Celebrating Small Wins
Acknowledging Progress Beyond Just Download Numbers
Sometimes, podcasting feels lonely and unrewarding. Download numbers aren’t tangible enough to feel like a real payoff. As podcasters, we need to reward ourselves. Celebrating our wins can help us enjoy podcasting more and make better podcasts.
Why celebrate small podcasting wins? Shouldn't a strong work ethic be its own reward?
Easy there, Max Weber. Rewarding yourself is the only form of operant conditioning where the reward is guaranteed to occur. If people are motivated by autonomy, mastery, and purpose, then rewarding yourself reminds you that you are the boss. Most importantly, rewarding yourself for completing a task boosts dopamine, which re-energizes you to tackle more podcasting tasks.
How should podcasters celebrate small wins?
Any way they want to. But seriously, folks…
The science of motivation is a hot topic. Look up “how to reward yourself” and you’ll find lists of hundreds of ideas that cost little to nothing, and won't cause a blood sugar spike. Keep the list of rewards handy. A dopamine menu can help you reward yourself when you’re tired and need a reward the most.
Make sure the reward is equal to the task. For example, tell yourself, “When I finish editing this episode, I’ll listen to a new audiobook for an hour,” not, “I’ll book myself a Mediterranean cruise.”
Every win is a big win if you want it badly enough. Try setting SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-based) goals. Then, reward yourself when you accomplish them.
You can even include your audience in your SMART goal and reward. For example, you can raise money for a charity related to your podcast’s topic and niche. This validates your audience, which can inspire them to share your show. Sharing this victory can be good for social media and blog posts.
Podcasting shouldn't be all work and no play. While download numbers are nice, they don’t show actual engagement, and they’re intangible. If your podcast workflow is unrewarding, you won’t want to continue doing it. One way to commit to your podcast (and yourself) is to reward yourself when you achieve milestones, no matter how challenging or simple. Celebrating your podcast’s success fills up your emotional gas tank and energizes you to achieve more with your podcast.
I do this when I write. If I write for an hour (on my ms.) I reward myself by making a coffee or checking my phone or anything that counts as a small celebration.