October 8, 2021
What one piece of advice has guided you well throughout your career?
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Rick Vaughn, KENZ: Playing the hits is easy, playing the right stiffs separates winners and losers. Mike O’Donnell, WKRZ: Be patient when trying to create results from change at your station, don’t kneejerk. It doesn’t happen overnight.
Jonathan Shuford, WRVW: Don Cristi in Tulsa once told me, “You are judged more on how you handle adversity, than you how you handle success.” Lee Abrams mediavisions: Maintaining a positive and forward-focused attitude. Josh Wolff, WAEB: Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Max Volume, KOZZ: When it comes to production, just keep saying words until they like the words you say… Terri Ray, WKLT: “No Guts, No Glory” |
Jana Sutter, WXXL: I have two: Say yes to everything and then figure it out, and To know your worth. They both have served me well.
Mikey V, Kiss 108: Outwork everybody! Matt “MJ” Johnson, WPLW: Make it better every day! It wasn’t given to me, it’s just one of my philosophical beliefs. Even if it’s 1% better. How can I set up tomorrow, today? It works on multiple levels: it helps the station, I sleep better at nights, and it gives you a sense of momentum. If you can generate that internal momentum on a daily basis, that can carry you a long way. Chris Michaels, FM100: Always be curious, willing to learn, and don’t be afraid to try new things. Mike McVay, McVay Media: The weight of your words are heavy, and the ripples they create are great,” Mike McVay.
Valentine, WBHT: Let go of the stuff you can’t control! Buzz Knight, Buzz Knight Media: To quote the great John Mc Ghan, “Think like a fan, make everyone a star.” Erik Bradley, B96: Not “the” one piece of advice – but “a” piece of advice I’ve always kept in perspective — the minute you think you’re somebody is when you become a nobody.
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Mark Adams, KYLD/KIOI: Ha-ha, you fool! You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! The most famous of which is “never get involved in a land war in Asia”, but only slightly less well-known is this: Never go in against a Sicilian when DEATH is on the line! Bartel, WKTU: Stay humble and work hard. Java Joel, WHBC: Play the hits.
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Jon Zellner, iHeartMedia: I have a few. No one cares what you know until they know you care. Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Be the person you needed when you were younger. Tell them the facts, they will listen; tell them the truth, they will believe; tell them a story and it’ll live in their hearts forever. Every great change is preceded by chaos.
Dom Theodore, Radio Animal Media Strategies: My good friend and one of my biggest mentors, BJ Harris, told me years ago, “Your gut is right 90% of the time, and those are pretty good odds.” Good advice then, and now.
Heather Deluca, WSJO: You don’t have to take every phone call, but you should return every call. Also, not to step on others to get to where you want to be. There’s room for everyone and you never know when someone YOU’RE working for one day could be working for YOU the next and vice versa. Also, when it stops being fun, get out.
Joe Breezy, WNFN: Work harder than you did yesterday and be nice to everyone around you. Everything else falls under those umbrellas.
Joey Brooks, WKSS: Don’t burn bridges, and Shut the f up and play the hits!
Guy Zapoleon, Zapoleon Consulting: My Dad was a successful businessman who ran several companies. He always told me when I was young, “NEVER burn bridges,” because you will meet the same people when your career winds down as you did when you were ascending. You may get frustrated and angry over not being able to get something you want or maybe over the way you’ve been treated, but burning a bridge shows an “ugly” side of you and will give a bad impression when asked for a reference or even in casual conversation. It’s a very small business and burning bridges will come back to haunt you, trust me! You always want people to see your best side, you can’t afford enemies. “When they go low, you go high,” gives you a much better chance to be successful in this business.
Drew Heyman, WHYI: Ryan Seacrest once told me to say yes to everything, every opportunity, and then things will start to happen.
R Dub! Z90/Magic 92.5: I received a note from Elroy Smith very early on in my career, that, to this day, is pinned to the wall over my desk: a) Stay strong b) Learn a lot. c) Be an incredible coach. d) Always be fair and honest. I look it every day!
Next Week’s Question Of The Week:
What’s one of the most significant decisions you’ve made in the past year?
e-Mail your responses to: jodorisio@deanemediasolutions.com or bburke@deanemediasolutions.com
