Have you ever wanted to do something but didn't think you had the ability or the courage to do it?
Here's how I started my Business management podcast!
I have! I've been wanting to start a podcast for a while, but it was one of those things on my to-do list that I thought I'd do “someday maybe”. Our business management podcast, The Bookkeeper's Voice, airs every Friday at 7 AM.
As you know, I've been blogging for a few months on this site, but I'm quite a writer, and have blogged on Off The Hook Bookkeeping. And also designing websites for bookkeepers, I write a LOT for bookkeepers AND about bookkeeping.
It's one thing to WRITE and put your thoughts out there for the world to see. But podcasting is a bit different, because it's requires a little more courage AND you really need to be sure about what you want to say.
If you've joined me recently, you might think that I'm an articulate, knowledgable and confident person.
But this hasn't always been the case.
I wasn't always confident speaking about business management
If you've been following me for a few years, you will remember that I've been running webinars since September 2016. Me and webinars… well that was a bit of a love hate relationship because webinars require a lot of preparation. That is, if you're going to teach on a topic, with slides and everything. A LOT of work goes into this.
But also, back when I first started, I was still developing my niche and working out what I really wanted to focus on. AND also back then I didn't really believe in my abilities and I didn't know my strengths and weaknesses.
How can you become more confident and figure out your niche?
You might have heard the questions asked “Are leaders born, or made?” And I think the answer is “yes”. It's both. The good news is that if you don't have a skill that you need, you can learn it. However, just like leadership, getting confident and working out your niche is something that you not only need to work hard at. But you need to also have the DESIRE to. And if you're not naturally talented, you might have to work HARDER.
It's actually taken me three years of VERY hard work to refine my message, my branding and my core set of teachings. It's been a bit like learning an instrument. All these years I've been learning my scales. Practicing and practicing. Writing, re-writing and then presenting on webinars.
Creating and running webinars was actually really stressful and lots and lots of work. And often for very little, if any, reward or return on my investment.
But now, I know my core message and teachings inside out. I've done it all so many times, so I can now just show up and do my thing. It seems easy now. Back then it was so hard.
The other thing is that even though I'm good at writing, I have a major flaw. I am a perfectionist, I edit as i write and I tend to overthink things. What that means is that I get half way through a blog post and I lose momentum. Instead of letting the words flow out I get stuck. Thankfully, with the help of my copywriter, I can now finish my blog posts.
I like writing…I love talking
Earlier this year I discovered something that i always knew but never realised (if you know what i mean). I'm much better at TALKING than WRITING. So now I record a lot of my blog posts by speaking and then transcribe them into written blog posts. And doing this actually gave me the confidence with my speaking.
So for me, starting a business management podcast made sense. Because I love TALKING about business. And I have a real passion for the bookkeeping industry and feel that I have important messages and insights to share with bookkeepers.
For me, part of my journey through being a business owner has been about finding my voice. Hence the name of the podcast; The Bookkeepers' Voice.
The struggle to find our voice
I haven't always been good at talking. I've always talked a LOT. But quantity doesn't equal quantity. And boy, I've had to learn that the hard way! I've had to learn to be quiet, and to listen. But I've also had to learn what to say and what not to say.
If you listen to my first episode “High-school dropout to business leader” I share about how I struggled a lot in my teens. I was expelled from school and I never really had any real friends. I often misinterpreted social situations and as someone with undiagnosed ADHD, I got myself in a LOT of trouble.
And along the way I lost my voice. I came to the conclusion that I was just some idiot. And I didn't believe I had anything worth saying.
Running my own business has given me the opportunities, and opened doors, that, as someone with my background and neurological makeup, I never would have had. I've been written off so many times in the past because I couldn't bring it all together and articulate what I was really trying to say.
So in a way it's ironic that I've ended up being a podcaster, and someone who regularly interviews and trains others.
Finding our voice can be a struggle. But it's one that we need to have.
The go to Business management podcast
My vision is that it will be the go-to business management podcast. And that it will be a medium that I can a) express my own heart for our industry and b) give other bookkeepers a voice. I've designed the podcast to provide practical lessons, inspiring stories, guest speakers, and resources to help you work smarter in the way you do business.
The podcast is about business management. But it's not just strictly business. It's actually about self-management which is so important.
Manage others, manage the business and manage yourself
I've just applied to become a Chartered Manager and Fellow Member with the Institute of Managers and Leaders (IML) because I love their philosophy. This organisation base their work on the Management Competency Framework – 34 core competencies that leaders and managers have.
Thos 34 competencies fit within the framework which is threefold; manage self, manage others and manage the business.
Every guest speaker or topic that will be covered by The Bookkeepers' Voice podcast will sit within these three categories. Which means the interviews won't strictly be about what to DO in business, or what you KNOW, but also about who you ARE. And who you are BECOMING.
I'm excited about this new journey. We have a lot of speakers lined up for 2019.
Tune into The Bookkeepers' Voice podcast
Tune in weekly – 7am AEDT every Friday morning – save the podcast on the Podcast app so you don't miss it. And check out one of the most recent episodes below.
Stay savvy!
Amy
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