30 Day Writing Challenge - Ship30for30 Harry Duran

30 days ago, I signed up for Dickie Bush & Nicolas Cole's cohort-based course, Ship 30 for 30.
In that time, I wrote & published 30 Atomic Essays, learned the fundamentals of Digital Writing, made friends, and continued gaining clarity around my niche. It's been a very rewarding (and challenging) journey, and I am more excited than ever to keep writing online.
Here are the 3 biggest things writing & publishing consistently every day for 30 days taught me:
1. Take Imperfect ActionAs you might imagine, coming up with a topic every day is no easy feat. And while the templates provided some helpful starting points, it did require focused effort. I had to be comfortable knowing that not every one was going to be a mind-blowing revelation, but the important thing was (and is) forward momentum.
2. Build a Support GroupThe program gave us many opportunities to connect with our fellow shippers, many of whom I've remained connected with. When tackling a challenge such as this one, it's extremely helpful to have a sounding board of peers going through the same ups and downs.
3. Push Out of Your Comfort ZoneWhile I could have kept the topics superficial and safe, I would always look for an opportunity to share a personal story. Not surprisingly, those are the ones that received the best feedback.
At the end of the day, our stories and experiences are valuable and should be shared. But I guarantee you that your voice will be heard at the right time by the right person.
It's not up to us to decide their value.
Learn more about the Ship30for30 Program: https://fullcast.co/ship30for30/
Follow my journey on your preferred social platform!
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Listen to my other shows:Podcast Junkies
Conversations with my fellow podcasting community since 2014
Vertical Farming Podcast
Interviews with fascinating CEOs & Founders of the leading vertical farming companies from around the world.


This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

I used to be bad with goal setting. It's a challenge I've had for years and, if I'm being totally honest, probably decades. Whenever I would be asked what my 10-year plan was, or vision, or goals or BHAG (big hairy audacious goal), I would inevitably make up something that 'sounded' lofty and ambitious.
But without an actionable plan on how to get there, I would inevitably fall short and get discouraged. So what changed?
What Gets Measured Gets ManagedEverything changed as soon as I began to put my focus on my why. I became more consistent with my meditation and journaling, which always help to clear my mind. Additionally, this recent uptick in my writing has provided additional clarity.
My intention is now on continuous daily improvement with an eye towards my long-term goals. I'm really fascinated by this idea of tiny, daily, 1% improvements. Am I perfectly diligent and track every metric down on a daily level? No, not by any means. But that is the intention.
Wherever you are in your life journey, it's never too late to sit down and take a close look at your life now and where you want it to be. Ask yourself those tough questions and take charge of your life today!
Learn more about the Ship30for30 Program: https://fullcast.co/ship30for30/
Follow my journey on your preferred social platform!
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
Medium
Typeshare
Listen to my other shows:Podcast Junkies
Conversations with my fellow podcasting community since 2014
Vertical Farming Podcast
Interviews with fascinating CEOs & Founders of the leading vertical farming companies from around the world.


This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In December 2004 I took a trip to Thailand to visit a friend whose parents owned a house on Koh Samui.
It ended up being the longest trip I had ever taken at that point in my life.
Little did I know what was going to happen within 24 hours of arriving.
On Saturday morning I share that story with 1,593 subscribers of my newsletter, A Life Worth Living.
I'm thinking you should join us: harryduran.com
Learn more about the Ship30for30 Program: https://fullcast.co/ship30for30/
Follow my journey on your preferred social platform!
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
Medium
Typeshare
Listen to my other shows:Podcast Junkies
Conversations with my fellow podcasting community since 2014
Vertical Farming Podcast
Interviews with fascinating CEOs & Founders of the leading vertical farming companies from around the world.


This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

As I make into the home stretch of this 30-day writing challenge you've all been experiencing first-hand, I've been spending a lot of my time thinking about the importance of consistency.
Lately, one question I've been asking myself is this:
How Important Is Consistency Without Quality?Imagine you go to your favorite Italian restaurant and order a pasta dish that you love. Every time you come back, you expect it to taste the same. But one day, you get your Noodles Alfredo Supreme and it just doesn't taste right. The ingredients are still there, but it's just not as delicious as it used to be.
That's what it's like when you focus on consistency without quality - it's predictable, but it's missing something. It doesn't have the flavor and impact that you were expecting.
For these 30 days, in order to stick to the challenge, I've made sure that one piece of writing makes it out the door. But I'm always wondering, are the noodles up to par?
There's something to be said for taking consistent imperfect action, but I don't want that to be an excuse for shipping crap. Especially with this new wave of AI-driven content.
Will I be looking for a breather on Day 31? That's still up in the air. If you've been struggling with similar thoughts, I'd love to hear your feedback!
Learn more about the Ship30for30 Program: https://fullcast.co/ship30for30/
Follow my journey on your preferred social platform!
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
Medium
Typeshare
Listen to my other shows:Podcast Junkies
Conversations with my fellow podcasting community since 2014
Vertical Farming Podcast
Interviews with fascinating CEOs & Founders of the leading vertical farming companies from around the world.


This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In an earlier essay I mentioned the importance of planning your show prior to thinking about any of your gear needs. Once you've put the time into the preparation and have your Name, Description, Cover Art, and draft of your first 12 episodes, you can then start focusing on your tech needs. Lucky for you, I just happen to have that list handy!
Start with Professional MicrophoneBeginner: Samson Q2U ($80)
Pro: Shure SM7B ($400)
Boom Arm: Samson MBA38 ($70)
Headphones: Sony ZX - light & affordable ($19)
High Quality InputRemote Recording: SquadCast.fm (starts at $20/mo)
Edit Your MediaAudio: Hindenburg Pro - Noise reduction plugin included ($10/mo)
Video: Descript ($12/mo)
PromotionCover Art / Episode Graphics: Canva (Free to start)
Audiograms: Headliner Pro (Free to start)
This is a starting list but it will definitely set you off on the right path. As your needs grow you can look into signing up for a social media scheduling tool for help scheduling your episode promotion.
When considering an additional expense, take the time to determine whether the investment will truly help in the growth of your show.
Learn more about the Ship30for30 Program: https://fullcast.co/ship30for30/
Follow my journey on your preferred social platform!
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
Medium
Typeshare
Listen to my other shows:Podcast Junkies
Conversations with my fellow podcasting community since 2014
Vertical Farming Podcast
Interviews with fascinating CEOs & Founders of the leading vertical farming companies from around the world.


This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

I don't know where you were in your late 20's, but if I told you (at that age) that the only opportunity to better your life was to leave the country you were born in and travel to another country where you didn't speak the language, I'm wondering how many of you would honestly (in this day and age) make that trip.
You see, it's exactly what my father did. He traveled from El Salvador in the late 70's in search of a better life for his family. Not to put too fine a point on it, but had he not taken that leap, I wouldn't be here writing this to you.
Not only that, at some point during the 2nd or 3rd work shift of his day, he somehow managed to find an advertisement in the back of a magazine, promoting a program in computer repair.
I can't for the life of me put myself in his shoes, but something clicked. He recognized, as many did then, that computers were the future. And so he found a way to get the money to attend, and my family's life was changed forever.
It was he that brought home the first electric typewriter I had ever seen. Granted, the thing weighed a ton, but it was cool as shit. That piqued my curiosity and eventually led to my first Texas Instruments PC with a cassette recorder as the 'hard drive'. It's been a love for tech ever since.
Learn more about the Ship30for30 Program: https://fullcast.co/ship30for30/
Follow my journey on your preferred social platform!
Twitter
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn
Medium
Typeshare
Listen to my other shows:Podcast Junkies
Conversations with my fellow podcasting community since 2014
Vertical Farming Podcast
Interviews with fascinating CEOs & Founders of the leading vertical farming companies from around the world.


This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy