It’s not obvious to warn someone about the obvious.  But that’s the point.

“Don’t believe everything you think.”
~Andy Andrews

Successful principles of business, leadership, ministry, or even programming aren’t obvious.  They are the exception.  Otherwise, all businesses would be successful, there would be no leadership challenges, churches would be full every week, all radio stations would have high ratings and we’d all have dated the prettiest girl in town.

If we want to appeal to everyone we simply need to play everything.  What could be more obvious?

Continue reading →

It’s easy.

It’s easy to let grass grow and have weeds in your yard.   It’s easy to not practice and be a bad guitar player.  It’s easy to be the last player on the bench and not get into the game.

It’s easy to have a bad radio station.

Play anything you want.  Wing it with your content.  Talk as long as you like.

Continue reading →

We forget, don’t we?

We forget what real people go through every day.

We forget the messages they are bombarded with, the struggles they face, the negative influences on their kids.

Real people perceive your radio station within the context of their lives.  Often they tune in to get away from the negativity, to be affirmed for the good in people, and to be reminded of the hope we can have through our faith.

The recent hurricanes in Texas and Florida remind us with every event heroes emerge.  Yes, the front page is often filled with stories of villains, but our stations have other stories to tell.

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping.  To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.”
~Fred Rogers

J.J. Watts used his football fame to raise more than $37 million for hurricane victims in Texas.  Houston icon Mattress Mack turned his 100,000 foot furniture showroom into a shelter for those left homeless.  Rusty and Jeff are not famous; just a couple of guys with a bass boat, but they are heroes to my friend Ty McFarland after rescuing his family from their flooded neighborhood.

Maybe it is easier for us to see the heroes in extraordinary times but maybe it is just as important to tell the stories when times are ordinary.

With every 9th caller to win a family four-pack of cardboard there is a hero.

With every mom or dad trying to surround their children with positive influences there is a hero.

With every routine traffic accident, with every mundane weather report, with every insignificant time check, someone is being a hero to someone.

But we forget, don’t we?

Oh, yeah!  That was the one with the hurricane!

I guess we’ll never forget Momentum 2017.

There were more Tweets and Facebook posts about hotel reservations, flight schedules and security lines than the speakers, artist performances, and social events.

People shared most about what they shared the most.  

Continue reading →

Wow!  What a week for our friends along the Texas Gulf Coast in the path of Hurricane Harvey.  I personally have friends, co-workers, and family with flooded homes and disrupted lives.

As the Christian radio and music industry heads to Universal Orlando for CMB’s Momentum the Weather Channel beacons out the cone of uncertainty for Hurricane Irma.   It’s never a good thing when you see Jim Cantore standing in your front yard.

In times like these there are lessons to be learned, even about our programming.
Continue reading →

On last week’s show I shared that the recent solar eclipse is a valuable lesson in perspective.  The moon’s path is always between the earth and the sun SOMEWHERE, but it becomes meaningful to us only when it happens to us.

Ty McFarland of KSBJ in Houston reacted this way:
Continue reading →

Have you heard?  It’s been in all the papers.  There is a total solar eclipse on Monday.  It’s the first one since I was in college.

It begins in Oregon at 9:06 AM Pacific and ends in South Carolina at 4:06 PM Eastern.

Well, that’s one point of view.
Continue reading →

Back to school time is everywhere.  In the stores with sales.  On the highways with school buses.  There are even tax free days for Back to School.

It’s not an official holiday like Christmas, Ground Hog Day, or Millard Fillmore’s birthday, but it is just as evident.  Back to school affects everyone’s schedule, even those that don’t go to school.  (Can’t say that about ole Millard’s birthday.)

“The difference between school and life?  In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test.  In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.”
~Tom Bodett

My friend Tim McDermott of KSBJ recently introduced me to the book, “The One Thing” by Gary Keller, where he shares “the ability to dismiss distractions and concentrate on your ONE Thing stands between you and your goals.”

So, let’s go back to school and discuss the one thing that can transform programming.
Continue reading →

…to make a first impression,” so goes the famous quote from Will Rogers.

When we radio folk talk about increasing the station’s listenership, or  ‘building cume’ in PPM lingo, we’re really talking about making good first impressions.

“So how important are first impressions?  Well it determines if you get the second interview for your dream job or acceptance in the college or university of your choice.  A good first impression can mean a second date and who know what happens after that.  Making a good first impression gets you a meeting with the senior partners in the private equity firm evaluating your business proposal.  No doubt first impressions matter.”
~John Maxwell

There is an Outback Steakhouse near our place already adorned with custom signage with brand logo.  And it’s still under construction.  Their first impression is “coming soon,” signaling the arrival to your neighbor that their distinctive Bloomin’ Onion and Aussie Cheese Fries are only weeks away.  Folks will be waiting in line at their grand opening.  You can bank on it.

All too common in our format first impressions are unfamiliar music, unwelcoming voices, and conversations that make people feel like outsiders.

So it bears the question… which gives a better first impression; your radio station or this restaurant?  And Outback isn’t even open yet.

So here we are.  Nine months after the Chicago Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years, Chicagoland has a baby boom.

The Chicago Cubs did exactly what our stations should do… they descended on families of newborns to ensure Fans for Life.  The Cubs showed up in Chicagoland hospitals with the World Series trophy, the team mascot, and beloved players surprising unexpected new parents.

“The team honored this boon of championship babies… by awarding them special Fan Club memberships (containing a “Rookie of the Year” onesie, a beanie, a special birth certificate and a personalized Wrigley Field photo marquee)… the team’s mascot, Clark, was on hand as well for a great group photo.” MLB.com

The result?  Cubs fans for life.

As we arm wrestle with PPM for one additional listening occasion per week perhaps our time would be better spent by creating a radio station worthy of having fans for life.

You know, it doesn’t matter what we do if what we do doesn’t matter.