It's Only Important to a Small Circle of Friends

I'm going to pass along some more "life advice" here today. This one comes from my old program director, Jim Michaels. I was doing the morning show at KMGK radio back in the early '70's when Jim walked into the studio just after 8am. He asked me, "What the heck's wrong with you?" I told him that I was just having one of those mornings where nothing seemed to matter. His reply took me a little by surprise. He said, "I don't care Steve, and no one listening here this morning cares either. Your listeners depend on you to get them up and get them going and keep them smiling. Their whole day is dependent on how you get them started."

Now, I was really skeptical that anyone would base their day on my mood, but I finally accepted the fact that it's true. Jim went on to tell me that when you're on the radio, you're hosting the best party ever. You need to smile and keep everything moving.

So, I took it all to heart. I made a deal with myself, that no matter what else was happening in my life, that during my four hour air shift, I was the happiest man you'd ever want to meet. I finally realized that it's true for all of life. No matter what's happening in your life, it's only important to a small circle of friends. No one really cares about your foibles, so deal with them and move on. If you smile upon greeting your friends and clients and treat them like a friend you haven't seen for awhile, you'll do well.

Honest to goodness, it works. Try it and just see the difference it can make in every aspect of your life. Remember, life is just like advertising..."Perception is reality." Now get out there and have fun, and we'll leave the mic on for ya. Oh, and thanks for reading.

Ain't Nothin' Like the Real Thing

I was reminded that I haven't blogged for awhile. Ooops. I forgot. The dog ate my blog. Uhhh, I had the 24 hour bird flu. Okay, the truth is, my Uncle passed away last week and my time was filled with those bittersweet memories and family from all over the country returning for the funeral. The death of someone near and dear serves to remind us of what is really important in one's life. You know, people. Real life relationships that add spice to this grand adventure we call our life.

I'll always remember Uncle Junior. He taught me a lot. Like never pull his finger. Never be in front of him, within pinching range and, most importantly, never overlook the potential humor in any situation. Our life here is fleeting. There's not a one of us that's going to get out of this thing alive. So grab today with all the love and energy you have to offer and life will repay you generously.

Now get back to having fun and we'll leave the mic on for ya.
(Is it painfully obvious here that I'm child of the 60's?)

World Problems Solved! or The Ramblings of an Idle Mind

Okay, so I’m confused. I don’t know why I should be, I’ve lived in Iowa for most of my life. But honest, Monday I was golfing. I had a pretty good round too, but that’s not important right now. Monday was two days ago and it was 72 degrees. I remember. Today, Wednesday, it’s snowing. Now, that’s climate change.

You see, we keep hearing that the ice caps are melting and that carbon particulate levels in the atmosphere are way up and that can only mean one thing. Gas prices are going up. Sorry, let me try again. You see, we keep hearing that Iran is developing weapons of mass destruction and that can only mean one thing. Gas prices are going up. Ooops! Okay, but just one more try and think I’ll get to the point. You see millions of people in Africa are starving and that can only mean one thing. Gas prices are going up.

Hmmm. I’m detecting a pattern here. Global warming, world nuclear tensions, starvation all have the same outcome. Let’s try one more. Medical experts tell us that an Avian Flu pendemic could happen any time, and that can only mean one thing. Yep, it seems to work no matter the problem. So, now we have a solution. Simply lower the price of gas. Come on now. All we have to do is let the government take over the oil industry, (wouldn’t that be a switch), then lower the price for everyone.

Wow, lower gas prices=no more hunger, no nuclear tensions, an averted flu pendemic. I don’t suppose it would really curb global warming, might speed it up, but it’s worth a try. Because I have a two o’clock tee time and it needs to warm up a lot.

COMMUNICATE!

I thought about using an expletive after the headline, but in the interest of not scaring away the squeemish, I decided against it. Now, the only reason I even mention that I wanted to, is that I believe it to be the most important thing you’ll ever do.

My oldest brother went off to college when I was eight years old. He was an English major. When he came home on weekends, he would tickle me until I couldn’t breathe, then look me square in the eye and quote one of his professors. "God gives you one ability", he’d say. "That is the ability to communicate. You will do so with clarity, with diction and with correct grammar". It turns out to be the best gift I probably ever received.

Right or wrong, you’re judged on that ability for the rest of your life. I don’t care how smart a person is, if you haven’t mastered the language, you’re doomed to having people think you’re maybe capable of being a Walmart greeter and little else. You know what I’m talking about here. We all have a member of the family that we dearly love, maybe someone you work with, who, without warning will blurt out something like, "I wish you coulda came yesterday so we coulda went skiing".

I’m guessing it was my brother’s influence that just makes my head want to explode when I hear something like that. Now, please don’t think I’ve become some sort of language nazi here. I still love and respect a lot of people that don’t have the best communication skills, but you know and I know that they’s just not livin’ up to their pertential. (Yes, I did that on purpose.)
So, make today the day you begin your path to the presidency. Oh, wait, apparently you don’t need a mastery of the language for that one. Okay, make today the day you begin your path to being a better communicator than the president. (Maybe I should set the bar a little higher?)

Thanks for reading, have a little fun today and we’ll leave the mic on for ya.