WOW! Words of wisdom

We are right in the middle of the GAB Radio Talent Institute at University of Georgia — "Go Dawgs!" — in Athens, Georgia. 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 State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks NBA team. Because lessons learned might be helpful, today's tip will b e the key takeaways from the day.

Steve Holman, play-by-play announcer, Atlanta Hawks — Steve is entering his 39th season, and he had a wealth of information and advice to share. 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 until 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.

Steve Koonin, CEO, Atlanta Hawks:

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.

Mike Conti, program director, 92.9 The Game/Audacy, Atlanta Versatility, knowledge and a positive attitude are the keys to success.

Sales and programming working together collaboratively can create magic for clients and the audience.

Always ask questions. Curiosity is the key to growth.

As broadcasters, our primary goal is to entertain, engage and inform our audiences in a creative and interesting way.

The overarching lesson of the day is that no matter where you are in your career, there are people at higher levels that are willing to help and there are people around you that need your help. It's inspiring to see these high-profile broadcasters being so generous with their time and information. And admittedly, 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 rise. It truly does take a village. If you're interested in learning more about upcoming talent institutes, please visit National Radio Talent System, powered by RAB.

Jeff Schmidt is the SVP of Professional Development. You can reach him at Jeff.Schmidt@RAB.com. You can all so connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn.