Issue 74 | How To Make Side Projects Feel Easier

Welcome, to issue 74 of You Are The Media | Extra. Here for you on LinkedIn.

You Are The Media is here to:

Empower you to promote yourself and your business to grow your own audience, not over-reliance on algorithms and paid media. It happens with a supportive learning community that champions your success. This means you're seen by so many more people.

• We do this via membership to the YATM Club , events and the Thursday newsletter.
• The goal is for you is the capability to create content that establishes your presence without any barriers. By cutting out the middleman, swerving the algorithm, and taking control, you attract people directly to you, and you become the media.

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Starting something new feels challenging, but the longer you’re committed, the less intimidating it becomes.?

Stepping into uncharted territory opens up a world of possibilities.?

Initially, when you write, record, send, or publish, the large, receptive audience you hoped for, probably won’t be there. However, it takes time, perseverance, and courage to push ourselves to try something new.

Whether you’re taking some time off during the summer, ready to start something new in September, this is for you if you’re ready to begin.

Whether it’s committing to writing, starting a newsletter, or launching a podcast, the key is to start and stay committed. How do you want to approach the end to 2024 and into '25? Will you play it safe, or will you take the leap?

Embrace the Learning Journey

Every new project and space you commit to is an opportunity to learn and improve.?

Starting You Are The Media (YATM) was my way to experiment freely. The only way for me to share the results is by experiencing them firsthand.

From events, newsletters, conferences, education, writing, audio, and video, everything began as a new venture I wanted to enhance, without prior experience. This gave me a starting point and a path for improvement.

Many people make the mistake of expecting immediate results without embracing the learning process.

The one thing that has been constant for 11 years has been the weekly newsletter. I am still experimenting. It’s always been the testbed and way that I can learn and express myself and bring others from the YATM community to the front.

Peter Drucker said, “Strategy is a commodity, execution is an art.” It’s not just about having a good idea, but persisting with it and making it resonate with others that truly builds your reputation.

In the beginning, things might feel uncertain, but as you keep pushing forward, you’ll uncover new ideas that can enhance your overall efforts. For instance, in July we struck a balance between a work event and a casual gathering. It’s like playing a game of “pass the parcel”: we started with the core reasons for attending work events, such as networking and learning opportunities, and gradually peeled away layers to create a comfortable and friendly atmosphere where everyone could relax and know they were among friends.

We even broke a World Record. Don’t believe me, watch this (the record is 48!).

Starting a new project or initiative requires understanding an unwritten manual filled with dilemmas, questions, and self-reflection. It’s easier to play it safe, but building something where people feel comfortable engaging with you and each other is far more rewarding. That way, everyone feels connected and new ideas never feel risky.

Practical Tips For Progress From Starting Something New

1. Know You Want To Improve Your Craft:

When you start, it could be because you want to gain recognition in your field or you wish to become proficient in a new skill.. Enjoying the process is crucial, otherwise it becomes an unnecessary bind and you lose enthusiasm. It’s all about putting in the time and effort into something new that can open up so much opportunity. For example, writing a weekly newsletter helps me concentrate and unwind, as it allows me to share my thoughts with a subscribed audience through email.

TIP | Expand Your Horizons with Cross-Discipline Learning

One way to enhance your skills is by drawing inspiration from various disciplines. For example, I often gain valuable insights from the entertainment industry. Perhaps for you, it could be exploring visual storytelling to add depth to your ideas. Diversifying your learning across different fields can provide fresh perspectives that fuel your creativity.

2. Avoid Overcommitting:

Building an audience is a gradual process. Start with small, manageable steps, it could be as simple as a personal welcome when someone subscribers. You don’t need to invest heavily in expensive equipment or extensive marketing before you have an audience. Your content should be continous, it doesn’t need to be everyday, and grow organically.

TIP | Sustainable Growth

Pay attention to the people around you. It could be an email response to what you have shared, you could ask people for feedback, you could find Amazon reviews for books in your industry, the abundance of ideas and progress for what your audience needs is right in front of you. Creating a community around your content will also lead to natural growth. The key is to engage with the people who choose to support you.

3. Accept Help:

When launching a new initiative, it requires taking a leap of faith because you are doing something you haven’t done before. It’s tempting to isolate yourself and figure it all out on your own. However, during the early stages, it is crucial to reach out for help as it is integral to your future success. For example, you may need to ask someone you know well to be a podcast guest or contributor to an article. If others can add value to your work, it’s important to approach them and ask for their help.

TIP | Collaborative Creation

Working with others can bring new perspectives and improve the quality of your work. Consider creating a group with peers who have similar goals. You can meet to discuss progress, share feedback, provide accountability, and offer mutual support. This collaborative environment can be incredibly motivating and insightful. We have this in YATM Club where our Sense Check sessions and Working Together Thursday’s allow us to come closer and know that we feel a part of a larger team.

4. Embrace Feeling Uneasy:

The longer you are committed, the more confident you become. I started to introduce videos into the YATM newsletter in 2019. The short videos were filled with hesitation and felt wooden, but over time, I became more concise and confident. Watching or listening to yourself can be uncomfortable, but it’s a part of growth.

TIP | Growth Through Reflection

Documenting your journey provides you with a clear path of progression. Whether it’s a blog that becomes you library or recording your progress, helps you reflect on how far you have come. Looking at where you started may be cringeworthy, but it also shows the person you are compared to the person you were. Celebrate the small victories, and past mistakes become learning opportunities.

5. Persistence Is Better Than Silence:

It’s perfectly fine to start from scratch. Optimism and perseverance are essential in everything you do. Building a subscriber base or audience takes time. Some people like to boast about the size of their audience without acknowledging the years it took to build it. Although progress can be slow, it’s important to focus on refining your message and ensuring consistency across all touchpoints, including social media profiles and subscription links.

TIP | Strategies to Maintain Momentum

Set small, achievable goals to maintain momentum. For instance, set aside time during the week for creating. You don’t need to make it a burden; it’s about blocking out time and shutting out distractions. For me, Monday morning is my time to write, and the following day is for making edits. Staying consistent and celebrating minor milestones keeps you motivated.”

6. Clarity Over Quantity Has To Be The Focus

It’s more important to deliver a clear, distinct message to a committed audience than to chase numbers. A focused message resonates more deeply than a broad, unfocused one. When your work becomes broad, it means that anyone can replicate or your sharing work that has been done many times before. When you create for an audience who cares, the right people notice.

TIP | Honing Your Message

Spend time defining your core message and values. To help you with your values read this article to grow your audience . What do you want your audience to take away from your content? Today, YATM has come a long way from marketing rhetoric when we first started. Our message now focuses on how people can become self-sufficient in promoting themselves and their businesses, especially when they have a supportive community behind them. Over time, you can customise your message to address what is important to others, especially when they can’t find it elsewhere.

Let’s Round-Up

Would you rather be the person who thought about starting something or the one who took the leap for the rest of the year and never looked back?

Starting something new can be intimidating, but staying stagnant is even scarier. Finding your creative rhythm is like opening a bank account – the more you deposit into it, the more it grows in value over time. This can lead to new business opportunities, an engaged audience, speaking gigs, diverse income streams, greater support, and a sense of fulfillment.

Committing to starting something new gives you a benchmark to reflect on, and as you progress, you can see how far you’ve come. This is an empowering way to realise what you can achieve by not remaining still.

1)?Join in for the?Friday AM swims.?If you live near to YATM HQ in Poole, DM and will add you to the WhatsApp Group. Autumn is here, that's the best time in the sea...trust me!

2) YATM Lunch Club on 7th November is the Ai Special, book here

3) YATM Lunch Club London will be 6th February 2025, book here

4) YATM Creator Day is Thursday 15th May '25, check out the presenters and book here

5) The space where people come together around other talented peers is YATM Club , check it out and join us here (on Circle). Imagine having your own team who are there to cheer you on.

I send the weekly YATM email newsletter every Thursday. There is so much more in the email newsletter. It's a collective effort. You should join us.

Leave your email here . I'll see you on the paper round this Thursday ....Mark