Finding your voice, ignoring the naysayers

In May, Mario Bekes set the Guinness World Record for the longest audio-only livestream: 55 hours and 25 minutes, beating the previous record by two hours and 24 minutes. His success probably came as little surprise to regular listeners to his podcast, “Life: The Battlefield,” aware of his unwavering passion to help others achieve their full potential. Who better to give advice to aspiring podcasters?

SYDNEY — When I started my own business, Insight Intelligence Group, in 2009, I was aware that despite my working experience, knowledge and education in the field of human intelligence and investigations, no one knew about me or my business. I wondered, “Do I even exist in the business world?”

Feeling invisible and like you have no voice in the community is a tough spot to be in. I know this firsthand. When I first arrived in Australia in 2000, I had no connections or history here, and it was a challenging time. But I didn’t give up, and in 2009, I found my voice through community radio, where I began sharing my unique stories and experiences.

Through interviews with guests, we educate and equip our audiences with the tools and strategies to reach and exceed their full potential

Through radio, I knew that, whether on an individual or a business level, everyone can share their unique story or create their own scenario, translate that into audio and video recording, and attract others to learn and share their experiences.

As I learned more about media, I realized that I could reach even more people through podcasting, which led me to launch my own podcast, Life: The Battlefield, to assist those who want to change lives. Through interviews with our guests, we educate and equip our audiences with the tools and strategies to reach and exceed their full potential.

Perseverance

Through determination and perseverance, I overcame my circumstances and today believe everyone has a story worth sharing. So, if you’re considering podcasting, find your platform and share your story with the world — your voice matters.

There is a ton of information available about setting up a studio, presentation, knowing what to say, etc., but I learned that the first step is to understand WHY you are making a podcast and what your strengths are. That’s critical because lots of people will try to sell you equipment without explaining why you need it.

The most significant obstacle is money. I set a goal to establish a state-of-the-art studio in six months. I achieved this goal by planning and understanding how to create podcasts and for whom, and with the help of the resources that were readily available to me.

Once I was up and running, my biggest issue was being heard and noticed — there are a lot of podcasts out there! I needed to establish my audience my way. That took time, which is the most valuable resource in life — there is never enough of it. This is important for those starting their own podcast to remember.

Thanks to determination and perseverance, I overcame my circumstances and today believe everyone has a story worth sharing.

Also, the following aspects are important:

• Focus on your main aims and goals, such as why you started your podcast and what you hope to accomplish.
• Don’t worry about what other people do or how they behave; we are all unique individuals.
• Do what your heart and soul tell you to, and never stop believing in yourself and what you offer.

There will never be a shortage of people advising you not to do something, to stop embarrassing yourself, but keep going anyway. A case in point was my recent world record for continuous podcasting.

Many people were willing to encourage doubt as to whether to do it, but those who knew me never wavered. I started the challenge knowing I was on a mission with a specific goal: To win. I also knew I could only exit this competition by winning or being eliminated. I did it to show everyone that the seemingly impossible is attainable and that all it takes to succeed is determination, energy and the willingness to make great sacrifices. As the saying goes: When dating, a man should be ready to perish within the castle walls of his lady.

Was the weariness, insomnia and claustrophobia worth it? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Yes, in a heartbeat.