They Grow Up Too Fast So Take Advantage Of Your Time With Them

Each year, our little one's school has a special event for fathers called "Doughnuts for Dads". No, our children do not swap us for a dozen of their favorite doughnuts. What does happen is a nice little event to honor fathers and their children. In the 4 years, I've been with this little one, I've been to each one. Wouldn't miss it for the world because it means so much to her. My wife, especially, remembers when there was no Dad for her and the little one would be at this event by herself, I'm sure, wishing the day would go by fast. Today, as I left the event, I realized that this would be our last "Dads for Doughnuts", Next year - it's middle school and those things just don't happen there. I think of the country song by Darius Rucker "It Won't Be Like This For Long". That was what I was thinking at the first "Dads" event but for the wrong reasons. As each year passed, though, I began to regret that there was so few of these left. And here I was at the last one, today. Another sign that this little girl of mine is growing up. Another sign that her priorities will be changing. BUT - I am glad that I have been a part of this segment of her life.
As some of you know, I have a grown daughter - a wonderful young lady with the best husband a woman can have and three great children. I missed way too much of my first "little girls" life. I was an upwardly mobile professional and what happened at work determined my time and most of my life. I wish I would have heard that Darius Rucker song back then because I still remember my feeling when I walked her down the aisle on her wedding day. I wasn't there as much as I should have been....as much as I could've been and I wished I had been!
Take my advice, I am one of the few who received a "do over". Good chance you may not. Take advantage of your time with them. Use it....be there for them. It won't be like this for long!

WHY DON'T PEOPLE LIKE TO REALLY COMMUNICATE

I've ALWAYS been the communicative type. I'll strike up a conversation with anyone. Imagine the problems my parents had when I was a child. I would talk to anyone and , I mean, anyone (except for a girl, of course). Anyhow.....I guess this is why I can't understand those who don't (or won't)communicate or, if they do, they do it with their own double talk that makes you wish they wouldn't ever "communicate" again. Now if I send a text or an e-mail...oh, then the communication just flows. Whatever happened to looking a person in the eye and telling them just how you feel? Heck, I'm even guilty of it right now with this blog. The written word has now surpassed the spoken word as the most commn form of "communication". No wonder we don't know how to get along. We stopped trying and are hiding behind keyboards - both large and small.
I was at a conference this weekend that prohibited the use of cell phones, Blackberry's, etc. Any violation and you would be removed from the event. I have to tell you that it was a welcome change (my wife called it my 12-step program to stop smart phone use). I found myself talking more and I noticed folks listening more in this group. Since they weren't buried in their IPhones or Blackberry's (as most people I know are when anyone is talking to them), they were free to really communicate and that they did. I got to know these folks better than I know most of my co-workers - in TWO DAYS TIME! Let me challenge you to do this same excercise and see how it affects your relationships. I'll bet they get better! Let me know if you try.

WHAT'S YOUR "BRASS RING"?

I will tell you (and some of you do know this, I'm sure) that, as the years pass, priorities change - sometimes, drastically. In my earlier years in my profession, I was always the guy who opted for the "brass ring"; always looking for that possible move up or expansion of responsibilities. If I didn't achieve it at my current place of employment, I would look for another venue that could help me reach my goals.
My, how times have changed!!!! I've had those "opportunities" for that "brass ring" again but, now, it just doesn't look as shiny to me as in the past. My new "brass ring" is something I know will last until I'm long gone from this earth. Inside this "ring" are my family, friends and he best of group of co-workers anyone could imagine. Give me a night around the dinner table hearing the world according to a 10-year old over any front row seats, backstage passes, sideline views, etc. Give me that greeting you get from your wife and child when they see you after a long day. Give me a weekend with the little ones who know you just as "Papa". Give me a night of fun and frivolity with special friends. Give me that special few hours you can spend with an aging parent and just listen. That, my friends, I have realized is the "brass ring" I've been searching for my whole life. What's your "brass ring"?

WHERE HAVE THE "LEGENDS" GONE?

Most who know me know that I am a DIEHARD Philadelphia Phillies fan. I mean, I like the Red Sox....I like the Texas Rangers (lived in both cities for a time) BUT I'm Philly born and bred - through and through. I grew up with this team....watching them blow a pennant in the 60's; win a World Series in '80 and then, of course, what they did last year. Needless to say, I was very excited to see that they are back in the playoffs after clinching the National League East last night. What I didn't see until this morning was what they did after they won the game. This group of highly paid pro athletes went out on to the field and celebrated with their fans like a bunch of Little Leaguers who won for the first time. There was one act, during all of this, that got my attention and I'm sure had you seen it (maybe you have), would have gotten yours. The entire team went out to a certain area of their stadium's outfield wall where a poster memorial to their long-time broadcaster, Harry Kalas (who passed away on the job earlier in the season), was located. With champagne (and numerous other beverages) in hand, they showered the board, pounded on it, pointed to it and then toasted it. This was someone from the dreaded "media" that these players were honoring. This particular action made me wonder where those "legends" are these days in our business. Now we have hundreds of sportscasters, air personalities and disc jockies who do their best to be cool and creative but lack that "legendary" quality - that quality that creates an unbreakable bond with the entire audience including players, artists, listeners and viewers.
These legends had a distinct personality. Think about them - in sports with Mr. Kalas, there was Mel Allen, Ernie Harwell, Keith Jackson and Howard Cosell, just to name a few. On the radio, I'm sure you have someone you remember as a close friend even though you never met him or her. Today we have Ryan Seacrest!!! Compare Dick Clark to Mr. Seacrest and there is no comparison.
So where am I going with this? I blame me...I blame my peers in this business. We have gotten away from really developing the next "legends". We have "developed" a generation of fast-talking, cliche-ridden personalities and I use that term loosely. We've forgotten that "live and local" means something, especially to those who listen! We've gotten lost in pages of research but haven't read between the lines of that research. Think about what happened last night. A broadcaster had such a bond with his audience that even the players on whom he reported, felt enough of a bond to honor him in their time of celebration. That's what legends are made of.
I got into this business because I enjoy all forms of ENTERTAINMENT! Let's remember that it is just that - entertainment. It's time for us, who remember, to TEACH entertainment. Before it's too late, let's make sure there IS a next generation of legends.

Since When Is Age a Problem?

Yesterday I happened across an article in of our industry trade magazines from a well-know industry researcher who said that we need younger people in our business and need tom move out the "old guard", so to speak. Of course, being a part of the supposed "old guard", this article got my attention. First thing I thought (a colleague of mine recognized this, too) was that I wonder if someone, in any other business, had mentioned this, there would be lawsuits flying all over the place.
After I got past that, I began to think of my younger days and how I was told I didn't have enough experience; that I was too young to be in a responsible position in the industry. "Get more experience!" - that was the mantra.
Well, I have plenty of it these days and now there is someone out there saying that I have too much and that I can't relate to anyone under 30. Maybe this is a case of "what goes around, comes around", since it was our generation that told everyone not to trust anyone over 30. In reality, I think it's an excuse. Fresh ideas come from all ages not just anyone UNDER 30. The excuse is being made for those large, highly-leverage companies who, in some ways, have homogenized our industry.....and not all of these folks are from my generation - as a matter of fact, a good percentage of them of are from the generation after me. They have been too careful, too calculating and too conservative with a medium that has thrived on creativity.
So, instead of calling for a youth movement, how about a CREATIVE movement? Let's be entertainers, not bean counters. That takes creativity and fresh ideas and has NOTHING to do with age.

CAN WE NOW GO BACK TO JUST WATCHING THE GAME?

It is fairly well-known that I am a native Philadelphian AND that I am a strong supporter of the city's sports teams (along with Tastykakes and REAL cheesteaks, of course - but you can HAVE scrapple!). So - I was excited about the fact the pro football Eagles were on TV this past Sunday (no - I don't have the subscription for 8,000 games a week on my TV!). Lost on me was the fact that this would be Michael Vick's first game back after 2 years. I really wouldn't have known.....ya think? Wow...the hype about that was unreal before, during AND after the game. The Eagles won big and the guy was in for just 11 plays - none of which were even close to highlight reel material but, nevertheless, I saw every play over and over and over again. AND - the only player interview we get to see? Of course! Will Dante Stallworth get this same attention when he comes back next season? I bet some of you don't even know who he is. (Google him and you'll be educated!)
I have nothing against Michael Vick at this point. The man did his time....is doing his part to reform and now is trying to get back into his chosen profession. Can't fault him for that. It just makes me crazy how my media brethren make some things bigger than they really are. There were some real stars in that game (especially backup Quatreback Kevin Kolb) and they were pretty much neglected. I look forward to the day that a game is reported as just that - a game. Who won...who lost and who were the stars. Maybe that'll happen when Dante Stallworth returns.

A LITTLE JOURNEY BACK WITH A DASH OF ADRENALINE

Had the opportunity this past week and weekend to head up to Central Pennsylvania for some business and pleasure. The business part brought me back to my roots in this business - a small community and an even smaller staff. All those folks on that staff just really enjoyed each other and what they had to do at their radio stations. You can just see it AND feel it.
The "pleasure" part REALLY tugged at my memory banks. I had the fortune of being offered to join some folks to see my Alma mater (Penn State) play Saturday against Syracuse on the campus I hadn't seen since 1988 (and only one other time since I had graduated a while back from that). The seats, by the way, would be in the press box!!! What a vantage point! Seeing the stadium; the fans/students coming into the game and then the band getting things started reminded of my younger days there. At one point, when the players hit the filed and the band played the fight song, it really got to me. Very glad that I could experience this because who know if I every would again.
The came the very BEST part of the trip when someone tapped me on my shoulder and asked if I would mind seeing the game from the sidelines in the 3rd quarter? I don't think I have moved that fast since high school. What a rush that was! (Check some of the shots on my Facebook page). I'm in the largest college football stadium in the country (108,000-plus capacity) and I'm ON the field!!!! Hearing the crowd exhort the team during a particular goal line stand right in front of me was amazing AND awesome. I can now understand how this affects players. It is SO different when you are on the field - so much louder. I was ready to suit up!!!
On the ride home, I thought about all that I had experience and I thought about the folks who wouldn't ever get the opportunity which, of course, made me feel even more fortunate. Enjoy those special moments. Savor them...and be thankful you have them!