Sharon Cauthen, Author at The Multifamily Collective

Podcast Experts

Podcasts have been around for a couple of decades, and you can find a podcast for every imaginable topic or area of interest – and in my opinion, the world is better off for it. Podcasts are egalitarian in that, with a few tools and a lot of grit, just about anyone with something interesting to say can find an audience for it.

If you listen to the Multifamily Collective daily vlog, you might have heard my take on “The Perfect Length of a Podcast” *(hint: I’m not a fan of this concept). As a podcasting veteran over the last six or seven years, I take issue with self-proclaimed experts putting guardrails on the creativity of the masses.

If you want to create a podcast or any other content, my encouragement to you is to just – start. Make a commitment to producing content on a regular schedule. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Make mistakes. Screw up. Dust yourself off and do it again. Your audience will find you and when they do, the thing I believe they want most – more than a highly polished and edited script – is the authentic you.

As far as the perfect podcast length discussion goes, I listen to audiobooks and podcasts as I drive around (and when I run) and for me, this much is true: if the content is compelling, I never notice the time. I’ve heard two-hour long podcasts that kept me engaged for the duration. On the other hand, I’ve listened to much shorter ones that were far less interesting.

On the Multifamily Collective platform, you will find daily vlogs that are 2-4 minutes long – bite-sized bits of encouragement and knowledge to start the day. Our Collective Conversations interview series are usually an hour or so – plus/minus. Some guests are so fascinating that we could have talked for much longer. Other episodes are shorter to accommodate the guest’s schedule. Oh – and we don’t edit our episodes. With very rare exceptions, all video content at the Multifamily Collective is an ‘all-in-one’ practice. It keeps us authentic, and the bloopers are (hopefully) part of the charm. Hats off to Gary Vaynerchuk who inspired our no-edit style.

If you go back to my very first Apartment Hacker video in 2016, you will find this: I resolved to Read Less and Do More, I worked at Mills Properties, and my hair was mysteriously much darker than it is today. As I reflect back over the years, there were many times when it would have been easier to stop, when the audience was quiet, and the time seemed hard to come by, and even when there were some naysayers about the whole thing. I am not declaring myself to be the expert on podcasting but if I were to leave others with one note that ensures success beyond just about any other guidance, it’s this: Don’t quit. It’s that simple and that hard. Do it as a regular practice even when it feels like no one cares at all. Do it anyway. It is in the doing that you learn and get better.

Finally, I will take this moment to say thank you to everyone who supported me through the years, who listened, who came on the show, and who believed in me. I owe you a cup of coffee and a ton of gratitude.

Who do you want to see on a future Collective Conversations episode? Please send your ideas to info@multifamilycollective.com

Don’t miss any Multifamily Collective news and notes. Sign up for our Collective Rundown newsletter.

Photo by Kevin Bluer on Unsplash

Autopilot

Airplanes use autopilot software that can manage the aircraft under certain conditions using the craft’s hydraulic, mechanical, and electronic systems. It can do things such as stabilize speed and height as well as the heading. Mostly used on passenger planes, pilots generally use autopilot to lead the aircraft in a controlled manner except for departure and landing.

The use of autopilot technology has migrated well beyond the world of air travel. Decades ago, the term autopilot was briefly used to describe conventional cruise control. Tesla has branded the term Autopilot to refer to their feature that combines land-centering steering with adaptive cruise control. Many other cars offer advanced driver-assistance features. Some offerings rival or even exceed Autopilot’s primary capabilities.

Even the most advanced systems require the driver to pay attention and take over as necessary, often using a driver-facing camera that monitors driver engagement at all times. We are far away from leaving it all in the hands of the car while drivers read, surf the net, or otherwise zone out. Still, with or without an enhanced driver support system, many people are driving with their minds on autopilot.

Living On Autopilot

Have you arrived at your destination and not remembered anything about the drive? Ever listen to podcasts while driving and realized that you missed whole sections because your mind was elsewhere even though your intention was the listen closely? Earlier this week, I published this thought on the topic.

It seems to me that people are living on autopilot more than ever these days. The 24/7 deluge of information coupled with reliance on (and addiction to) devices is taking its toll but there is no slowing down the technology train. Even as I was writing this missive, my work was held up by the need for yet another multi-factor identification – stop writing, sign in to the system that I was auto-signed out of when the 14-day cycle expired, get the code from my device, input it, and back to my interrupted thoughts.

When it comes down to it, the only variable that you can change is you – your habits and practices. And those feel like the hardest of all to rewire but small changes are possible and when practiced regularly, they can lead to bigger and more permanent changes.

Here are a few suggestions for turning off your autopilot and tuning in to your life this week.

Focus Time – Build in a block of time daily for creative dreaming. Set it as a calendar appointment and hold it in high regard. This focus time is for expanding your thoughts beyond the next item on your to-do list. Meditate, journal, take a walk, or just sit for a while – without the digital leash of your device.

Do Something Differently – Take a different route on your commute and take note of the things you see along the way. Start a new hobby. Bonus points if you select activities that require the use of your hands like gardening, pottery, or painting – making frequent checks of your phone more difficult.

Set A New Goal – It can relate to your career, but it doesn’t need to. Some easy ones:

Take a walk/run before work three days a week

Ask someone you trust to mentor you

Read one of the book recommendations you’ve been meaning to get to

Connect With Others – Loneliness is rampant, especially after the last two years. Lean into that awkward feeling and make the effort to get to know someone new. Ask a new neighbor to join you on a walk or to get a cup of coffee. Check out interesting events happening near you – anything from farmer’s markets to concerts in the park – and show up!

This short blog post is a simply a prompt and a jumping-off point. My encouragement to you today is to break out of your autopilot and wake up to all the possibilities. Surprise yourself with a self-determined and intentional life.

Have you ever found yourself living on autopilot? How did you break the pattern? Share your thought with us!

Help us grow the Multifamily Collective!

YouTube – Please subscribe to our channel, like our content, and engage in the comments

Apple Podcasts – Please Rate and Review Multifamily Collective – all episodes of Collective Conversations and our daily Vlogs are here for easy listening

The Weekly Rundown – Sign up to receive our free weekly newsletter