Instead of saying “I’m starting a podcast,” try saying “I’m doing a four-episode series.” This simple reframe changes the psychological stakes of content creation.
Just as TV networks order a pilot or a short season before committing to a long-running show, you can test your concept with a limited run. This approach gives you a start, middle, and end, creating natural momentum. If the series doesn’t have legs, hey guess what! You’ve simply completed a project and created a valuable business asset.
In this micro-episode:
- The benefits of the “Pilot Reframe” for overcoming procrastination
- Why a limited series is a valid product, not a lesser version of a podcast
- How to use a short run to build the habit for a long-term show
Resources: Find more episodes and subscribe at stereoforest.com/minute.
Transcript
WEBVTT
::I'm doing a four episode series about dog training. Now that's oftentimes a lot better of a start than I'm
starting a podcast on dog training. You do four episodes on that topic. You have a start and a middle and an
end for your series that's already planned and all ready to go before you record. Now if that four episode
series works, you keep on going. And if it doesn't,
::you learn something and nobody's going to wonder where episode five went. Now this series isn't a lesser
version of a podcast right like this series is the actual product. You're just giving yourself permission
to discover whether you want to go further. And this is how many productions work as well especially if
whoever is say making the tv show is unproven. A network will order a
::or they might maybe order a full first season before they commit to the show. And you're allowed to do this
same thing with your podcast. So start by thinking of an angle and then commit to making a set number of
episodes, say three or four. You can pick if it's audio or video or both. You can pick whatever length and
format best fits your topic and angle and business and see how that works for you before.
::you commit to starting that podcast. And on that note, the pilot reframe solves a few problems at once.
First of all, it removes that pressure that oftentimes stops people from starting the new project in the
first place. It helps create that natural momentum because it's helping you build towards a goal that's
very contained. It's also going to give you permission to stop if the idea just doesn't
::have legs without feeling like you failed. You still have that business asset for your website. You can
still embed the audio or video or a limited series or a season. And your new pilot series is often going to
turn into that podcast anyways. You might not stop because after you make those four episodes, you prove to
yourself that you can. The habit will start to form and the ideas might still keep coming. So episode five,
::you do for feels like something that's possible instead of some kind of obligation or massive task. But you
got there. You got there by committing to this achievable goal instead of like a really nebulous thing that
doesn't have an end point ever to wrap your noggin around. I'm Jen DeHaan and this is the Credibility
Minute. You can find more episodes or get in touch with me at stereoforest.com slash minute.