>How much work we get and how we're making rent is a sensitive topic for all of us. We all want to look like consumate professionals with a booked calendar and oodles of excess cash in the bank. And yet the truth is, 90% of us don't resemble that picture. At least not yet.

A similar issue came up when I was here previously.

Worth a read.

Well now hmmm. Pay the rent or lose the house? I am thinking you do whatever it takes to pay the rent. And there is no harm in acknowledging the truth that times may be hard or you have had to make a course correction.

Now the key is that you put people around you to help you identify how to get to where you want to go. My experience tells me that business owners who build support structures around them to expose the truth, are more likely to weather storms successfully than those who fall victim to the change in climate.

Failure is not failure until I give sanction to the belief or tale that I have failed. Success is also in the eyes of the beholder.

The bigger message really is, why do people struggle with telling the truth about where their business is, vs. putting on the 'I am FINE' or 'It's Great' face?

We build fences around us to shade the truth and what a better community would we live in if we spoke out our fears, struggles and even shortcomings.

Great start to a big conversation Rachel

Rachel, regarding low attendance at your radio shows ... I think that the blogtalkradio interface and user learning curve could be a factor.

My initial experience with blogtalkradio awhile back, was not a positive one. It didn't have anything to do with the show that I'd tuned in for, just the interface and some glitches. That left me with hesitant to bother tuning in again. Not a fair response, but that's what happened.

Subsequently I tried to tune in for one of your shows, but there was a problem with timing, and it just didn't work out.

Today I go back to the station to see if there's an archive and if your shows can be listened to other than real-time. I used the link above and the default broadcast was one from earlier in April, not the current show.

Because it's you and I like you and I care, I kept poking around and found the current show (there is no "Other Episodes" button; I clicked on your name to find your catalog and more shows).

And then, I noticed the teeny tiny "iTunes" button and realized that I could probably download your broadcast and listen later. It's a small button and does not enlarge when I increase the text size in my browser, which is unfortunate for those of us aged folks in your audience.

I hope I don't sound whiny. Just thought it might be helpful to you to have some specificity about the novice user's experience of the blogtalkradio interface; maybe some changes in the info you provide while promoting the shows will help you reach your goals.

For example, while it won't increase audience participation during the show, awareness that your shows can be downloaded will likely increase consumption overall--helping you get your important messages out.

On the issue of 'I have this super helpful service that could change people's lives--how do I get it to them?', well that's what I used to get the big bucks for from clients - and to whom I'm increasingly saying 'Hang on to your money - I don't have the answers any more.'

As you'll likely know, it's increasingly a tale of 'do what you reasonably can with the usual ways of getting the word out' - but with increasing chance and decreasing return.

What I'm certain of is that the key is more specific targeting - 'rather have five strongly-in-favor I-love-this-stuff users than five hundred 'that's interesting' casual readers'.

But that's alien to many, who'd rather spread far-and-wide than be more selective.

Specifically with BTR, I've always considered it too generalized. (Sure, the web is generalized, but that's an exception.) There's simply too much stuff there with little distinct identity. It's just a mess - among which is good stuff.

It's similar to an Amazon of audio programs - and it doesn't work well for either the listeners or producers. Niching will help - the concept of Biznik Radio is good, but wasted in the current expression. It'll benefit from more content, and hosted elsewhere. But even Biznik Radio is too generalized in some instances.

Another big issue with BTR is the 'dullness' of the presentation - if the term 'radio' is in play, then we have expectations of it sounding appropriate. It needs the jingles, sweepers, idents and other stuff to work. Oh yeah, and music - even on talk-oriented radio. Er, make that especially with talk-oriented radio produced by people who aren't radio professionals. And BTR doesn't do that. Like Odeo, it's simply a catalog to browse.

Flip that around and make it more radio-ish... and broadcast a stream which features individual programs which can be accessed on-demand and things become more interesting. Add the pro-tech stuff and it steps up a notch. Blend-in music and game-on.

As an example, and I can't do this in any way other than a plug, consider InnerpreneurRadio (don't bother clicking the link, there's just a holding page for a currently inactive project), the basis of which is:

'Talk good business. Play great music. Period.'

Innerpreneur Radio covers the best of Innerpreneur-oriented business & living… blending news, commentary, interviews, features, advice, tips, etcetera with music drawn mainly from 'The Rolling Stone 500 greatest songs & albums of all time.'

Then we broadcast it, globally, via the Internet. 24-7-365. Free.

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Jeez, this was longer than expected. I don't want to be whoring myself in a public forum, so I'm happy to continue this privately for anyone who's interested.