"How have you helped others?"

That question was posed to a friend at the pinnacle of his career. He shared this with me over a recent slice of pizza. He had climbed the mountain to find out he hadn't helped others get up with him.

Or maybe he climbed the wrong mountain (status, fame, power).

Everyone (worthwhile) was on a different mountain.

"People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall." – Thomas Merton (Trappist Monk and Writer).

I'm young. I have yet to do much climbing. But I'm grateful to have people who help me see this now. I realize the power of intention with where I put my energy and focus. 

What ladder are you climbing? And is it helping others? 

I believe we were put here to be love for each other through acts of kindness, money, or time.

Every morning, I pray to God for him to use me as a vessel for love. I also ask him to help me determine which ladder(s) is worth climbing.

What ladder are you climbing?

Enjoy this week's letter:

Marketing Micro Essay 💡 Why most podcast plays fail

(Time to read: 1:33 minutes)

Think about the last conversation you enjoyed.

What was it about the convo that you enjoyed? The interplay between your ideas and the others? The way you felt seen by the other person’s questions?

Did your conversation have a script? Did it even have a bulleted outline?

No. It was a genuine conversation with the implicit goal of helping each other progress.

Most (business) podcasts fail by thinking their goal is to help the audience make progress when, in actuality, it’s to drive business results.

This results in content about the business (e.g., services/products) and fails to meet the audience in the middle. There is no interplay between the ideas in your head and the ones shared. It’s all about what the host wants to share and driving business outcomes.

But why do a podcast if it won’t drive me leads? Ironically, when you create a show (podcast) that speaks to things your audience cares about, it does drive leads. But not in the short term.

And that’s the first mistake many make with podcasting. They think it will drive business outcomes instantly.

Podcasting is a long game

Rarely will a podcast help you drive leads within the quarter. Content, in general, is a long game. If you need quick results, invest in paid or sales.

The difference between paid or sales that a podcast provides is threefold: accessibility, expertise, and resonance.

Accessibility from a podcast comes in the way you can repurpose the content. You can release the hour-long interview, share 60-90-second segments, and write an article from it. This makes your ideas, concepts, and theories available to those who read, listen, and watch.

The second difference is the ability to build expertise. Paid ads and sales stink at building credibility in your buyer’s mind. If anything, they have the reverse effect unless you educate with your ads (which few are doing). A podcast provides the platform to show your knowledge and put your expertise on display.

Finally, a podcast creates resonance with your audience. How close does your audience feel to you when they see your billboard? What about a 45-minute intimate conversation? Brand affinity is built by podcasting (long-form content), making you feel closer to the person/brand.

Even when you realize it’s a long game, you can still fail with podcasting if you ignore this critical piece…

Click here to read the work-in-progress essay

----

P.S. I share the links so you can comment and share your thoughts (assent or contrarian). Someone commented on an essay of mine recently, and that helped improve my thinking. (please help me)

✏️ Post of the Week

I’m big on gratitude. I believe it has the potential us to help us live better.

Which is why I shared a gratitude post on Thanksgiving. It was thanking the countless individuals who have taken a bet on me.

Without you, I would not be who I am today. Thank you.

Click here (or image below) to read the post

Three Books – Three Quotes

"When it comes to writing on the web, shorter sentences and paragraphs are much easier to read.”

– Maddy Osman (Writing for Humans and Robots: The New Rules of Content Style)

"Two important questions to ask yourself: (1) Who has the right answer, but I ignore it because they’re inarticulate, and (2) What do I believe is true but is actually just good marketing?”

– Morgan Housel (Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes)

“Try to unlearn the linear need to judge change by one-dimensional standards of progress…Finally, unlearn the linear view that positive change always comes willingly, incrementally, and by human design.”

– William Strauss & Neil Howe (The Fourth Turning)

Heard – Saw – Experienced

Heard:

People hate him. I'm indifferent about him (tho I lean toward not making him an anti-hero).

People claim he's a moron. But one thing people can't deny: Elon Musk has built successful (innovative) businesses and is also a bit crazy.

Anyone like that, I want to learn about (and from). And his biography by Walter Isaacson was revealing (I'm on chapter 3).

I'm a big book-in-the-hand kind of guy—nothing like it. But when I saw Spotify released audiobooks (FOR FREE) on their app, I've been binging.

Here are a few insights I've derived:

– Trauma from childhood never leaves us

– People can be extreme contradictions

– Story (and manipulation of it) are central to conflict

Note: I realize this man may completely polarize some. I'm sorry if (even) learning from him is a sin. Please forgive me.

Saw:

German food + Appleton Christmas Parade + OB's Brau Haus

My wife and I were invited out to dinner this past Tuesday. Our dear friends Josh and Tana had window reservations and asked us to join them.

It was a heartwarming night of conversation, connection, and celebration.

It was the first time my wife and I ever had German food or ate at OB's Brau Haus. I love that about us–we lean into adventure rather than toward comfort.

I'm also grateful to Josh and Tana for the invite and friendship.

Experienced:

TURKEY DAY 🦃

While I'm not a fan of the weather, I love the ethos of Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday.

While Christ's birthday (Christmas) and Resurrection Day (Easter) hold extreme weight, I find much joy in the spirit of gratitude.

This week, I started to build my family tree, which gave me perspective to be thankful for. My great-great grandma Amanda Alina Ogren (Nyman) had only a 6th grade education (which was likely above average back then).

But look at where our family is today...

Generation improvements are what I'm grateful for and something I'm continuing to work on.

What are you thankful for this week?

Personal micro essay 🙆‍♂️ ON reconciliation

(Time to read: 1:38 minutes)

One thing promised in life is cracks (divisions).

In our lives and relationships. And sadly, many allow these cracks to widen, eventually becoming chasms too large to cross. I'm guilty myself.

I was let go almost a year ago, and I don't have the courage to talk to the person who let me go.

I can't build a bridge across the chasm to move forward together, causing suffering as I hold on to my side of the (widening) gap.

I was listening to a podcast emphasizing community. One of the community's powers (or benefits) is the ability to grow in ways impossible on your own.

One way is that you can clash with community members, and rebuilding those relationships builds you. You don't have the luxury of meditating in a cave by yourself.

There is a word for rebuilding in relationships: reconciliation.

The act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement.

Where did reconciliation come from?

If you know me, you know I love understanding the root of words. It's insightful to understand where a word began and where it's at today. So, where did reconciliation come from?

Mid-14c., reconciliacioun, "renewal of friendship after disagreement or enmity, action of reaching accord with an adversary or one estranged" (originally especially of God and sinners), from Old French reconciliacion (14c.) and directly from Latin reconciliationem (nominative reconciliatio) "a re-establishing, a reconciling," noun of action from the past-participle stem of reconciliare (see reconcile).

Going further back, reconciliation has origins in the Bible (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). It's translated from the Greek word "katallage," which in the New Testament refers to re-establishing an interrupted or broken relationship.

This mainly happens with humans and God. Putting this concept as a critical element of Christian soteriology, the study of salvation, as it encapsulates the idea of humans being brought back into a right relationship with God.

In 1729, it was described as an "act of harmonizing or making consistent." And that's how we get to the current usage of it being a bring back of two or more humans into a health(ier) relationship. And it's critical in this context as well. We will be far from peace and joy when we allow division to rule.

But now (at least from Google), it carries another (similar) definition: The process of finding a way to make two different ideas, facts, etc., exist or be true simultaneously.

Continue reading the essay here (and comment your thoughts!)

Click here to find all my micro essays

Thank you for reading this far. I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with joy and I hope you find some peace this weekend.

– Jo (every second counts)