Perspective from SNL’s weird year

Joe's Audio Notes

I just finished watching a four-part docuseries about Saturday Night Live and it’s really fascinating.

Each episode covers different aspects of the show, from auditions to legendary sketches to the writing process. But what really stuck with me was the final episode, The Weird Year, all about SNL’s tumultuous Season 11.

I had no idea that SNL was on the verge of cancellation, that Lorne Michaels had left for a while, or that they completely revamped the cast after Season 10.

Season 11 was a rough year, but it was necessary. It helped them figure out what wasn’t working so they could come back stronger in Season 12, with some of the best cast members of all time.

And honestly, I feel like Streamlined Solopreneur is in its own Season 11 right now. The show is almost a decade old.

I changed the name last year, completely shifted the focus, and now…I feel stuck. I’ve been leaning on AI too much. I’ve lost some clarity.

And like SNL, maybe I just need to let it fail a little bit. Try things. See what sticks. Get through the messy middle.

This episode is more of a reflection than a solution, but it’s a reminder that every long-running project—whether it’s SNL or a podcast—hits a point where it needs to evolve. And that’s okay. If you’re feeling the same way about something in your business, maybe the answer isn’t to quit but to experiment.

Also, if you haven’t seen this docuseries, it’s on Peacock, and I highly recommend it.

Disclosure: This episode description was generated by ChatGPT based on a transcript.