#1 - Podcast Launch with Sylvain Perrier
I was in Chicago preparing to speak at an industry event, and during a short break, I overheard a bunch of people rhyming off podcasts they felt provided the most value. That's it. I'll start a podcast. It made sense, and it still does.
It was in the summer of 2018, that my then executive coach Julie Zuzek challenged me on a lark to explore my creative side. An uncomfortable exercise considering that I'm analytical and tend to operationalize most of the things that I do. None the less, challenge accepted. I hit the ground running with zest and zeal. It was exhilarating, and I felt something that I hadn't felt in years. Wow! What to do? That wouldn't distract me from my role as an executive at Mercatus. And then it hit me. I was in Chicago preparing to speak at an industry event, and during a short break, I overheard a bunch of people rhyming off podcasts they felt provided the most value. That's it. I'll start a podcast. It made sense, and it still does. People had already abandoned terrestrial radio, and satellite radio wasn't fairing well. A significant portion of the populace was flocking towards on-demand platforms seeking original content. I jumped in, oh boy, did I jump in.
Late that evening, back at the hotel, I purchased the necessary gear for recording at home. Then came the real challenge—determining my podcast's vision and mission statements, including its identity. It wasn't easy, and it took weeks. Remember, this was an exercise in exploring my creative side. I laid out a clear process to help me achieve my goal. One that enabled me to learn as I progressed. It was like lighting a fire, once it's on, you can't stop it. Here's what I came up with for my vision statement one late night: To be the world's leading business-to-business (B2B) bold and unabashed podcast, revealing the truth about running a fucking business. And for my mission statement: To provide entertaining content that empowers entrepreneurs to learn, grow, and generate revenue. That's when it hit me; I like helping people.
The daunting part was trying to come up with a name that echoed what I was trying to achieve while retaining a little piece of me. It took weeks. I can't easily remember where and when I came up with the name, but I believe I was in Las Vegas attending a trade show, that it hit me. Brash Words. Yep, that's it. That's me. Once I had the name, the rest just flowed. The podcast represents something both unique and fun for me. It gives me an outlet to express myself and share my experiences collected over 20 years. I hit the mic in early October and recorded my first episode, and I haven't looked back since.
I'm dedicating Episode #1 to a dear individual and one of the best coaches an individual could ever ask for, Bernie Nisker. Bernie past away a few years ago, but his principles and ideas still live on in my day-to-day work. Thank you, Bernie. Episode #1 is just me riffing at the mic and exploring the possibilities. Enjoy.
If you have any questions or ideas for an episode, drop me an email by visiting the contact page.
Don't forget to keep an eye out for Episode #2, where I'll be interviewing the President and CEO of Accel Omega, Edgar Francis.
