Why I Took So Long to Launch This Podcast (And What Finally Pushed Me to Start)

For years, people told me, "Lisa, you should start a podcast!" And every time, I’d nod, smile, and say, "Yeah, maybe one day!" But I didn’t. Not because I didn’t want to, but because something kept me frozen.

Was it fear? Perfectionism? Procrastination? Turns out, it was all of the above.

My new podcast, Unscripted With Lisa Burling, has been sitting in the ‘one day’ pile for far too long. But one powerful moment at Elizabeth Gilbert’s Creativity Workshop in Sydney flipped the switch for me. And suddenly, I was done waiting.

The Fine Line Between Procrastination and Intuition

I used to think I was just procrastinating, but in reality, I was waiting for clarity. There’s a difference between avoiding something and knowing, deep in your gut, that the time isn’t right. The trick is recognising when waiting turns into hiding. And I realised I’d been hiding.

A Life-Changing Moment

At Elizabeth Gilbert’s event, she said something that hit me straight in the heart: Creativity is a contract between you and inspiration. If you ignore it for too long, it moves on. That was my wake-up call. My creativity had been nudging me, whispering, tapping on my shoulder, and I’d been brushing it off.

That moment, I knew. It was time to honour the ideas that had been patiently waiting for me.

The "Let Them" Theory

Then there’s Mel Robbins’ Let Them theory, which has been a game-changer. It’s simple: Let people think what they want. Let them do what they do. Let them misunderstand you. Let them judge you. And you? Focus on YOU!

I realised part of my hesitation was wrapped up in worrying about what people would think. Would they like my podcast? Would they criticise my voice? Would they think I was just another person jumping on the bandwagon?

And then I thought: LET THEM.
Let them think what they want because I’m doing this for me.

My ADHD Diagnosis and the Final Push

The final push? My ADHD diagnosis. It changed everything. It explained why I struggle with overwhelm, why my brain needs variety, and why I thrive on passion projects. But more importantly, it gave me permission to work WITH my brain instead of against it.

Suddenly, everything made sense. The podcast isn’t about getting it perfect. It’s about embracing the messy, unscripted nature of life.

Your Turn: Stop Waiting

If you’ve got something sitting in the ‘one day’ pile, consider this your sign. Don’t wait for the perfect moment. The perfect moment is when you decide to start.

Pick one thing you’ve been hesitating on – a project, a decision, a conversation - and take just one step today. Book the class, make the call, write the first sentence. Just start.

I’d love to know - what’s something you’ve been putting off? And what’s one thing you can do right now to bring it to life? Send me an email at [email protected] as I want to celebrate your first step!

My podcast is finally here. And if I can do it, so can you.