Starting The FORT Podcast has been one of the highlights of my year. It has connected me with a lot of great people, both podcast guests and listeners. I said from the beginning, if no one listens, at least I will have archived content for my kids to listen to one day—to show them what their dad was like “way back when”. I have always felt like I have a lot of great business conversations that I wish others had the chance to be a part of, and now podcasting has made that possible.
Here are some key takeaways from my first 30 conversations:
1. The perfect time to start anything you want to do is NOW. In essence, there is no perfect time, because it’s always the perfect time.
2. When you love something and are passionate about it, doors will open. Several episodes are with people doing things for the first time. That doesn’t slow any of them down. In fact, it accelerates their desire to learn quickly.
3. The goal isn’t to be perfect; the goal is to learn quickly—because failures are guaranteed along the way. In most conversations, some of the biggest ‘breakthrough’ moments were after a failure, not after a success.
4. The tax rate, the stock market, and politics play ZERO influence on whether someone starts a business. While these are talked about highly in the media, I’ve found they have no influence on an entrepreneur’s desire to create something.
5. Small businesses aren’t all the same, but they do rhyme. We ALL deal with the same issues in some form or fashion. Don’t be scared to admit something to someone—you’ll be surprised to learn that they have probably experienced it or are experiencing it themselves.
6. Surround yourself with the right people. In every episode, there is an outpouring of gratitude from founders who have moved forward because of the advice, encouragement, sympathy, and kindness of those they surrounded themselves with. Don’t be scared to ask for advice or direction. It can help propel you forward faster than you can imagine.
Hosting a podcast has helped me understand how much larger the world is than we tend to think. I have learned more about not assuming everything I believe to be true and that asking the right questions can unlock a whole new world. Literally one great question might change your life—it can help you overcome any bias you might have had that was holding you back. Morgan Housel has a great quote, “Your personal experiences make up maybe 0.00000001% of what’s happened in the world but maybe 80% of how you think the world works.” Hosting The FORT has made that quote ever more true in my journey.
The FORT has also reminded me that success comes in all shapes and forms AND that we all have shit to overcome. There is no “perfect” destination—the journey is the destination.
-CJPJ