If you wish to use the server and no one is on, you can use the rcon password to remove the join password on the server. This will put the server into the list of available servers for public use and thus it should fill up within 5-10minutes.

to remove the password:
press `
enter the following and press enter after each line:

rcon_password "<password goes here>"
rcon sv_password ""

press ` or esc to go back to the game and wait for new random players.