The One About Doing Hard Things! 💪

I need to preface this newsletter with two facts about myself. Number 1: I’m an introvert. Well, actually, according to my Myers-Briggs personality type, I’m a “naturally social introvert”.

(Actually, here’s a third thing about me: I love the Myers-Briggs personality types. I can wax lyrical about it for literal hours. Never done yours? Take the test here. And then feel free to share your results with me! I’m an ISFJ.)

(I guess that’s 4 things?)

And Number 2 4: I’m not a fan of conflict.

What’s the point in telling you all this?

Well, it’s because I often saw this specific combination of quirks and character traits as a weakness. And because of this perceived weakness, there would just always be things I could not do.

Like negotiations.

I’d made up my mind that negotiations were beyond my capabilities. Negotiations were not for me, and that was fine by me. Kinda.

But that was before I really understood the complexity of negotiations. And the wide spectrum of skills that work together to produce successful negotiations. And a good number of those skills actually play to my strengths.

Who knew, right?

So if you’re a podcaster who has mentally slapped a “Hell no!” sticker across any sort of podcasting aspects where negotiations may be necessary (ahem, podcast sponsorship or other such type of podcast monetization strategies…🫣) I want to help you peel back that sticker and discover that you do, in fact, have what it takes to do hard things…like negotiating with podcast sponsors!

I get into the specifics of how to go about negotiating a deal with podcast sponsors here. But what I want to share with you right now are three surprising, core skills that can help secure favorable outcomes when it comes to negotiations.

1. Listening

Wait, how is listening a skill for successful negotiations? Shouldn’t it be like, active talking? Sure, the gift of the gab can help you win over sponsors, but listening is just as vital. Through active listening, you can figure out what it is the other person really wants out of this negotiation. You can then use this insight to land the deal.

Being able to really listen will also highlight pretty quickly if there’s any type of miscommunication taking place. Miscommunication is a massive culprit in failed negotiations. So your more “introverted” skill of simply being able to really listen can really come in handy as far as negotiations are concerned.

2. Flexibility

🚨Newsflash!🚨 Flexibility is key in negotiations. It turns out that “successful negotiating” doesn’t mean sticking to your guns no matter what. (A relief to all my conflict-averse buddies!) By being open to alternative arrangements or adjustments that align with your podcast's goals and the sponsor's objectives, you can create a positive and cooperative negotiating atmosphere. And this then leads to successful negotiations.

3. Collaboration over Conflict

I am relational by nature. And I tend to value relationships over outcomes. But, another newsflash, this is not at odds with successful negotiating either. Because if you can reframe negotiations as a collaboration, rather than a conflict, again, you can play to your strengths. When approached collaboratively, negotiations become an opportunity for creative problem-solving and mutual benefit rather than a battlefield of opposing interests, where someone has to “lose”.

Mind-blowing, right? My hope is that with some simple reframing, and a deeper understanding of what successful negotiations really entail, you, too, will realize that you can confidently do those things that used to scare you!

Feeling more confident to take on negotiating with a podcast sponsor? Then check out some of our best tips on the topic 👇.

- Jennay

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Links Worth A Look...

• Welcome to the future! Spotify is going to clone podcasters’ voices — and translate them to other languages. 😲
• So long, Google Podcasts! 👋 Google Podcasts to shut down in 2024 with listeners migrated to YouTube Music.
• Fraud? In the podcasting industry?!🫢 Ashley Carman dives into here.
• Mark your calendars! 🚨Carli's podcast, Business Beyond the Mic launches Sunday, October 1st! Hit "Subscribe" (wherever you get your podcasts😉) and check out the trailer here!

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Founder's Corner

As we stride down the path of "doing hard things", one common thread that pops up is that pesky little thing called, fear.

Whether you're just launching your podcast, stepping into a new career, or perhaps a soon-to-be mom, we are bombarded by fears (big or small) around every corner.

Now sure, there are TONS of resources out there to help you conquer those areas of uncertainty and advice everywhere about how to "overcome" your fears.

But what if I told you that this isn't the only path to success? That, in fact, you don't need to overcome your fears in order to take that leap of faith.

Take me for example... I have the biggest fear of heights. 👀👀👀

I black out from the fear when I'm wall climbing, I don't look down when the floor is made of glass, and I certainly will not be bungee jumping off a bridge any time soon.

After many years on this planet Earth, I've realized this is not a fear I am ever going to "overcome".

Now, just because I have this "limitation", if you will, does not mean that I let it hold me back from chasing incredible experiences. I've still done some amazing things, at great heights!

I've been on top of the Empire State Building, zip-lined through a jungle in Mexico, walked to the edge of a bridge and stood next to my sister as she bungee jumped off, strolled around on top of Table Mountain, had dinner in a revolving restaurant at the top of a tower, climbed all the stairs of the Arc de Triomphe, peaked over the edge of the Eiffel Tower...

The list goes on!

The thing is... I did all those things on my terms, and very strategically! Instead of looking at fear as something that should stop me in my tracks, I chose to pivot and start to see it as something that should:

► wake me up and move me into action.

It's easy to pretend that fear isn't influencing you and that there are other reasons why you haven't met your goals yet. But... it's better to look your fears in the face, try to understand them, and then build a plan to live alongside them for however long they remain.

So what does this all mean?

Let’s dive a little deeper into these three key steps:

1. Acknowledge and Listen to Your Fear

When you decide to move through fear strategically rather than trying to completely overcome it, the first step involves acknowledging and accepting the fear in order to find ways to navigate and manage it effectively.

Instead of getting stuck reaching for that unattainable state of “fearlessness”, we need to embrace fear, face it head-on, and listen to what it’s trying to tell us. Your fear can sometimes act as a warning system, so be sure to check in with yourself.

► Is there something you are missing?
​► Is there something you should be guarding?
​► Is there a real threat to your being?

Recognizing and acknowledging the specific fear you are experiencing will help you understand what triggers it and how it manifests in your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

2. Educate Yourself to Understand Your Fear.

Next, you need to start learning more about your fear. Understanding the root causes and potential solutions can help demystify the fear and make it more manageable. Identifying exactly what your fear is can give you clear direction on how to move through it. 🚀🚀🚀

On the other hand, you also need to understand what the consequences are of not acting on your fears.

► What opportunities will you miss out on if you give way to fear?
​► How will it hold you back from success if you don’t see it through?

In the end, moving through fear takes time and effort. So stay committed to the process, even when it feels challenging or uncomfortable.

3. Create an Action Plan to Strategically Move Through Your Fear.

Now that you’ve faced your fears and you’ve educated yourself to understand them better, it’s time to use all the information that you’ve gathered to create an action plan that helps you to lean into the fear and move through it towards your goals.

► First, you need to identify the boundaries of your fear. How far can you go before your fear immobilizes you?
​► Next, create a plan to work within those boundaries, working with incremental steps that help you get to your goals.
​► And finally, celebrate every breakthrough! As you persist and gain experience, some fears will eventually fall away so your boundaries can expand.

Be kind to yourself throughout the process. Understand that everyone experiences fear, and it’s okay to struggle.

Whether you're dreading that first interview, learning to be a more skilled podcast host, or nervous about reaching out to your dream guest, the best mindset to have is to treat yourself with the same compassion you would offer a friend.

Keep in mind, that moving through fear is a personal journey, and there’s no right or wrong way to approach it. Take your time, be patient with yourself, and focus on progress, rather👏🏼than👏🏼perfection.

Until next week...

Happy podcasting! 🎧

The Team at We Edit Podcasts

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Is it your first time here? Then, welcome! Allow me to officially introduce you to We Edit Podcasts.

We are a full-scale podcast production agency, on a mission to provide everything you need to simplify your podcasting process, reduce overheads, and publish quickly with a strong team behind you!

Our team has been serving podcasters since 2015, so by now we know a thing or two about what it takes to create a successful show!

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So, how can we help YOU and your podcast? 👇

► Looking to LAUNCH a podcast? Check out our free podcasting courses!

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