11/8/1996
I’ve been sitting at my desk all morning…on point behind the keyboard waiting for that cathartic moment when the breakthrough will occur…trying to build up the false pressure to make me energetic and crazed enough to follow another impossible quest to the end…and it ain’t working.
One thing I’ve learned during this past vacation period is that we all need more vacations. Now there’s a startling, revolutionary thought. It’s really not more vacation time we need as much as quality vacation time. All too often we spend our vacation concentrating on work. What a waste…of both vacation time and work. Neither is satisfactory unless each is separated from the other.
There is no doubt that our business…whether radio or records…is one of the most stressful in the world. Part of what makes our job so stressful is the inability of individuals to relax. We can’t (don’t) relax while we’re doing our jobs…we certainly can’t (don’t) totally relax while we’re vacationing. Too many bad things can happen.
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. The individuals in record and radio are too quick to criticize those who show even modest success. Why can’t we be happy when others succeed? It just isn’t in the cards. It seems that everyone who gets a promotion higher than the position they held did so only because they (a) were lucky, (b) know somebody, (c) fit the political profile or (d) were fucking the boss. It can’t be qualification, because we know we are the best qualified.
So, jobs based on paranoia breed vacations steeped in the same. We can’t relax because (a) our MD, who we left in charge, is probably brown-nosing the boss and is stabbing us in the back; (b) our regional promotion person, who we left in charge, is probably brown-nosing the boss and is stabbing us in the back; (c) the trends might go up while we’re away, (d) our priority might get more adds when we’re away; (e) the station can’t run without us (if it does, we might not be needed); (f) the field staff can’t be effective without us (if they can, we might not be needed); (g) the station may be sold; (h) the company might be sold; and (i) if we do enjoy ourselves, we may begin questioning what we do for a living and we’re certainly not qualified to do anything else.
At Network 40, you can’t call in from vacation. We don’t allow it because (a) it reminds the rest of us that you’re on vacation and only serves to piss us off further; (b) nothing will happen in a week that can’t be fixed or put off until your return; (c) it’s harder to talk shit about someone if they’re constantly calling in; and (d) we really don’t like you outside the office, so why must we talk with you on the phone?
With all, some and none of these thoughts on my mind, I boarded the plane to Maui for a two-week vacation with a heavy heart. What was there to be happy about? I was leaving Los Angeles right in the middle of the fires to head for a tropical paradise where the closest thing to an argument would revolve around whose turn it was to fix the chi-chi’s, I could soak my toes in the Pacific Ocean, watch the most beautiful sunsets in the world, dance the hula with beautiful natives, surf, swim and tan without worrying about how many stations reported or who’s zooming who.
It was truly a sad moment.
While there, I introspected on a lot of things about life in general and life in the record and radio business in particular. Hawaii is a state of mind. Having nothing to do and no agenda gives you plenty of time to think—something we do too little of in our business. We spend most of our time reacting instead of acting.
Out of thoughts sometimes come solutions…or other thoughts that stimulate further thinking. Anyhow, I came up with a few that might be useful in dealing with the jugglers, clowns, dealers and deals in our business. I may have stolen these from other wise people or books on the island, but I can’t recall any other wise ones with whom I came in contact. Well, there was that dream when King Kamehameha spoke with me about ruling the islands, but that’s another Editorial.
Ego problems are endemic in every walk of life, but in radio and records, egomaniacs are megalomaniacs. We should all struggle to remember from whence we came and where we may be going, then act accordingly. The job is often more important to our peers than who is holding it. Don’t confuse what you do with who you are. It is a fact (and an old Blood, Sweat And Tears song) that what goes up, must come down.
I find it incredible when someone gives me bad news and then tells me not to take it personally. How am I supposed to take it? As a group?
Many times, working in radio and records is like riding psychotic house into a burning barn.
Real power is the ability to get things done.
What we seek most often is control, but to access all of our abilities takes complete relaxation…which is the absence of control. The sad truth about control is that there is none. As hard as we try, we can’t control anything…much less everything. We should attempt to teach others how to get things done…and thereby be able to exert our influence…if not our control.
Patience is a virtue in our business. To have it gives a measure of control. An old Hindu proverb states: If you sit by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by.
Most people in our business are afraid of confrontation and avoid it, leaving those who are not afraid a path to the head of the class. Confrontation doesn’t equal intelligence of leadership, but it is a trait we all should learn to master. Don’t be afraid of confrontation, but don’t be a psycho and seek it out.
The most powerful position is often achieved by having the ability to walk away.
Sorry if I bored you. These are just some of the thoughts that occupied my mind in Maui when I wasn’t concentrating on my main objective…
When can I go again?