Status Update: Still Ain’t Doing Nothing But Talking 👀

Did That Title Make You Say “Huh?”… Good. That Means You Still Got Brain Cells Left. 🧠💥
By Shemaiah Reed – Certified Gossip-Free Zone Operator

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Because let’s be real—if that headline made you pause mid-scroll, you’re already ahead of 90% of the internet who just blindly like posts that say “New era loading…” with zero substance and 12 filters.

You’re here. You’re curious.
And you’re probably tired of people posting “status updates” like they run a Fortune 500 company… but in reality, they just switched laundry detergent. 🧺👏🏾

Let’s talk about it.

Let’s talk about the Status Updaters.
You know the ones.
Always got a new “I’m working on something big” post,
but the only thing big is the amount of time they spend gossiping in the comments like it’s a full-time job with benefits.

Newsflash:
Repeating drama in a different font ain't content—it's reruns.

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📱 Back in the Day...

We didn’t have 5 apps and a Finsta just to tell folks how we felt.
We went outside.

If you had something to say?
You said it in person. On a porch. At the corner store.
You didn’t need to post a selfie with a caption like:

“Some of y’all need to mind y’all business 💅🏾 #GrowthSeason”
…when you are the business you’re talking about. 💀

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🎣 Clickbait Is Not Currency

Some folks are out here fishing for likes like their rent depends on it:

• “Wait till y’all see what I got coming…”

• “People love to see you fail 😤”

• “Y’all ever been betrayed by someone who said they had your back?”

Fam. Yes. We all have. Move on. Start a podcast. Build something.

You don’t need to create drama to feel relevant.
Create value. Create impact.

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🙌 Maybe the Real Flex Is Just… Being Real

Here’s a radical idea:
What if instead of trying to go viral, you focused on being visible to the right people?

What if the next move wasn’t a status update but a character upgrade?
What if you posted less and built more?
What if you stopped trying to prove something and just became it?

Because the real ones will find you.
They always do.

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💬 Final Thought (No Status Update Needed)

Not everything needs a cryptic post.
Not everyone needs to know your every move.
And not everything is “shade”—
Sometimes it’s just your own shadow you’re beefing with.

So stay focused.
Stay building.
And if you’re gonna post anything,
make sure it leaves somebody better than it found ‘em.

Or at least makes ‘em laugh harder than they gossip.

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#RefocusedNotPetty
#PostPurposefully
#TheOnlyDramaWeWatchIsOnNetflix

Don’t Post Like Every Other Podcast Show — That’s Exactly the Point.

You ever look around and feel like every podcast Instagram page is a copy-paste of the same exact thing?
👀 A grainy mic selfie.
🧠 A recycled quote with no context.
🎙️ “New episode out now! Link in bio!” (We get it.)

It’s like we all showed up to the party in the same outfit—but nobody’s dancing different.

Here’s the truth that might set you free:
Not posting like every other show? That’s your superpower.

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🧍‍♂️ Just Because It’s Popular Doesn’t Mean It’s Purposeful

Let me put it like this:
If everybody thought it was cool to drive without a seatbelt, would you do it?
Nah.
So why ride shotgun with every trend that’s got zero direction?

Some people ride trends.
Others? Make ‘em.

Your show? It’s got a soul. A voice. A why.
So stop watering it down with cookie-cutter content just to fit in with the noise.
You weren’t made to blend in—you were built to stand out.

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📉 What Happens When You Copy Everyone Else?

You might get likes.
You might even get some fake momentum.

But here’s the catch:
You become forgettable.
Replaceable.
Just another voice in the sea of "meh."

You don’t want that. You want the listener who binge-listens. The one who feels like they just found a hidden gem. The one who sends it to their friend and says:

“Yo, this is different. This is real.”

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🔁 Be Consistent, Not Cloned

You don’t need 10 posts a day.
You need 1 message that hits like a heartbeat.

Your story? Post that.
Your behind-the-scenes process? Let us in.
Your guests dropping real gems? Clip that moment of silence right after the truth lands.
That awkward pause? That "dang, I felt that" face? That’s gold.

Because real isn’t polished. It’s raw.
And that’s what resonates.

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🎯 Do What Works for You

Forget what the "experts" say you have to do.
Do what aligns with your vision. Your tone. Your people.

Some shows post every day.
Others drop once a week and move hearts like sermons.

There’s no one-size-fits-all to legacy.
Just alignment.

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🧠 Remember This:

• Trends fade.

• Real lasts.

• Copycats chase attention.

• Originals command it.

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So next time you feel like you’re not doing enough because your page doesn’t look like the “Top 10 Podcast Pages” list... smile.

You’re not missing out.
You’re standing up.
You’re building your own lane.

And when you own your lane, the right people will find you—and follow.

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Now go post something that actually sounds like you.
Not the version they expect—
The one they’ll never forget.

Stay real.
#Stayfocused.
— Shemaiah

One Show at a Time: Why Building a Podcast is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

 

Let me mentor you for a moment. Pull up a chair, take a breath, and listen closely—because this right here is the conversation I wish someone had with me when I started.

We live in a world that worships numbers. Sub counts. Views. Follows. Streams. But let me tell you something that might just set you free: high numbers don’t always mean high value. And chasing numbers without purpose will drain you faster than a bad mic battery.

You don’t grow a podcast by trying to blow up overnight.
You grow it one show at a time.
One conversation at a time.
One listener who says, “Yo, that hit home” at a time.

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The Trap of Vanity Metrics

Let’s be real—looking at numbers can mess with your head. You drop an episode you’re proud of, and instead of celebrating that win, you’re refreshing the stats page like it owes you money. But here’s the truth: viral doesn’t equal valuable. There are people with a million followers who can’t sell a $10 T-shirt, and there are folks with 500 listeners changing lives every week.

Which one do you want to be?

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Legacy Is Built in the Quiet

Growth isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s in the DMs where someone tells you they needed your last episode to get through a tough week. Sometimes it’s in the consistency—dropping episodes week after week, even when no one claps. That’s where real brands are born. That’s where movements get their muscle.

I’ve sat in the studio when there were no big interviews lined up. No hype. Just a mic, a message, and faith that it mattered. And guess what? Those episodes—the ones that felt small at the time—are the ones that built trust. They built a catalog. They gave the brand a backbone.

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Each Episode is a Brick

Think of your podcast like a house. Every episode is a brick. It might not look like much today, but stack enough of those bricks with intention, and you’ll wake up one day living inside something you built with your own hands—something real.

That’s what I’m doing with I Am Refocused Radio. Not chasing trends. Not aiming for the algorithm. Just showing up, focused, one episode at a time. That’s how we went from 0 to 1,000+ interviews. And the truth is, we’re just getting started.

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What I’ve Learned (and What You Should Know)

• Quality over quantity—but consistency over both.

• Niche down to level up. Talk to someone, not everyone.

• Build community, not an audience. Audiences come and go. Community sticks.

• Be obsessed with value. Ask yourself: “Did I serve someone today with this episode?”

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If you're thinking about giving up because the numbers ain’t jumping—don’t. Stay in the lab. Keep refining your voice. Keep showing up with purpose. The people who need you will find you. And when they do, they'll know you're not just making noise... you're making impact.

So keep going. One show at a time.

Small Ads, Big Results: How YouTube Ads Took My Podcast to the Next Level

 

Let me be real with you—six months ago, I Am Refocused Radio was sitting at just under 2,000 subscribers on YouTube last year. I was grateful, but I knew the message had more reach in it. I knew the content was strong, the interviews were gold, and the vision? Bigger than numbers. But still—impact needs eyes.

So I ran a test: small YouTube ads. Nothing crazy. $10. One video. One purpose—get the right people to see the content. No gimmicks. No fake hype. 

Fast forward six months... we crossed 12,000 subscribers.

That’s not just a number. That’s momentum.

YouTube ads became my amplifier. They took the content that was already changing lives—and made sure it reached someone scrolling at 2 AM, someone needing direction, or someone who just needed to hear, “You’re not alone in this.”

If you’re a podcaster sitting on great content and wondering why the views aren’t climbing—this is your wake-up call.

Run the ad.
Push the message.
Bet on the value you're bringing. Study analytics. Repeat.

I didn’t go viral. I went intentional.

And that made all the difference.

So if you believe in what you're creating—give it a fighting chance to be seen. A small ad budget isn’t about chasing fame. It’s about making sure your voice finds the people who need it.

Rich, But at What Expense?

 

We live in a culture that celebrates the grind.
The hustle is glorified.
The bag is idolized.
And success? It’s measured in commas, square footage, and blue checkmarks.

But here’s a question that cuts through all the noise:
Rich, but at what expense?

See, wealth is a tricky thing.
It promises freedom—but sometimes, it becomes the very thing that cages us.

How many people are stacking paper but starving emotionally?
Building empires, but their home life is in ruins?
Flying private jets, but can’t sleep at night because their peace was the down payment?

Let’s be real.

Money is powerful. It's a tool, a resource, a blessing when used with wisdom.
But when the pursuit of riches starts costing you your identity, integrity, relationships, or health, it’s no longer a blessing—it’s bondage.

The Hidden Costs No One Talks About

• Time you’ll never get back.
  Chasing the next opportunity, while missing your kid’s recital or your mom’s last good year.

• Mental bandwidth.
  Always "on," always calculating, always watching your back... even in rooms you thought were safe.

• Moral erosion.
  Slowly compromising who you are to keep a seat at a table that doesn’t even feed your soul.

• Isolation.
  Rich in your account, bankrupt in your connection with others.

And maybe the scariest one?
You get everything you thought you wanted—and still feel empty.

Flip the Script

Let’s not confuse being rich with being fulfilled.
True wealth isn’t just what’s in your wallet—it’s what’s in your spirit.

It’s the ability to lay your head down at night with peace.
It’s real relationships that don’t shift with your bank balance.
It’s knowing who you are without the applause or approval.
It’s purpose, joy, and legacy over clout.

So ask yourself…

If I gain the world but lose myself, was I ever really winning?

Make the money. Build the dream. Level up.
But don’t sell your soul to do it.

Because rich ain’t worth it if you’re bankrupt where it matters most.

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Learn When to Stay, and When to Move On

 

Not everything that starts well is meant to stay forever.
And not everything that’s hard right now is meant to be abandoned.

Sometimes, growth looks like staying.
Other times, growth means walking away.

Staying requires strength. So does leaving.
But wisdom? Wisdom is knowing which one it’s time for.

Don’t confuse comfort with purpose.
And don’t confuse chaos with a sign to quit.

Ask yourself:

• Am I staying out of fear… or faith?

• Am I moving on because it's wrong… or because it’s uncomfortable?

• Am I holding on to potential… or pretending it's still working?

Here’s the truth—
You can outgrow good things.
You can outlast bad seasons.
And you can still love something, but know it’s no longer for you.

Whether it’s a job, a relationship, a friendship, or even a dream that’s evolved…
Listen. Really listen.
To the tension.
To the peace.
To the inner whisper that sounds a lot like freedom.

That’s your sign.

✦ Stay when it calls you higher.
✦ Move on when it’s holding you hostage.
✦ And remember—leaving doesn’t always mean quitting.
Sometimes, it’s choosing yourself again.

Why I Do What I Do

 

Sometimes, it takes a random moment in a conversation to unlock a memory that explains everything.

Today, I was interviewing a guest — someone who’s worked with the biggest brands in the world. Deep into our talk, something he said flipped a switch in my mind, triggering a flashback I hadn’t thought about in years. A memory from kindergarten, of all places.

My music teacher had this reward system — gold stars. Earn five stars, and you got to pick a prize. One option? Five minutes on the music keyboard sitting across the room. And for me? That keyboard wasn’t just a prize — it was purpose. The moment I saw it, I was locked in: “What do I have to do to earn those stars?”

And I did. Over and over again.

I’d get my five minutes and head straight for the keyboard. First thing I’d do? Change the instrument sounds. Drums. Piano. Anything I could explore. It wasn’t just fun — it was fuel. My love for sound, rhythm, music — it was being born right there. And what made it special? I was seen. My teacher noticed my hunger and gave me the room to grow.

Then another story bubbled up.

Right before my family moved from Texas to Michigan, I wanted to do something meaningful. Not for the popular kids or even the teachers. But for the custodian.

See, I was small back then. Quiet. Bullied. Didn’t have much of a voice. But this man — this janitor — looked out for me in the cafeteria. He never said much. Didn’t need to. Just made sure I was good. Like a silent guardian.

So one day, I brought him a plate of my dad’s BBQ ribs. Told him we were moving and that I just wanted to say thank you. I’ll never forget the look on his face. Shocked. Then lit up. It wasn’t just about the food — it was that someone saw him too.

These two people — my music teacher and that custodian — didn’t just show up in my life. They showed me something. That being seen matters. That being heard matters. And somewhere deep down, I think those moments planted a seed.

Fast forward.

I’m now the host of a show that lets other people be seen and heard. I’m in audio, production, storytelling — helping others unlock their voice. And today, while talking to my guest, I realized: I’ve been doing for others what they did for me.

Full circle.

It’s easy to think everything we’re doing is random. But sometimes, it’s all connected. Maybe your calling isn’t something new — maybe it’s a return. A remembering. A gold star moment. A plate of BBQ. A story that was always leading somewhere.

That’s why I do what I do.

Because people need to be seen. Need to be heard. And I’m just grateful I get to be a part of that for someone else.

#StayFocused

— Shemaiah Reed