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WOW! Words of wisdom



We are right in the middle of the Kellar Radio Talent Institute at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The program is designed to give college students an insider's view of the broadcast business and provide them with the tools, resources, advice and inspiration to have a successful career. On Wednesday, the students enjoyed a field trip to some high-profile businesses. Today's tip will be the key takeaways from the day because the lessons learned might be helpful for you.

Charlotte Motor Speedway and the Performance Radio Network – Here, the students heard from Doug Rice, president of PRN, as well as members of his team. Here are three lessons they learned:

Radio can connect to an audience like no other medium.

To grow, you should try new things every day (learn).

Treat every day like it's a 24-hour interview. Potential employers and clients are always watching.

Carolina Panthers Football & Sports Broadcasting – Here, the students heard from the Panther's play-by-play announcer Anish Shroff.

The number-one skill you need to be a broadcaster is writing. Great writers are the best broadcasters.

To learn to write, read a diverse type of material from current events to cultural literacy.

Charlotte Hornets Basketball & Sports Broadcasting – Here, the students heard from the Hornet's play-by-play announcer Sam Farber.

You must love what you do and be passionate about it, or you're not doing the right thing.

If you can't be happy till you “get there” (meaning big market, big job, etc.) it means what you're doing doesn't make you happy.

What you're doing doesn't change as you move up, so if that's what makes you happy, you'll be happy at every level.

The true goal of networking is not how many people you know, it's how many people know you and see you as someone who can help.

The overarching lesson that I took away from the day is that no matter where you are in your career, there are people ahead of you at higher levels that are willing to help and there are people behind you that need your help. It's inspiring to see these high-profile broadcasters being so generous with their time and information. None of them achieved their current level of success without help.

No matter where you are in your career, someone can help you get to the next level, and you can help others get to your level. It truly does take a village.

Jeff Schmidt is SVP-Professional Development at the Radio Advertising Bureau. You can reach Jeff at jeff.Schmidt@Rab.com or follow him on social media: Twitter, LinkedIn.

Source: Jeff Schmidt, SVP of Professional Development