The Merry Show

The Merry Show

by | Dec 21, 2018 | Episodes, Podcasting

EP152: THE MERRY SHOW

Today is an update episode and I simply wanted to say hey wish you all a very happy Holiday Season.

Episode Summary:

So welcome to this holiday episode 152. In this episode 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.

The Update:

A couple of months ago I told you I was taking a hiatus from Mike Murphy Unplugged for a variety of reasons. This was not an easy decision to make and it saddened me a little to give up a piece of something that I worked extremely hard every single week for 3 years. I was and still am very proud of the consistency and hard work I put into this podcast and all of the content I make surrounding it, but I listened to my heart and took a step back. It was the right decision at the right time. I needed to get the weight off my shoulders as it was introducing negativity into my world and becoming a burden instead of something that inspired me to make.

Consistency:

I get asked all the time on social media how on Earth I am able to create tutorials and content on such a consistent basis. The answer is easy. I love it. I love to learn and teach. Making tutorials and quick tips is not easy in some ways, yet it’s all I want to do, so I just do it.

Podcasting Break

I also still very much podcasting and will publish a podcast regularly again, but as soon as the process of podcasting became something that I no longer looked forward to, the problem solver in me clicked in. I do not like when things are broken and I have the ability to fix it. It drives me nuts actually when I see people who suffer and make no attempt to right the ship. That is why I stopped. I shifted and tweaked my process of podcasting until I decided the best course of action was to put it on the shelf and re-adjust.

Minimalism

Do you know what really made this easy? My push to simplify and get rid of physical, digital and mental clutter. 2018 was the year of minimalism for me and that meant letting things go that caused stress or were not contributing to my happiness or well-being. To be as candid as possible, the first half of 2018, my podcast was a thorn in my side. I was pulling topics out of thin air and I was making them simply because of self-discipline. Again, problem solver Mike knew that this was a problem, and I solved it. I did not give up or quit, I gave myself permission to free up some space and figure out what needed to be done.

Opportunity Knocks

As soon as I put my podcast on hiatus, a door opened up for me out of the blue. And that was an opportunity to work for the podcasting technology company, Simplecast. Was this a coincidence? In my mind, no way. I manifested this opportunity by showing up every day making and publishing content. When I started I really had no idea what I wanted or what I was good at, so I just started exploring and making things and I started really wide and over time I just started narrowing down and finding my style and groove.

Simplecast hired me to do exactly what I am best at and what I like to do. My job is in support and my role is to help solve problems for podcasters and create educational content in the form of tutorials and articles and to teach through webinars and eventually at conferences and workshops. If you have listened to this podcast for any length of time, you will probably realize that my role in Simplecast is exactly what I talk about all the time. If you find yourself in a position of self-doubt or uncertainty, but you know you want to improve your career or what you have going on in life, I cannot stress enough that you have to get started today and just do something. You do not need the answers to life to start. Move in the direction of something that has been a positive thing in your life. For me, I have always been drawn to creative things like photography, video, music, art, writing, tech and travel. So I just started taking more photos and learning how to make videos and started writing on Medium and shared tech tips that seemed interesting to me. I started and know that I could do some iteration of this forever. But you need money to live. I was running out of money in my tech and creative exploration. I was getting freelance gigs, but not enough. I went through all of my savings and cashed in mutual funds that I started years ago. I never panicked. I trusted myself and I knew I was headed in the right direction.

Doing My Thing

The Simplecast opportunity came at the perfect time. Putting my podcast on hiatus left a void and I filled it by taking a role serving podcasters. Things happen for a reason. Simplecast has been an amazing experience and I have learned a ton in the past four months about podcasting and start-up life and myself. I am busier than ever as I work full-time 5 days/week and at nights and early morning I make tutorials and my 2 days off I do my Murphy Concierge work which is helping people in my local area with tech stuff. I am making a living helping, creating, and teaching. Exactly what I set out to do when I launched this podcast. And I’m just getting started.

What’s to come in 2019:

Simplecast is about to launch a new 2.0 platform that we are all excited about and with the new product I will be making a ton of content and helping people figure out how to use the new product and it’s going to be fun and exciting. Taking the job with Simplecast was an easy decision because it aligned with everything I have been working for and I am very happy with how it is working out. I have the best of both worlds. There was a little internal conflict when thinking about taking a job versus making it on my own, but then I realized, I am still as independent as I have ever been and being part of a growing and innovative company that is all about working with creatives and podcasters is a dream come true. I am happy and I am proud of myself for going full steam ahead even when things were getting a little financially thin and quite honestly, I was working myself really hard. I’ll say it again. If you are unhappy or if you have a goal to make it on your own or build a brand or business online, you have to stop thinking about it and get going on something. If you own a business and it’s not working, fix it. Get rid of the weight that is holding you down and something better will fill the space.

YouTube or Bust

I will do a 2019 Roadmap episode, but in addition to Simplecast, my mindset is doubling down my efforts on YouTube and ramping up my writing on Medium. I love making tutorials and answering questions for people. It’s all I want to do. I am doing that now, but I want to take it up a notch and YouTube is where I can best do that. So I will. I am closing in on 2500 subscribers and just passed the Million views mark. That’s right. Over 1,000, 000 views on my YouTube channel. How cool is that? I’m not big on numbers, but I put out a goal of reaching 10,000 subscribers by the end of 2019 as a milestone I could put in front of me. I think it is doable and that is where my 2019 focus is currently at.

As for writing. I will continue publishing my tutorials as written content on Medium, but I plan to write a few more beefy articles that have some girth. I am learning and growing and I simply want to put it all out there and to continue to build my brand as someone with useful knowledge to share. The long-term goal is to make it as a content creator doing what I love to do.

Do Your Thing

I am living proof that you can create the life you want. It is extremely hard to do and you have to make tough decisions and sacrifices, but it all comes down to how you want to live. For me, I want to live happy and simply. For the person who asked me how I am able to show up so consistently, it is because I am creating the life I want and that comes with putting in the hard work and pushing myself to get better everyday. I think it’s worth it and I hope you do too.

I know today was a lot about me, but I wanted to give you an update and let you know that life is good because I refuse to have it any other way. I have no plans yet to publish a podcast on a regular schedule, but it is on my mind.

Happy Everything

But the most important reason I wanted to make this episode today was to wish you a very merry and happy holiday season and new year. I appreciate you and as always, if there is anything I can ever do for you, you can email me anytime at mike@mikemurphy.co or reach out on social media.

If you are stuck and need a push, let me know. You have one shot to live the life you want. Make it happen.

Cheers

I Thank you for joining me today and I wish you a Merry Everything and happy and healthy 2019.

I hope you join my one man band and together we can Learn. Create & Move Forward. Cheers, Mike.

Cheers,
Mike

I Thank you for joining me on this milestone and turning point episode and for joining my one man band and together we can Learn. Create & Move Forward. Cheers, Mike.

LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES

HOUSEKEEPING

Subscribe To Podcast

Leave a ratings & review (if you already did, thanks)

Buy My New eBook (How To Podcast on Wordpress.com)

Ask Mike Anything

Music: Life of Riley & Wallpaper (incompetech.com)

The 3 Year Show

The 3 Year Show

by | Sep 21, 2018 | Episodes, Podcasting

EP151: THE 3-YEAR SHOW

Today is the 3rd anniversary of Mike Murphy Unplugged and this an update episode about change, development and creating the life you want. I have some exciting news to share with you.

Episode Summary:
I started this show on Friday 9/25/2015. Thank you to all of you who have supported me over the past 3 years.

The podcast is still on hiatus, but I created this episode:
1) To acknowledge you and the anniversary
2) Share some updates since Episode 150
3) Let you know about my new position with podcast hosting company Simplecast

What is a Milestone?:

A milestone is an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development.

Change is to make or become different.

Development is state of growth or advancement.

So Why Did I Start Mike Murphy Unplugged

Reason 1: To connect, teach and help people figure things out,
Reason 2: To figure out how to make a living as an online educator and content creator.

My solution: Starting a podcast was the perfect medium for me:

Why Podcasting?:
-I have been an avid podcast listener since the iPod 1.0
-I love audio and gear
-I could share my voice to the world from my bedroom
-I knew it was an emerging medium.

Timeline:I gave myself 30 days to learn how to start a podcast, how to record and edit audio, create the artwork and branding, and set up social media profiles and figure out what it was about.

I did not overthink starting a podcast and I was determined to stay genuine and authentic to me and do it my way.

Everyone told me I had to niche down and narrow my topic, but that is not who I am.

I have a wide range of interest and skills and I wear many hats (I’m the guy who has watched over 11,000 Lynda videos remember).

I used to think of this as my weakness, but it is my super-power.

My long-term goal was to make a living as a content creator and teacher.

Mike Murphy Unplugged

was to document my journey and share all of the tools and resources and steps I was taking to move myself forward towards a very general goal of making a living in creativity and teaching tech tips and tricks.

Step #1: in the journey was starting a podcast so I dedicated the first several months of Mike Murphy Unplugged to being a podcast about podcasting.

I shared everything I knew about setting up and producing a podcast as that was my main focus at the time and I knew it was an emerging and important medium for businesses in the future. And guess what, the more you talk about and share knowledge about a topic the more of an expert and authority you become. I knew what I was talking about and was confident in my abilities from the start.

The main principle I want to share today on this anniversary is showing up day after day even when it seems like nobody is listening or you are not getting many downloads or views or likes, etc.

I created at least one piece of content 7 days a week 365 days in row for almost 3 years because I knew that if I just kept showing up I would either figure it out or an opportunity that would present itself.

I started this podcast and online venture without a roadmap or plan, but I started and I just kept at it. My priority was to get really good at everything related to teaching and creating content and to be consistent and patient and to work as hard as I possibly could. It was not always fun or enjoyable, but I was not going to stop because I knew it would take time and require resilience and patience.

In Episode 150 I announced that I was taking a break and putting the podcast on hiatus.

Was I podfading? Not quite, but I was needing a break.

It started as a tool to help me and it was starting to feel more like a burden that I was holding onto just to keep streak intact of never missing a Friday episode. I’m a problem solver and I knew I had to fix this negative force in my content machine.

2018 has been the year of simplicity and I created my version of minimalism.

I spent the first half of 2018 actively de-cluttering and reducing most of what I owned to the bare essentials.

I gave away, threw away or sold everything I did not use or need and did the same cleaning on my digital assets. I simplified my diet and exercise and it felt incredible and everything feels clean and light and simple. My head-space and physical space has never been clearer or more laser-focused. Less is indeed more for me.

Death. Early in the summer, I lost someone that I cared a lot about right before a summer trip I had planned and it was almost instantly that I gave myself permission to take a break from the podcast. It often takes Death or tragedy really brings the word priority in focus as you really start to understand what is most important in life and I knew that if I gave myself a break from the podcast for a couple of months, things would be okay. You would understand and I can pick back up at anytime.

De-cluttering and simplifying was very a deliberate and conscious choice of mine to take a deep breath and to really go back to the basics.

Get off the hamster wheel and put as much positive and happy energy into to world as I could muster up because I knew that I was making progress and that my efforts would work out and that I would be okay. I had everything I needed in life. I was running out of money, but I was not in debt and I was healthy and happy.

I had enough and I was getting really good at all of the things I want to do for the rest of my life.

Getting rid of stuff made me relax and put things in perspective. I felt really happy and relieved and I was still cranking out content, but I was not stressed about anything. I just trusted that I would be okay because my intentions were consistent and good all along.

Opportunity Knocked

I was offered a position with the podcast hosting company Simplecast and I happily accepted. I start Monday 9/24 and my official title is podcast support specialist. My job duty sounds a lot like how I describe my why for starting this podcast. Helping people figure things out and creating educational content.

I could not be more excited or proud and everything about it just feels like a perfect fit.

Maybe I got lucky or maybe it was a coincidence or the right place at the right time. Or maybe on this 3 year milestone, the change and development that is happening right now in my life and career is the manifestation of me taking the first step into the unknown and putting in the hard work and showing up day after day because I trusted myself and knew that if I could remain patient and true to myself, that things would work out.

Creating the life you want is not fast or easy and there is no clear path, but you have to start somewhere and take the first step no matter how big or small. Show up for yourself and nobody else. You are not competing against anyone but yourself. Keep going. You do not need to have all the answers and your original plan is going to change multiple times, but you have to make the effort and take a chance on yourself and do not give up or give into your own self-doubt or the doubt of those around you.

There is no better time than now to do whatever you want in this world and there is no excuse not to give it all you have to try and create a life that makes you happy and successful whatever that may mean for you.

Happy 3rd anniversary to Mike Murphy Unplugged and a big thanks to you.

If there is anything I can ever do for you, you can always reach out to me at mike@mikemurphy.co or look me up at Simplecast.com

Note: 

The podcast is still in hiatus mode, so bear with me as I figure out the next version, but I will keep you in the loop.

 

Thank you for joining me on this milestone and turning point episode and for joining my one man band and together we can Learn. Create & Move Forward. Cheers, Mike.

LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES

HOUSEKEEPING

Subscribe To Podcast

Leave a ratings & review (if you already did, thanks)

Buy My New eBook (How To Podcast on Wordpress.com)

Ask Mike Anything

Music: Life of Riley & Wallpaper (incompetech.com)

The Summer Break Show

The Summer Break Show

by | Jul 20, 2018 | Episodes, Podcasting

EP150: THE SUMMER BREAK SHOW

“The mind should be allowed some relaxation, that it may return to its work all the better for the rest.”

Episode Summary:
This episode is going to share the work I plan to do on vacation to set me up for success in the 2nd half of 2018.

My content strategy and plan for the second half of 2018.

My version of work-life balance.

Episode 150: The Summer Break Show

Taking a break
Resting your mind is vital to your health and wellness, but that does not mean you stop your efforts to create the life you want.

The life I want is making a living as a content creator and online educator.

My sights are on the long-term, so I’m in it for the marathon and not the sprint, so pace is important.

Mid-Year Review:
July 18th is the halfway mark of the year.
The perfect time to evaluate your life and business roadmap for the year and set yourself up for a strong finish to 2018.

Are you on the right track?
Do you know where you are headed?
Are you doing everything necessary to get there?
Are you in control or are you in reaction mode?

Summary of Episode:
I share my content strategy and plan for the second half of 2018 as I get ready to refresh and head out for a 2-week vacation to Nantucket.

I plan my summer vacation by planning my 3rd and 4th quarter content strategy and business goals.

My version of work-life balance.

The Podcast Hiatus
I shared in Episode 149 The Freedom Show that I was going to take an indefinite hiatus from this podcast.

I do not know when Episode 151 will be published or I may launch a brand new show.

I am not putting pressure or making any grand promises as I do not know. I just know I am making the right decision because it is from my gut and heart.

The 2018 Roadmap

In Episode 122: The 2018 Roadmap Show, the priorities I listed were:

Priority #1: Murphy Concierge (Generating Income)

Priority #2: Tutorials & Classes:

Priority #3: Writing

Priority 4: Ask Mike Murphy

Priority 5: YouTube

Priority 6: Health & Wellness

Mid-Year Reaction:

Wow! I did a really good job with that Roadmap.

Note: podcasting did not make the list of priorities, but it is of upmost importance to my content puzzle and should be for many brands and businesses.
Audio & Podcasting are extremely important and effective as we move into a mobile-dominated world. I am not going anywhere. I just need to find the rhythm which will come from adjusting the format and possibly the entire topic or concept. It’s not firing on all cylinders and I know it. I am simply transitioning to a new phase.
This is me taking one step back to move 2 steps forward.

My homework:
Brainstorm and add specific ideas and types of content for each of the priorities so I can control the ebb and flow of my life and business and not feel controlled or lost on what to do next.

Mantra & Theme for 2018: Simplicity, Fundamentals, Storytelling.

To maintain the lifestyle of simplicity and reducing physical & mental clutter and place more emphasis on fundamentals and storytelling in my content creation.

Storytelling
I am approaching this trip with storytelling on my mind. Creating content drawing from my own personal experiences that others can relate to and make a connection to me. I am looking to make content that strikes a nerve and hits home with others.

I’m not concerned with how much content I create on this trip, but I am going to explore and experiment with my cameras and audio equipment and see what I can come up with. .

Micro-storytelling is my goal. It’s how I teach. I take big concepts and break off pieces instead of trying to cover too much. This takes discipline and can be challenging as simple is not easy. This is how I want to approach storytelling. Snippets of the journey when pieced together tell a larger story.

Storytelling Homework: In Nantucket will be to create some micro-content and just see what is working and what is not. If I find a groove then I will make a list of ideas to add to my document that I can make when I get back.

My biggest goal in storytelling is to illustrate and share to the world the journey of starting and online business and trying to create a life of freedom and happiness and healthy living in a way that is educational and entertaining. People relate to stories. I relate to stories. Telling stories that teach and inspire is what I hope to achieve, but in my voice and style. Obviously.

Examples of micro-content I want to make:
The gear & tools I use.
What my workspace looks like.
Why do I do what I do?
Who inspires me?
What do I really want in life and business?
How much money do I make? How much do I want?
How do I pack for travel?
Snippets of me.

Not to promote me, but to let people into my journey and connect. This is the motivation I need to create stronger content. My biggest struggle is I create content I think will be helpful. I want to create content I know will be helpful because people tell me what they are struggling with.

Priorities for Q3 & Q4 of 2018

[Murphy Concierge](https://murphyconcierge.com) is my local tech support business where I go to homes and businesses and fix and teach people how to use their tech devices. I love this role yet I spend the least time on it. Why? Fear of success. It may just work. Yes, that is a real struggle of mine.

My homework: Create a membership subscription plan that is a win-win for my clients and me. An annual fee that gives clients 24/7 access to my help, with additional fees for in-person fixes. I have started on the model, but hope to fine tune it over the next 2 weeks.

Tutorials & YouTube & Ask Mike Murphy
I want to grow my YouTube channel significantly. If I could pay my bills making daily tutorials on YouTube, I would be happy.

I want to make helpful videos.

Adding to my YouTube push is adding a live-stream Ask Mike Murphy component. I have 1600 subscribers and do not know who they are. It’s time to meet them and engage more with them. I will do that on YouTube Live.

My homework is to come up with a giant list of video ideas so I can get ahead with my content schedule and not feel like I’m drowning in work. It’s about balance and control.

Writing:
I think it is the backbone of content that will never go away. Audio & Video will thrive, but text ties it all together. I write a lot. I will write more and produce at least one more eBook this year. I also plan to double down on my Medium.com presence.

My homework: Scour through 150 podcast episodes and try to come up with 50–100 article topics. Micro-content and build a library of articles for Medium & LinkedIN.

Health & Wellness:
This is really #1 priority. I am almost 48. I feel great. I want to feel amazing. No back pain for one. I am convinced that if you take care of your body, everything else falls in place. I’m determined to get in the best shape of my life because I know it will carry over to my business goals.

Homework in Nantucket: Learn to jump-rope. I mean long enough to make it an exercise routine. I bought a jump-rope and I stink at it. AKA…I’m pooped after a few minutes of trying. I’ll get it.

Bottom Line:

My priorities and vision is still on point and in check. Taking a step back and taking a break does the body and mind good. My summer break may go on longer than my 2-weeks in Nantucket. That is okay if I need it. Just do not confuse taking a break with being lazy and unmotivated. Two different things. Creating the life you want and running a successful business is non-stop hard work, but it is vital you block out times to clear the board and think and refresh and re-evaluate. Checking in with yourself is essential.

Plato said: “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than you can in a year of conversation” What makes you tick? Are you doing enough of what brings you the most happiness? If not, set aside some time and give yourself a break.

LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES

HOUSEKEEPING

Subscribe To Podcast

Leave a ratings & review (if you already did, thanks)

Buy My New eBook (How To Podcast on Wordpress.com)

Ask Mike Anything

Music: Life of Riley & Wallpaper (incompetech.com)

The Freedom Show

The Freedom Show

by | Jul 13, 2018 | Episodes, Podcasting

EP149: THE FREEDOM SHOW

“The secret to happiness is freedom… And the secret to freedom is courage. ”
–Thucydides, Philosopher

Today is all about freedom, happiness and the power of letting go and

Episode Summary:

I have spent the past few months aggressively purging and de-cluttering my physical and digital environments and taking inventory of my business and life.

Taking inventory means looking in the mirror and doing an honest self-audit.

One of the difficult truths or realities I came to terms with in doing a self-audit is this podcast is holding me back and it is weighing me down.

My stubbornness and determination could keep it going forever, but the reality is it has become a bit of a burden and I know that is not healthy.

I have had to remind the self-critic in me that letting go is not the same as quitting or giving up. It simply means letting go to make room for something new.

Announcement: Mike Murphy Unplugged is going on Summer Hiatus.
I have decided to press the pause button on Mike Murphy Unplugged after episode 150.
I am not done podcasting, just taking a break for now.

I started Mike Murphy Unplugged in September of 2015 and I have published a new episode every Friday morning at 6:00 am without fail. I started this podcast to help me find my voice as a creative and to give myself a foundation and platform to teach. I am extremely proud of the body of work I have created and would not trade the experience for the world, but it’s time to start a new chapter.

My Backstory of Things:

I moved from Colorado to Montana to Portland to New Hampshire and back to Colorado and traveled everywhere in between often living out of my Subaru wagon or VW Van.

The freedom and independence I had was largely due to not owning much stuff.

Being debt-free and not wanting or requiring extraneous things allowed me to be swift and pick up and go when an opportunity to travel knocked.

One Man Band
You hear me say that I am a One Man Band a lot.
This independence is what the term represents to me.
The ability to move and do what I want on my terms.
This comes from me having control and not being tied down to things.
I can pick up and go whenever I want.
I am putting in the hard work in my business to allow me to work from anywhere in the world. That is the life I want.

For me, simplifying and de-cluttering and cutting back to only having the essentials is about having control over the things that matter most in life and doing eliminating things that are not helping me achieve my business goals.

It’s easy to get stressed and overwhelmed and feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders and I think a lot of you may feel this way. I refuse to live a life filled with negativity and stress and conflict, and getting rid of excess is my remedy for peace of mind regaining control.

The less I have the better I feel.

My Minimalist Process

For the past several months I have been actively cleaning house on my physical and digital spaces and I’ve turned it into a game almost to see how much stuff I can get rid of.

I started thinning things out. Everything. Even things that are small or you think don’t take up much room. It’s amazing how getting rid of the small stuff makes such a difference.

I went room by room, drawer by drawer and bag by bag.

Any gear or tool or attachment big or small that I did not use or need on a regular basis went out to the pod shed to be given away or sold on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.

I cleaned out every cupboard in my kitchen and got rid of excess silverware, gadgets, plates, glasses, mugs, spices, pots and pans.
Condiments in the fridge.
Cleaning supplies. All gone.
The little things you never notice make a huge difference when you get rid of them.

I took generic artwork off the walls and got rid of furniture that served no purpose.
I cleaned out all junk drawers and only kept the essentials.
I purged pencils and pens, envelopes and anything in drawers that I rarely used.

In the bathroom, I cleaned everything under the sink and got rid of towels and supplies and kept only what I use and need. The theme to letting go. Keep the essentials and get rid of everything else. I am constantly going through my clothes and eliminating anything I do not wear on a regular basis. Shoes, sneakers, t-shirts, old sweatshirts, hats, old socks, underwear, etc. Etc. Blankets, sheets, pillows, books, cables, cords, chargers.

I took the same mode of attack on my digital and online world. I once had 10 screens of iPhone apps and am now down to 2 1/2. I cleaned all of my hard drives and Google Drives and deleted anything I no longer needed and made sure everything was perfectly backed up and mirrored so I was in complete control of my data and workflow. Applications on my Mac that I no longer use got deleted. I have been ruthless at unsubscribing from emails and have even taken it a step farther to delete as many accounts as I can. Anything and everything I do not use, I delete as it is one less notification or distraction.

What are the benefits of letting go and cleaning house?

I feel lighter and cleaner and freer.Remember, the secret to happiness is freedom.
Less stuff makes me feel swift and nimble.
Reduced stress and overwhelm from knowing what you have.

My mind is much more focused and clear.
I feel way more motivated and productive.
I’ve made a few hundred dollars so far selling things.
I do not want to buy anything new because it feels so good having less so you save money naturally.
Perhaps the biggest benefit is the process of simplifying your belongings carries over to everything you do. You really start to appreciate the little things again and prioritize what really matters in life and in my business. The trees through the forest.

My Why

Creating the life I want for me just means is that I am free to live life on my own terms and do what I want when I want. I have done this my whole life, the only difference now is that I am figuring out how to build a business that will support myself financially instead of relying on jobs and working for others.

My why for Mike Murphy LLC and Murphy Concierge and working day in and day creating content and giving it my all building an online business and brand is freedom.

Creative & Financial Freedom is my vision of success for my business.

Freedom to travel and do things that inspire me and make me happy is my vision of success for life.

I did not expect it to be easy and I knew that it would take a lot of trial and error and ups and downs and pivots and adjustments.

I recognized an area of my content creation machine that was introducing negativity in my mindset and slowing down my progress.

While I could fight through it week after week, it would be for the wrong reasons. I do not need to prove my work ethic and determination to anyone but myself and I need to do whatever it takes to
make progress.

Making the decision to press the pause button on Mike Murphy Unplugged was not an easy decision, but my heart of hearts knows it’s the right decision for now. I am not quitting or giving up, I am simply evolving and moving forward on my road to freedom and happiness.

LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES

HOUSEKEEPING

Subscribe To Podcast

Leave a ratings & review (if you already did, thanks)

Buy My New eBook (How To Podcast on Wordpress.com)

Ask Mike Anything

Music: Life of Riley & Wallpaper (incompetech.com)

The IGTV Show

The IGTV Show

by | Jul 6, 2018 | Episodes, Podcasting

Ep148: The IGTV Show

All about Instagram TV.

Episode Summary:
What is IGTV?
How does it work?
Why might you use it for your business & brand?
How do I plan on using it for Mike Murphy Co?

Follow me on Instagram & IGTV
@mikeunplugged.

What is IGTV?

IGTV was launched in late June 2018 by Instagram.
Instagram is owned by Facebook.

There are now over 1 Billion users on Instagram.
There are over 2 Billion users on Facebook.

IGTV is a standalone app, separate from Instagram, but you can access IGTV from the main Instagram app.

 

 

So what exactly is IGTV?
Many are referring to it as TV for mobile devices, aka your phones.

The channels on IGTV are you and me.

Every content creator is their own channel and it is open to anyone and everyone.

IGTV gives you a channel for you to create content that people browsing IGTV and can stop and watch and if they like what they can see, they can let you know by liking or commenting and following you, just like on Instagram.

When you open IGTV, videos start playing automatically. Just like when you turn on your TV.

Instagram gives you some options to browse including:
For You, Explore, Following & Popular and you can search for creators.

You cannot search for topics, but you can search for channels.

Open the IGTV app and videos will start playing or if you are in the main Instagram app, just look in the upper right for the Orange TV icon and that will take you into IGTV.

How Does IGTV Work?

IGTV is all about vertical videos for your phone.
The correct aspect ratio for IGTV is 9:16.
The 9 is the width and the 16 is the height.
This is the opposite of horizontal videos you would post on YouTube which have an aspect ration of 16:9. Just think vertical. Taller than it is wide.

Tip: Do not place text or important elements or graphics close to the edges when making videos for IGTV or they may get caught off on certain phones.

The most common size you will likely use for IGTV is 1080 px wide by 1920 pixels high. This is what your iPhone shoots and is the exact same aspect ratio and size for Instagram Stories.

Videos you make for IGTV must be a minimum of 15 seconds long and a maximum of 10 minutes long.

For accounts with over 10,000 followers & verified accounts can post videos up to 1-hour long, but for now, the average creator is limited to a maximum of 10-minutes per video.

You can upload videos from your phone or in a web browser like Chrome or Safari which is pretty convenient.

You can select a Custom Thumbnail or Cover Image.
You can add a Title & Description
And you have the option to Share to your Facebook Pages.

If you do have over 10,000 followers and find you have the option to upload 1-hour videos, you will have to use a web browser. Uploading from a phone is not an option for the long videos.

Viewers of your IGTV videos can leave comments that will show up in both IGTV and Instagram. They can also like and share to friends.

IGTV also integrates with Instagram Stories in that you can create links in your Stories and viewers can simply swipe up and it will take them directly to any video you link to on your IGTV channel.

So Why Should You Consider Using it for your business or brand?

For starters, remember the stat about Instagram & Facebook having 3 Billion users, well that is one important reason.

Instagram is massively popular and IGTV could be a really big deal for creators and brands to get exposure and market your business.

IGTV is the first of its kind to focus on video made for phones (vertical) and mobile devices is how people are currently consuming the most content today, so the bottom line is IGTV is relevant and is adapting to the technology and the end user.

You need to be where the eyeballs are, plain and simple and there is a lot of eyeballs on Instagram & Facebook.

You cannot win if you do not play.

You should consider using IGTV for your business and brand for many reasons, but here are a few:
You can tell the story of your brand in long-form videos.
You can market and advertise products and services.
You can entertain or educate your followers and clients.
You can network and collaborate with other brands and businesses.
You can paint the picture of who you are and what you are trying to accomplish in your own creative way.

Aside: Creating content is hard.
Keeping up with the popular social media channel or buzz of the day is exhausting.
One week you need to be doing Facebook Live and the next week it’s Instagram Live or Instagram Stories and now it’s IGTV.
You can’t do everything and be everywhere at once, but you do need to be smart and be where people are and currently Instagram is wildly popular and influential, so you should not sleep on it.

But here’s the secret, you need to get good at making content (writing, making videos, recording podcasts) because those are the core skills required to be relevant online today.

Stop worrying about it and just figure out a method that you can get content out to the world that represents you and your business or brand. It does not have to be fancy or high-production, it just has to be uploaded so people can see it.

Do not go on IGTV because everyone is doing it or it’s the latest thing. Go on IGTV because it is an opportunity to reach more people and showcase your skills or talents or products and services or whatever you are trying to achieve with your online presence. Maybe you want to grow your podcast audience. Maybe you want to send people to your YouTube channel. It doesn’t matter. It’s a a free and open stage for you to do anything. You just have to be innovative and put in the work.

How Do I Plan on Using IGTV:

I’m not overthinking and I am putting up content, but I see an open canvas and a real opportunity to showcase everything I am building in my own unique voice and style and to sharpen my skills and talents.

I am looking at IGTV like a YouTube channel but with more opportunity to be creative and mix up the content.

I plan on posting tutorials and quick tips made for vertical viewing.

I plan on creating entertaining and fun animation style videos that range from promoting this podcast to promoting Murphy Concierge that may be marketing my business but also showing my skills as a creative and video creator.

I also plan on doing behind the scenes and vlog style videos that are a little more cinematic and interesting. Not overly polished or dramatic, but visually interesting and storytelling in nature with voiceover narratives or music driving the video.

I see IGTV as the almost perfect platform for creatives to let their freak flag fly and be unique by doing something nobody else has done before.

IGTV is going to be my reality show for Mike Murphy Co and I can tell the story however I want and people will watch if it is entertaining, inspiring or they can make a connection with me. That will take trying new things and experimenting. I’m good with that and you should be too.

In short for me, IGTV I am looking at as a story-telling platform for me and my brand. I plan to share who I am am what I am doing in my own version of a vlog. A creative infomercial And to be clear, the content I create may be promoting me or showcasing my skills, but everything I make is with the end user in mind. Will this piece of content teach something or be entertaining or will it inspire people to go create something for themselves.

In conclusion:

IGTV is a standalone app on iOS & Android Phones that plays vertical videos 24/7 and it and the channels on this TV are individual creators. Everyone is welcome to create content on IGTV.

You cannot shoot live videos on Instagram TV. Videos can be uploaded from your Camera Roll on your phone or you can use a web browser on your computer, which is a nice feature.

Videos must be at least 15 seconds long and up to 10 minutes maximum. If you have over 10,000 followers or are a verified account you can upload videos up to 1 hour long, but you must use a browser to upload the longer videos.

The aspect ratio for IGTV videos is 9:16. The opposite of wide/horizontal videos you watch on YouTube. The size you will most like make for videos is 1080px wide by 1920 px high.

Why you should consider using IGTV to promote your business and brand: Because Instagram & Facebook is big. There is a lot of positive momentum. There is endless opportunity for you whether it be to grow your podcast or sell your product or simply build a community. Do not feel compelled to create IGTV because you feel pressured. Do it because you understand that connecting with people and having your message and story be heard is the name of the game, and the easiest way to do so is to go where people are. IGTV may or may not be a big deal in a few months from now and it does not matter. What matters is the practice and exercise of telling your story and building relationships with people who want to be part of your journey. IGTV is giving you a really easy platform for you to do anything you want. You just have to do it.

Me on IGTV?
I will post tutorials, but I am also figuring out how to double down on sharing my story of building an online business around teaching people how to create content and inspiring people to create the life they want, by demonstrating how I am doing it. I make no bones about it that it is hard and can be frustrating at times and there is tons of self-doubt and uncertainty involved, but I know it will be worth it and I want to take others along the ride for fuel to keep creating and to make an impact.

If you have questions about IGTV or anything, you can reach me anytime at mike@mikemurphy.co.

LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES

HOUSEKEEPING

Subscribe To Podcast

Leave a ratings & review (if you already did, thanks)

Buy My New eBook (How To Podcast on Wordpress.com)

Ask Mike Anything

Music: Life of Riley & Wallpaper (incompetech.com)

The Be Good Show

The Be Good Show

by | Jun 29, 2018 | Episodes, Podcasting

EP147_THE BE GOOD SHOW

I have spent the past week laughing and crying and I also figured out the recipe for success as a content creator and I’m going to share it with you in this episode.

Episode Summary:
Today’s is about understanding what matters in life and how to build a brand and create content that makes a positive impact on others.

Today is about priorities and urgency.
You have one chance at this game of life.
Do a self-audit
The recipe for success for content creators.

The Story:

Last week I lost a friend.
Good times with Mike was all I could think about.
I know that everyone who ever came in contact with him probably had a similar experience.
He made an impact.

My to-do list and goals for business and money worries and all of the mundane things that show up nearly everyday were out of mind.

And when I was reflecting on all of the good times, I never once thought about where Mike worked or how successful he was or how much money he made. I remembered the little things and laughing and having fun and the pure joy everyone felt when he was around.

Side Tip #1:
Take photos and videos everytime you are with friends and family regardless of how many times you are together and have a system to organize and backup your photos so you can easily find and share when you really need them.

I remember Mike saying hello to everyone and holding the door for people and giving up his seat for an older person at the bar. I remember all of the nice things he did for people when nobody was looking.

Like all of us, he had so many shortcomings and weaknesses and imperfections and I didn’t remember those things as anything other than that’s who he was.

Being a good human being at the core is all I remember.

Self-Audit: Look in the Mirror

My question to you: If you leave this earth tomorrow, how do you think you will you be remembered?
Will those who knew you spend all day looking at photos and laughing and crying about all of the good times spent with you?
Will your life have a positive impact on those who meet you whether it is in person or online?

What can you do? Start today by doing the little things that make the biggest impact:
Laughing
Smiling
Saying Hello to Strangers
Being Nice to people
Doing your best
Working hard
Being reliable & dependable (someone to count on)
Being a good friend and family member.
Doing the right thing when nobody is looking.

These are universal ingredients to being a good human being.

Are you doing these things every day?

When is the last time you did a self-audit or gut check on your overall mood and attitude and the energy that you are giving out to the world.

It often takes a death or near-death experience for people to pause and reflect and that is okay.

Life Lessons & Content Creation

I have created 147 podcast episodes and looking back, the episodes that get the most feedback and comments are those where I share a personal story.

I have close to 500 videos on YouTube and the comments I get the most by a long shot are wow, thank you so much for responding. I didn’t actually expect you to.

The same thing happens when people fill out the Contact form on my website or email me directly. I cannot believe you actually wrote me back. Disbelief.

Quite honestly, this is baffling to me, because why wouldn’t I reply or answer someone who took the time to write me? Common Courtesy 101.

You are never be too busy or important to not hit reply or say thank you when someone reaches out to you. Gary Vee has millions of followers and he personally replies to emails and tweets and so do countless others who have massive followers.

Recipe For Content Creators:

Create content for people.

Is what you are making something you would want to consume and do you put effort and care into what you make?
Creating content is about establishing relationships and you should treat the relationship with your audience with the same respect you would a good friend.

Positivity.
Be optimistic and focus on the good. Make content with pure intentions.

Make content that you think will positively impact others whether it be to entertain or make them laugh or to teach them something that will help them move forward or solve a problem.

The positivity is you doing what you love and creating content you genuinely believe in.
The positivity and optimism is about your mindset and doing the right thing for the right reasons.

How does your content make people feel?

Self-Awareness.
Be you 100% of the time. You are not in a competition with anyone but yourself. You do not need to be concerned with what anyone else is doing but yourself. And you need to go all in on the things you do well.

Story.
It’s the most important element really and ties everything together.

Stories are all people remember and think about and share with others.

When my friend died, I remembered the stories.
The experiences we shared that made me smile or laugh or took me back to a place.
Stories connect people and trigger emotions and make your content relateable.

Why do people love Instagram Stories and Snapchat and likely Instagram TV? Because creators let their guard down and tell their real story by just being themselves.

Your business and brand and content is telling your story in everything you do and it’s up to you what the narrative is. You have complete control over how your story is told, but the way to make it stick and to be memorable is consistency.

My Story:The story I am telling is the journey I am on to make it as a content creator and not the actual content I make everyday.

My story is that I am putting in the hard work to create the life I want and be the best person I can be in life and in business. My story is that I am relentless and will not stop trying until I figure it all out. I tell it over and over by showing up everyday regardless of how hard it is and at the end of the day that is what people see in my content. And if the content brings value to the lives of others then the story will be shared and that is the recipe for success.

The recipe for success in business & in life:

Be nice to others.
Mean what you stay.
Spread a positive message simply by being a person of good character and working hard.
Be yourself. It’s much easier.
Go all in on what you are good at and what you enjoy.
Make content that you care about and that you genuinely think others will find value.
Make content that makes a connection with others and builds relationships. The content you create tells the story of you and your brand. Make it good and keep it real.

One at bat:

Live each day like it matters.
Create and do work like it matters.
Be the person or brand that make’s other people’s lives better just by knowing you.

LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES

HOUSEKEEPING

Subscribe To Podcast

Leave a ratings & review (if you already did, thanks)

Buy My New eBook (How To Podcast on Wordpress.com)

Ask Mike Anything

Music: Life of Riley & Wallpaper (incompetech.com)