Episode Summary

In this raw and revealing Fail Forward Friday episode, Heather shares two contrasting stories from her own business journey: why she persisted with her Sunday newsletter after two years of declining engagement, and why she completely pivoted away from YouTube after a controversial interview led to algorithmic exile. Through these parallel experiences, she explores the crucial difference between productive persistence and digital self-harm.

The Stories

The Newsletter Journey: After 88 editions over two years, spending 4+ hours every Sunday writing, Heather watched her email bounce rates rise and open rates plummet. On the verge of quitting, she asked the universe for a sign - and got a response after edition 86 that led to new business. She persisted.

The YouTube Pivot: Following a controversial interview, Heather's YouTube channel went from hundreds of views to literally zero - not just new videos, but even older content was algorithmically suppressed. Recognising the need to niche down in today's landscape, she pivoted completely to LinkedIn, launching an AI-focused newsletter for transformational practitioners.

Key Topics Covered

• Recognising the difference between productive persistence and stubborn repetition
• Reading micro-signals versus macro-results
• How algorithms can completely reshape your digital strategy
• The importance of niching down in today's content landscape
• When to trust your energy levels as crucial business data
• Pivoting your method while maintaining your mission

Chapters:

• 00:32 - The Balance of Persistence and Letting Go
• 02:21 - A Tale of Two Journeys
• 03:39 - The Pivot Decision: Learning from YouTube's Founders
• 05:19 - Navigating Persistence and Pivoting
• 06:45 - The Signals of Change

Three Core Lessons

1. Look for micro-signals, not just macro-results - Small signs of engagement matter more than vanity metrics
2. Trust your energy - Generative challenge feels different from soul-crushing struggle
3. Pivot your method, not your mission - Stay true to your purpose while being flexible about your platform

This Week's Reality Check

Strip away all the "shoulds" and "I've already invested so much time" and ask:

What does your gut tell you about your current path? Trust your intuition - it's been collecting data this whole time.

Community Challenge

Share your current persistence vs pivot dilemma in one sentence @ChoosingHappyPodcast - your story might help someone else navigate their crossroads.

Resources

• Connect with Heather for transformation work
• New LinkedIn AI newsletter for transformational practitioners

Next Episode

Join us next Friday for another Fail Forward episode where we continue turning setbacks into comebacks.

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