The Greatest Lesson I've Learnt since Creating our Podcast - Episode 54

Welcome back to SMM (Social Media Mastery)! The newsletter that delivers bite-sized, practical social media guidance straight to

Today, we’re diving into a lesson that took me far too long to learn:

Why perfection is overrated when creating a podcast!

Before we can answer that, we need to define what “perfection” truly is:

“The state of being complete and correct in every way”

Now this sounds great in theory, but in reality, it’s one of the biggest things holding creators back.

Why Perfection Isn’t the Goal

You don’t need perfection to build a successful podcast.

In fact, some of the biggest shows in the world have grown because they feel:

• Real

• Natural

• Slightly unpolished

Take someone like Joe Rogan.

His content feels authentic, raw, and conversational - not overly structured or “perfect”.

On the other side, shows like Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett are now sometimes criticised for being too polished - chasing that extra 1% in every moment.

And that highlights the real issue that most people are looking at the very top, and copying the wrong things.

The Real Problem

Most creators will never reach the scale of Joe Rogan or Steven Bartlett, so using their level of production or polish as your starting point, is a major mistake.

What You Should Focus On Instead

As someone who launched a podcast in 2025, now generating millions of views, here’s what I’d recommend:

Be yourself - but play the game.

And the game is:

👉 Attention

We’re in the era of interest media.

That means you need to:

• Create clip-able moments

• Talk about relevant topics

• Drive engagement

• Think about how your content will be consumed on social

Because in 2026, the podcast space is saturated, and if you don’t stand out, you won’t be seen.

The Balanced Approach

Here’s the reality:

At the start, perfection slows you down. Consistency then grows you and volume teaches you.

Then once you’ve built momentum, you can refine.

That’s when you focus on:

• Improving quality

• Tightening production

• Winning on the small details

So in conclusion:

Don’t aim for perfection at the beginning - aim for progress.

Grow your podcast through consistency, volume, and learning.

Then, when the time is right, focus on the 1% improvements that separate you from the competition.

Make sure to subscribe, and remember - “If your content doesn’t spark interest, it doesn’t stand a chance.”

- Jacob

If you’re interested in growing your PODCAST in 2026 - press here