When I was starting out in radio, I was meticulous about avoiding mistakes on air. I would script everything in first person, rehearse it repeatedly, and only then would I dare to open the mic. One vivid memory is from my time at Foxy 107 in Raleigh Durham in 1985 while I was still in college. I worked the 6 AM to 12 noon shift, and before each shift, I diligently wrote out my breaks and rehearsed them. There was this particular 12-second jingle where we transitioned from the weather forecast to Foxy 107, and hitting the post perfectly was my pride and joy.
I'd listen to my airchecks obsessively. While in college during Christmas breaks I'd buy packs of cassette tapes have classmates record New York radio stations for me to study in a pursuit of a career in the big city.
If you're new to radio and aspire to excellence, find someone to emulate. I never settled for mediocrity and took immense pride in presenting myself as a professional. A crucial lesson from my teacher, Donald Baker at Shaw University, was about being detailed—whether in radio, podcasts, or television, excellence lies in the details. Don't take the moment for granted; it's the difference between mediocrity and greatness on air. Making marginal improvements daily, refining delivery, seeking feedback, and constantly striving to better yourself is the key to success in any career, especially in performance-oriented fields. What does marginal mean incremental change. Incremental change requires just a modest adjustment. Something small that you can work on everyday. (Read The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy)
It wasn't always easy to hear criticism, but having a coach who cares enough to be honest is invaluable. Too many people are steeped in mediocrity due to their ego. They don't want feedback from anybody so they sound the same for decades. We're fostering a culture where mediocrity is accepted as good, but true excellence is recognizable to the discerning ear. In conclusion, the small decisions we make daily to improve will have a significant impact on our progress and audience perception. When another human being decides to spend time with you to tune in to your show, you should be honored to give them your best. Marginal improvements are the cornerstone of exceptional on-air performance.
If you're new to radio and aspire to excellence, find someone to emulate. I never settled for mediocrity and took immense pride in presenting myself as a professional. A crucial lesson from my teacher, Donald Baker at Shaw University, was about being detailed—whether in radio, podcasts, or television, excellence lies in the details. Don't take the moment for granted; it's the difference between mediocrity and greatness on air. Making marginal improvements daily, refining delivery, seeking feedback, and constantly striving to better yourself is the key to success in any career, especially in performance-oriented fields. What does marginal mean incremental change. Incremental change requires just a modest adjustment. Something small that you can work on everyday. (Read The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy)
It wasn't always easy to hear criticism, but having a coach who cares enough to be honest is invaluable. Too many people are steeped in mediocrity due to their ego. They don't want feedback from anybody so they sound the same for decades. We're fostering a culture where mediocrity is accepted as good, but true excellence is recognizable to the discerning ear. In conclusion, the small decisions we make daily to improve will have a significant impact on our progress and audience perception. When another human being decides to spend time with you to tune in to your show, you should be honored to give them your best. Marginal improvements are the cornerstone of exceptional on-air performance.
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