serious treasure, finding my Love and knowing he would be the father of my children, the daily observations of my girls playing with the most mundane things and transforming them into treasure….I could go on and on.

In all the examples that I mention above, there is a level of ‘diving in’ required, sifting through, uncovering, and most importantly a deep recognition that it IS treasure.

Go back to when you heard one of the pieces of audio from someone else in the group. Note the level of reaction that you had to it, especially the first time.

You had no idea what you’d hear.

You had no real expectations.

You did want to listen.

And then you consumed it…and you said to yourself “that was so cool!”

A connection was made. You got the treasure.

This wonderful way of podcasting is like that. Your audience looks for treasure every time they step into you. They have no real expectation. They are listening by choice. They are listening because they already love you and they’ve invested in you because you are YOU. That is it.

Now let’s turn this around a bit, to the receiving end of things.

What was it like to be heard, after sharing your audio or making your audio (even if no one heard it?)

This type of creative work with audio, this voice work (if you will,) this collaborative experience of listening and sharing has been a dream of mine for YEARS. I’ve been imagining this type of gathering for a looooong time, in a multitude of ways. I am deeply passionate about it.

I know first hand what it means to finally SPEAK IT OUT and SAY IT and the incredible power that has…

BUT all this time it was in my head, in my notebooks, in my own personal creative time, staying only here, with me.

When I decided to do this intimate little workshop it was my way of taking a baby-step, to see if this sort of work had wings in this type of iteration.

Here’s the treasure that I uncovered:

❀ Taking action TRUMPS EVERYTHING.

❀ The power of Voice and sound are exactly as powerful - even more than I imagined.

❀ YOU are treasure

When I heard the first piece of audio come in, I cried. I cried because of the alchemy of the exchange. The embodiment of a dream. Of the treasure of THE ONE.

I know that there are more than ONE of you, that’s not the point, the point is that it took ONE to reflect back to me the treasure that was already there.

That is your audience.

The ONE listener. The ONE treasure that you already have. Dig deep into those that are ALREADY listening.

You’ve stepped into this digital creative collage, so you are already are one that resonates with seeing things from a slightly different angle, so choose to shift the way you see your download numbers differently. Let go of the numbers and concentrate on the ONE listener. One is enough. One is enough to nourish, cultivate and grow your work.

The One turns into the Many - remind me, someday to dive deeper into that :)

So we finish today with this: 1. YOU are an absolutely essential part of your work - remove that - and it becomes meaningless. 2. There is an alchemy that happens in the exchange of your voice that you cannot get in any other medium 3. Change the paradigm of seeing download numbers to the treasure of your listener. NO (s). One.

And sooooooo now I address some logistics!

1. The FB Group will stay open till at least the end of the year. I will be involved as much as I can be in there, so please feel free to post your work if you haven’t already!!!
2. I will get the 6pm audio piece to you very soon - I’m waiting for more of your pieces to come in! I’ve got about 1/3 of your sounds. I want at least a couple of more. I promise you won’t miss it
3. Podcasting Growth For The Holidays is a contribute what you can model. I’ve set up a page for you to choose the value. My suggestion is $37, but it’s absolutely up to you, no guilt or pressure.

BONUS: I’m sharing the first (chapter?) of an eBook that I have called Replenish Your Podcast With RE-Connection. It is less creative and more tactical. It is 5 days worth of actions you can take to grow your podcast. The first chapter is about connecting with other podcasters. You’ll get the download when you buy the course.

Here is the link: https://gumroad.com/l/eSVm

I am so deeply honored and humbled of your courage and the fact that you took action with me. I am incredibly grateful. Thank you for your participation. Thank you for your openness and your willingness to play.

All my love,

Elsie

PS

I’ll be waiting for your 6pm pieces!!!! Send them in!!!! AND just because this week has come to an end doesn’t mean that you stop posting your audio in the group or sharing it with me!!!! Choose to share your voice!