Saturday, July 25, 2009

GRAB A MENTOR AND HANG ON FROM BOB GLASCO

Do you have a mentor, someone you confide in and learn from, share with? Bob Glasco is indeed that for me. I have had a few; Bob, Scott Mahalick, Jerry Clifton, the late Bob Hattrik, mentors help file off the rough edges of what you already think you know: I have been extremely fortunate throughout my broadcasting career. I don’t mean because of the positions I have held or the financial rewards they brought. Those things came mostly as a result of the influences of others that I’ve taken to heart. When I first began as an air talent, Robert W. Morgan was the king of mornings in L.A. on KHJ. I wanted to be just like him. I never had the privilege of meeting him, but I listened to hundreds of hours of his airchecks and tried to capture the warm, natural sound he had. Later, I worked with a couple of guys whose influence helped me develop my own style and let my personality out from behind the incredible bashfulness it was hiding behind. I will forever be thankful for the friendships of Bill Gardner and the late Ken Sasso. Their different, but successful styles on the air showed me there was more than one way to entertain an audience. When I first became a program director, I had no real mentor. I more or less wandered around in the wilderness for a few years. I read everything I could find on people management, relationship development, etc. I listened to every aircheck I could get my hands on of the successful stations of the day to ascertain what made them tick. A few years later, I had the good fortune to be consulted by George and Reg Johns. They taught me how to unlock the right side of my brain. It was a little scary at first! I mean, did we really need a three-minute promo on the air? With my right side fully engaged, I fell under the influence of a couple of the finest strategic thinkers of our world. First it was Bill Moyes, followed soon after by Rusty Walker. You might say that is when I graduated. However, as my former company motto goes, “I don’t have all the answers; I just try to be confused at a higher level every day.” Who are your mentors? How long since you’ve talked to them? How long since you’ve really thought about the things they have taught you? Can you be a mentor for someone? I’ll bet you can. I know you should. Without people like you and me taking the time to help those folks who have not had the good fortune we have had, there will be no “radio” to continue to inform, entertain and help shape people’s opinions and prod their emotions.

3 comments:

  1. Brad Wright made a comment about your note "GRAB A MENTOR AND HANG ON":

    Peggy Scott was mine. I really looked to her for advice on things even outside of radio.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Todd sent you a message.

    Subject: FTC

    "YO Chuck!
    I just wanted to drop you a note and give you props on Full Throttle Country... it freakin' rocks! I feed on all the stuff that's been posted. Great, useful info! You're amazing! Keep it up dude!"

    ReplyDelete
  3. Todd sent you a message.

    Subject: FTC

    "YO Chuck!
    I just wanted to drop you a note and give you props on Full Throttle Country... it freakin' rocks! I feed on all the stuff that's been posted. Great, useful info! You're amazing! Keep it up dude!"

    ReplyDelete