What the heck is a binge bank?

I’ll get to that, dear friend, but first, a quick detour:

So... you think you're failing.

Here's the thing. Everyone else feels the same way.

Join the club.

We don't have T-shirts.

But what if...

What if what you are actually doing is creating a binge bank?

What's a binge bank you’re asking?

Its digital bread crumbs. for someone who wants to know more about you. (and by the end they should be saying, "I like this guy/gal.")

Problem: Everything takes longer than expected.

Let me tell you a story.

I'm excellent at failure. By the end of this I hope to impress one idea upon you.

Control the inputs and the effort. (AKA Build your binge bank)

Have you ever started something and thought it would be better or easier by now?

All I wanted was to play drums in my churches highschool group on Wednesday’s or Sundays.

I thought within 3-4 years I'd be able to play on stages.

auditioned 3 times.(over 5 years) Told no 3 times.

It took 8 years, and moving to Sacramento start to really grow in my skill set.

It was a similar thing in my Spanish speaking ability.

10 years of sporadic learning, but 1 year of consistent effort before going to Ecuador for 77 days.

All the preparation plus the right environment created incredible growth in this skill set.

Let me share another example:

Started my first business at 18.

Side note: have you ever just assumed you’d crush at something and been so wrong? me too.

Any way, I thought I'd be making 6 figures year one. (spent 6 years and never cracked that mark) but developed social skills in the process.

At the time I thought I’d just wasted my time. Turns out that was a foundational skill that would positively effect the rest of my life.

Think I’m done failing? Nope!

In 2020 I put out 45 stories on my IG after doing the 1 funnel away challenge.

I put out 50 YouTube videos in 2022 in 60 days (bought a course on YouTube)

Recorded 17 podcasts (and another 3 are still unpublished on my hard drive slowly dying)

This is my 24th Newsletter.

All of these things haven't really amounted to anything (yet). But what I have done, is created a binge bank. If someone really wants to know more about me, it's all there. It's all available.

What's fascinating so far is that people resonate with the struggle and the failure much more than they do with success. (I think because you don't allow yourself to see the growth and small progress as success)

How I created a binge bank (In 5 steps)

Create a binge bank.

How do you do this? (I’m glad you asked)

Step one: Are you a: (circle one)

1. Generous expert

2. Curious beginner

So... you know which one you are. Want to learn more about this step: Read this newsletter: https://danielbaarns.beehiiv.com/p/master-storytelling-2-principles-curious-beginner

Now think about the topics you want to learn more about (if a curious beginner) or topics you already know (as a generous expert).

That's where you'll start.

Now before we move forward I have to address the elephant in the room.

I know you're pushing back on this saying I'm not an expert. (even if you are good at something) or who would listen to me? (if you're a curious beginner.)

The point of this is to have something to refer people to in the future. You're first Podcast, newsletter, post, tweet, no one will see it. (and that's actually a gift)

If no one knows you yet, good. I write daily on twitter. Ideas? twitter. It's my testing ground. This newsletter is built off of the tweet earlier in the newsletter. (it’s one of my highest performing original tweets)

I've learned that building a binge bank is valuable. I have something to show for the effort I've put in. It isn't perfect. but it exists. If you really want to spend the time to read all 24 newsletters and watch the 17 podcasts you'd have a pretty good sense for who I am and how I think.

Last week I applied for a podcast co-host position. And in doing that it made me realize all the things I have created in the last 4 years.

Today I had the chance to be a guest on a podcast. By writing all the newsletters that I have on social skills, it made answering the questions so much easier.

I had many ideas and stories to pull from. Because I wrote them, all I had to do was read through my own writing as preparation.

Create your binge bank.

podcast.

newsletter.

or simply starts as tweets.

It's okay if it isn't good. Here was my first podcast. (https://youtu.be/D0WpIzZ_gbE?si=zmtmPyRLQ9tAxsv4)

step two: Learn to write.

I can already hear your thoughts, dear friend:

I'm bad at writing. (you're saying to me)

I hated writing in school. (me too, except that one class where the book was super interesting)

what I've found is writing about topics that I love and am excited about is when I love writing.

Because no matter what you do writing and thinking are linked. If you become a better writer it helps you think more clearly. Bad thinking can't hide when it's written. Bad writing exposes bad thinking.

If you do a podcast you'll have an outline (writing)

If you write a newsletter you'll be writing.

If you post on social media. You're writing.

If you develop this skill it will positively effect your authority on any topic.

All an author did was start writing. If you have a book on a subject, it makes you more of an expert.

Step three: Establish your mentors and topics.

Who are the people you follow online?

What do they talk about and why do you enjoy listening to them?

What topics do you want to talk about?

Step four: Start with your first topic.

It isn't set in stone. I started with social skills because it was foundation that I built my detailing business on. I simply became curious about myself.

Why did detailing work for me?

What things created my internal world to be able to handle the rejection and process of starting something new?

Step five: Accept that people won't always agree with you.

(And that's okay.)

That's the price of believing something. (I've also given myself internal permission to disagree with my future self)

I may believe that this is the best way today. And in 5 years I may look at this newsletter and disagree with aspects of it. And that's okay.

I hope that you can give yourself permission to learn and grow and evolve too.

So, dear friend, start.

Create a binge bank.

one post.

one podcast.

one newsletter at a time.

Here’s the TLDR:

Step one: Are you a: (circle one)

1. Generous expert

2. Curious beginner

step two: Learn to write.

step three: Establish your mentors and topics.

Step four: Start with your first topic.

Step five: Accept that people won't always agree with you.

And if you actually do this. Please respond or send a DM on IG or screen shot a part of this that resonated with you. (and tag me in it @DanielBaarns) Or if you disagree I'd love to hear that too.

P.S. Here is my binge bank:

YouTube channel: 108 videos: https://www.youtube.com/@danielbaarns2966

Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/6Z0Haxh9AzYwE93XPXDHSw

Newsletter: https://danielbaarns.beehiiv.com/

All the courses I’ve taken to grow an online presence and develop social skills:

1 funnel away challenge with Russell Branson:(https://www.onefunnelaway.com/) The first time I tried to tell stories. (did 45 days of stories)

YouTube live with Ruslan KD: (https://www.masteryoutubelive.com/?r_done=1) (made 50+ videos in 60 days)

2 hour writer with Dan Koe (https://2hourwriter.com/) 24 newsletters this year)

Mental monetization with Dan koe (https:/)/mentalmonetization.com/) Made my first course with this: https://baarns.gumroad.com/l/qmygte

Alex Hormozi’s Courses on Offers and Leads (Acquistion.com)

Charisma University: (Course I bought on social skills before creating my own)https://www.charismaoncommand.com/coc-charisma-university/