Maybe I am just in a funk, but it seems like each and every morning starts out OK, but then I sink into a feeling of despair that I have to really work at shaking off. Why? I really have no idea. Well, maybe I have an idea after all. You see, I really love what I do on a daily basis. I love doing radio, I love doing Voice Overs, I love editing audio and video and recording podcasts. I love solving technical problems with little resources because it challenges me to think and utilize my 25 years of troubleshooting experience. Don’t get me wrong, it would be nice to simply throw money at a problem, but I have never really worked in an environment where that was possible. I even worked for a Fortune 500 company whose CEO owned a basketball team, but even there, we had to make due with less than what we really needed. That has never changed in my professional life. I had only one job where they had the best tools for the job – and I was laid off 11 months after I started because of a great recession.
I’m going to stay positive with this article because – well, I really have to. In trying to create a positivity-based life, I must always see the forest through the trees. So, I am going to speak directly to the Managers who might be reading this. Are you a team leader or department head? Did you know that you and people like you in every single industry in this country control the mental and emotional well-being of the working class of this country? Some would argue with me, but getting down to the brass tax ask this question: How many people had a bad day at work because of their boss or supervisor? How many of those people end up with stress related illness like insomnia, anxiety, depression, obesity and high blood pressure? Do I have the science? Not in front of me – but I have been there, so I have my own anecdotal evidence. Plus, it is a darn good hunch.
If you are a manager, do this country a favor and compliment your employees. Tell them they are doing a good job. For the ones who are not, find at least one thing they are doing right and build on that. Build them up, don’t knock them down. The best leaders want good things for their team. Are you afraid one of your staff might take your job one day? Then do your job better instead of holding them down.
There is nothing more crushing in a job when you feel that your management doesn’t care about you. I know what that’s like. I am no stranger to being treated like a warm body in a seat. Made to feel that I am no more special than the guy who served me a coffee in the cafe, and if asked, he would do my job just as good.
Managers – you can change the emotional landscape of this country. You can help make people feel good about a day’s work. The big question is will you? The bigger question can be, why wouldn’t you? Because if you don’t treat your team with respect, then you don’t deserve to lead them.
Oh man – today have been one heck of a trial in my quest for inner peace and positivity. Ever since I have gotten this job I have battled with my perceived expectations and the realities of this gig. 20 years ago, having your own morning radio gig was a real accomplishment. Today, it is just another job. While, it is a job I love doing, it is a constant battle within myself to only see the good and ignore the bad.
The Angry Free-Bee
My wife and I have always been paycheck to paycheck. I had the misconception that if I got a decent full-time radio gig, I would get those coveted free-bees we always see the jocks getting. “New cars, new bathrooms, new roofs, new closets…” Then, reality set in. I get some decent perks, don’t get me wrong, but most of the really big stuff I really need, don’t come. That stuff goes to the A-Team in town. Ironically, the ones who typically can pay for all of that themselves get it for free. It has been a constant battle for me to deal with. I feel like a little primadonna if I complain about it, because after all, I don’t deserve any of that just because I am in this seat. ANYONE could be in this seat. They get those things because they have popular radio shows and have become staples in this community – and I am just a guy from FL, I get that. So – I have to write to deal with this. I now publish these thoughts to the world, because maybe someone else goes through these things and can get something from my writing.
This is all a greater lesson for me to learn
I must realize that these things I want are not coming to me because there is a greater lesson for me to learn. Maybe I’m supposed to figure out a way on my own. Maybe I was not meant to get this stuff just given to me, because it would not help me to grow. I’m kind of a late bloomer. My own family (my former nuclear family, not my current one) always felt that my parents spoiled me. They did so much for me that my brothers had to do for themselves. They have animosity towards me – even if it is not my fault entirely. This is something I’ve recently learned that I am dealing with. Maybe that’s the greater lesson here.
My Take away from all of this
I needed to think through all of this, I guess. I don’t need handouts. I don’t need anyone to think I’m anything special because I need to get this all for myself, so I can be proud and own it. I do the best I can with what I have each and every day on the air. I play music people like and I say some funny things from time to time, so there is value in that. All the while I am learning how to better myself and provide a different kind of value: self-value. Does that make sense?
Thanks for allowing me to Blather – I feel better now. Try it. Blather in the comments below – we can help each other out.
I have a belief that going the extra mile will get you an extra 10 miles when it comes to business…or even in life. I have a client who needed some re-records. It was part client changes and part fixes on my end, like pronunciations and an editing oversite. Our contract states that if the changes are at their request, I can charge a re-record fee – but if they are my fault, I can’t. I did the records and editing fixes and sent them back, but was trying to decide if I should invoice them or just let it go. I sought advice from others and got a bit of both sides of it, so I was still stuck. Then the client called back to let me know that there was another round of changes to record – but they were their changes and not mistakes on my part. Win! I could now confidently bill them for the work. But that’s not the point of my little story here.
When the second round came through they were very apologetic about having a round two. They knew it was an inconvenience for me considering my recording schedule was so tight – and I legitimately appreciated their concern for my schedule. I simply told them it was no problem and that I would consider it part of the first round of re-records and for them to not worry one bit. It was no big deal for me to act that way. I know people who would have given them the riot act – seeing it as an opportunity to bill again and go through that process. But I think that doesn’t do you any good for the long-term relationship with your clients.
My client was so happy with my attitude that she was happy to pass along how easy I was to work with to the CEO of the company. That is only good news. Now, I am on the CEO’s radar and that’s good capital. So, I put the quick buck aside and looked at the long-game….and if you’re not thinking that way, you’re doomed….eventually.
Rule #1 in life should be: If you didn’t learn anything today, you’re doing it wrong! I don’t care if you are at the top of your field and there is literally NOTHING else about the tech or industry you can learn – look harder, because there is. Whether it is simply looking at something from a different point of view or meeting someone new in your industry and learning how THEY do things. It is all worthy of your attention.Â
Better yet, how about learning how to be a human? The moment you get it all figured out and can operate at 100% perfect humanity, you had better let the rest of us know – because I think it is evolving faster than you can adapt. That in mind, you must always be learning something.
I Learned Something Yesterday!
What say you, Fitz? I learned how I shouldn’t let some little things affect my big picture. Yeah, it is not a revolutionary thought and perhaps you learned that when you were popping pimples in study hall! Well, I am new at this whole “growth” concept. I got all bent out of shape because a prospective client canceled their studio tour with no explanation. I was crestfallen! This actually was the company I thought of first for my services, even before I opened my business, so the thought of them coming in and checking out my wares was very exciting. A few other little things happened to me yesterday and I was starting to lose my positive glow. That was a huge mistake!
I got it back with a little meditation. I put on some great meditation music (for me it is a film score playlist on Spotify) and in a few minutes I had my center back. Let me tell you – if you have not tried this, do yourself a favor. Go out to your car or lock yourself in the bathroom for 5-10 minutes and focus on your breathing…it really helps. Think about your goals – live in the moment – feel the emotions as if you have already accomplished whatever it is you want to achieve. Oh it is so transformative.
If you didn’t know about this – you just learned something! At the very least, you learned that I like Film Scores on Spotify!
Some would argue with me, but getting down to the brass tax ask this question: How many people had a bad day at work because of their boss or supervisor? How many of those people end up with stress related illness like insomnia, anxiety, depression, obesity and high blood pressure? Do I have the science? Not in front of me – but I have been there, so I have my own anecdotal evidence. Plus, it is a darn good hunch.
It was no big deal for me to act that way. I know people who would have given them the riot act – seeing it as an opportunity to bill again and go through that process. But I think that doesn’t do you any good for the long-term relationship with your clients.