Episode 152
The Merry Show
December 21, 2018 · Mike Murphy
Ep152: The Merry Show Today is an update episode and I simply wanted to say hello and wish you all a very happy Holiday Season. Episode Summary: I wanted to bring you up to speed on my journey and plans for 2019, but more importantly I really just wanted to make sure I took the time to wish each and every one of you a very merry holiday season and to wish you the best as we approach a new year.
Episode Summary: A holiday update episode looking back at putting Mike Murphy Unplugged on hiatus, landing a new role at Simplecast, and looking ahead to 2019 goals across YouTube, writing, and Murphy Concierge.
What You’ll Learn
- Why Mike put the podcast on hiatus and how 2018’s minimalism push made that decision easier
- How the podcast hiatus opened the door to a new role at Simplecast
- 2019 goals: doubling down on YouTube, writing on Medium, and reaching 10,000 subscribers
- Passing 1,000,000 views on YouTube
A couple of months prior, Mike shared that he was taking a hiatus from Mike Murphy Unplugged. It wasn’t an easy decision — he was proud of the consistency and hard work he’d put in every single week for three years — but it was the right call at the right time. The show had started introducing negativity instead of inspiration, and it was time to lighten the load.
On Consistency
People often ask how Mike manages to create tutorials and content so consistently. The answer: he loves it. Making tutorials and quick tips isn’t always easy, but it’s what he wants to do, so he does it.
The Podcasting Break
Mike still loves podcasting and always planned to publish again regularly. But as soon as the process stopped being something he looked forward to, the problem-solver in him kicked in — he doesn’t like leaving things broken when he has the ability to fix them. He shifted and tweaked his process until the best move became putting the show on the shelf to re-adjust.
Minimalism Made It Easier
2018 was a year of minimalism for Mike — letting go of physical, digital, and mental clutter that caused stress or wasn’t contributing to happiness. Candidly, the first half of 2018 had the podcast feeling like a thorn in his side, with topics pulled out of thin air just to maintain the streak. Recognizing that as a problem, and solving it, wasn’t giving up — it was giving himself permission to free up space.
Opportunity Knocks
As soon as the podcast went on hiatus, a door opened: an opportunity to work for podcasting technology company Simplecast. Not a coincidence, in Mike’s view — a result of showing up every day, making and publishing content, and gradually narrowing in on his style. The role is in support: helping solve problems for podcasters, creating educational content through tutorials and articles, and eventually teaching through webinars and conferences. It lines up almost exactly with what Mike talks about on this podcast — get started today, even without all the answers, and move in the direction of what’s already positive in your life.
Doing His Thing
The Simplecast opportunity came at the perfect time, filling the void left by the podcast hiatus. Four months in, Mike had learned a ton about podcasting, startup life, and himself — working full-time five days a week, making tutorials nights and early mornings, and doing Murphy Concierge work on his two days off. He was making a living helping, creating, and teaching — exactly what he set out to do when he launched this podcast.
What’s to Come in 2019
Simplecast was gearing up to launch a new version of its platform that Mike was excited to help support with content and onboarding. Taking the Simplecast job was an easy call because it aligned with everything Mike had been working toward, without giving up his independence. In addition to Simplecast, his focus for 2019 was doubling down on YouTube and ramping up writing on Medium — closing in on 2,500 YouTube subscribers and just past 1,000,000 total views, with a goal of 10,000 subscribers by the end of 2019.
Do Your Thing
Mike considers himself living proof that you can create the life you want — it’s hard, and it takes tough decisions and sacrifices, but it comes down to how you want to live. Showing up consistently comes from creating the life you want, and pushing to get a little better every day.
Happy Everything
The most important reason for this episode: wishing everyone a very merry holiday season and a happy new year. You have one shot to live the life you want — make it happen.