PODCAST: Season 6, Episode 26
Grab your coffee and settle in for a funny (and slightly cringe) story about what happens when tech goes absolutely mental during a launch! I’m sharing the blow-by-blow account of my recent private podcast launch where everything that could go wrong, did go wrong – whilst I was at the spa being slightly smug about my automated systems. If you’ve ever had tech gremlins derail your perfectly planned launch, this episode will make you feel so much better about the chaos!
The Perfect Setup (Or So I Thought!)
- Built on the success of my December 12-day Christmas podcast series that made brilliant sales
- Planned a 3-day private podcast challenge with both organic and paid promotion
- 160 sign-ups (hitting my stretch goal of 150!) – half organic, half ads
- Everything prepped: recordings done, marketing sorted, ads running
- Confidently went to spa on launch day because “I trust my systems” 🤦♀️
When Everything Goes Tits Up
The Email Sequence Disaster:
- 8am: No day 1 email sent (should’ve gone automatically)
- 7:45am: Live chatting with Kartra support while at spa entrance
- Fixed it, email finally sent… then discovered Spotify link wasn’t working
- 9am: Second email apologising for broken Spotify link
- At the spa: Day 2 email randomly sends whilst we’re still on day 1!
- Home from spa: Had to rebuild the entire sequence from scratch
The Domino Effect:
- Three emails instead of one on launch day
- Confused subscribers wondering what the hell was happening
- My nervous system having a proper wobble
- The internal debate: Send a fourth email acknowledging the chaos or pretend it never happened?
Key Topics Covered
The CEO Mindset During Crisis
- Being a CEO means letting shit break sometimes and knowing how to fix it quickly
- The difference between being chilled/in control vs. being glued to your laptop during launches
- Why occasional chaos doesn’t mean your strategy is wrong
- The power of bouncing back without letting tech fails define your business
The Honesty vs. Performance Dilemma
- Choosing to be human and responsive instead of performative
- My decision to send that fourth email acknowledging the elephant in the room
- Why transparency often works better than pretending nothing happened
- The relief of just saying “Sorry, I’m not stalking you – tech issues!”
Lessons from the Chaos
- Discovered that editing a live Kartra sequence has consequences (4 years of using it and didn’t know!)
- Private podcast platform differences between Apple and Spotify
- The importance of testing everything, even when you think you know your systems
- Sometimes you need a “humble tech pie” to keep you grounded
The Perspective Shift
My friend’s wisdom: “Don’t worry – Tony Robbins sent the wrong link to thousands and had to resend it.” Suddenly my 160-person hiccup felt very manageable!
Featured Business Insights
The Private Podcast Strategy:
- Used Hello Audible for private podcast hosting (Acast doesn’t do private/subscription feeds)
- 3-day challenge format: “Selling What They Want, Not What They Need”
- Addressing the common trap of being too many steps ahead of your ideal clients
- The power of podcast-as-funnel for connection and sales
Launch Preparation Done Right:
- Clear minimum and stretch goals (130 minimum, 150 stretch, achieved 160)
- 50/50 split between organic and paid traffic
- Systems in place for automation
- Mastermind support for quick problem-solving
The Automation Reality Check:
- You can launch and be chilled, but you still need the power to pivot quickly
- Automation is brilliant until it isn’t – then you need human intervention
- Having support systems (like masterminds) for quick decision-making during crises
What Sets CEOs Apart
It’s not avoiding problems – it’s how quickly you find solutions and bounce back. The difference between successful launches and disasters often comes down to resilience and problem-solving speed, not perfect execution.
Take Action
- Test your email sequences thoroughly, especially if you’ve edited them
- Have a plan for quick communication when things go wrong
- Remember: tech fails don’t equal business fails
- Consider the power of honesty over perfection in your communications
Resources Mentioned
- Hello Audible – Private podcast hosting platform
- Kartra – Email marketing and automation (with its quirks!)
- 3-Day Private Podcast Challenge – “Selling What They Want, Not What They Need”
The Spa Philosophy
Sometimes the spa is absolutely worth the risk! You can be a chilled CEO and still handle chaos when it arises. Just maybe test everything one more time before you disappear into the jacuzzi…
Join the Challenge
If you’d like access to the private podcast that caused all this drama (and learn about selling what they want vs. what they need), DM me “private podcast” on Instagram @mills_gray and I’ll send you the link!
Final Thought
Your biggest launch disasters often become your best stories and learning experiences. Plus, they make you much more relatable to your audience than perfect, polished launches ever could.
Share your biggest tech gremlin story with me – I’d love to hear how you bounced back from launch chaos! Remember: it’s not about avoiding the humble pie, it’s about how gracefully you eat it! 🥧