Welcome to Over The Edge Podcast, the podcast where I speak with individuals experiencing success in their chosen fields and they share with me their secrets of courageous action and positive habits. Listen in as they answer the question; what does it take to push you over the edge towards a big goal or dream, and keep you pushing? In this episode I speak with none other than Daniel J Lewis.

As an award winning podcaster, Daniel J Lewis helps others launch and improve their own podcasts for sharing their passions and finding success. Daniel creates training resources like SEO for Podcasters and podcasting tools like My Podcast Reviews; he offers one-on-one consulting and group training like Podcasters’ Society and is a keynote speaker on podcasting and social media. Daniel hosts a network of award nominated shows covering how to podcast (The Audacity to Podcast), clean comedy, and the unofficial podcast for ABC’s hit drama Once Upon A Time, Daniel also writes about entrepreneurship and technology at Danieljlewis.net

Daniel shares with me how the Audacity to Podcast came about and what inspired him to get into podcasting. He found out about podcasts and would listen to them in the car on his laptop before they were available on mobile devices.  He already had a background in tech and web design and was able to figure out how to create his own podcast and teach others to do the same.

Daniel talks about turning your podcast into a profitable online business. He says it should be used as a way to support another business related to the podcast in the way that Daniel helps people to create and improve their own podcasts with his business. His advice; don’t go into podcasting with the thought that you are going to make a ton of money from it.

Daniel’s Advice for Overcoming Self-Doubt

1. Have a plan

Sit down and actually plan out what you want to do, write down what you want to achieve. If you are starting a podcast; write down who you want to interview, what you want the topics to be about and where you want to see the podcast go in the future

1. Don’t wait for things to be perfect

At the same time don’t plan down to every last detail so that you never get started. Have a plan but also realize that things are always going to come up and your plan will never go perfectly, take the first steps anyway.

Daniel’s Daily Habits

Your morning routine begins the night before; set yourself up for success the next day with your evening routine. Clear your mind; write down what you want to accomplish and what is troubling you to get it out. Put the phone away, don’t work on business or email right before bed to avoid staying up too late. Make sure you are well rested so you can start your morning refreshed.

Morning Routine

Daniel starts out each day by reading the Bible and prayer. He is sure to schedule his goals for each day and even goes as far as scheduling appointments with himself to take time to think and write. Build your schedules around what will propel you forward for success.

Life Lessons Daniel Has Learned

1. Don’t be afraid to pay for things. “free always costs”; in time and knowledge if not money
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Drop the superhero mentality, don’t be afraid to delegate if possible. Delegation scales. My Podcast Reviews would not exist if Daniel would have tried to do it himself and not delegated it to others. Change from solopreneur to CEO. Do the things that are crucial to the success of your business and automate or delegate the rest if possible. If you are starting out and don’t have the means to hire someone; look for volunteers or a student looking to intern with you.

How Does He Define Success?

Each of us defines our own success. For Daniel it is having a job that he loves and a life that can be separate from that. He calls it a work-life integration, not work like balance. Success for him is being recklessly generous with his time and money and resources. It’s not how much we are getting but how much are we giving!

Books Daniel Recommends

The Bible. Especially Proverbs for the life and business lessons that it offers that he is able to apply in his everyday life.

48 Days To The Work You Love by Dan Miller and Dave Ramsey

Virtual Freedom by Chris Ducker

What does it take to push Daniel Over the Edge?

Putting aside your fear and realizing that what you try could fail horribly. Keep moving forward, keep your eyes on the prize; your dream, and don’t be distracted by the little things that seem to want to slow you down and hold you back.

Other Recommendations

The Audio‑Technica ATR 2100‑USB Microphone as the best microphone for getting started in the world of podcasts.

Connect with Daniel

theaudacitytopodcast.com