…

It’s the one thing over which you have complete control.

They may make you read liners verbatim.

They may only allow you to open your mic 4 times an hour.

They already pick every song you’re allowed to play, and usually within which order.

But they can’t force you to stop doing your best to raise the standard of quality you demand of yourself.

I worked with a terrific young talent years ago, the late Tom Pagnotti. (He used ‘Tom Kelly’ on the air.)

I remember telling a PD who was considering hiring Tom that there was only one issue that could cause problems inside the station: Tom had set a very high bar for himself and he simply could not accept any other air talent he worked along side of not doing the same.

He could not accept anyone not giving their best. No coasting. No excuses. Ever.

Here’s the takeaway: If you accept substandard work from yourself you can’t expect more from your co-workers.

So start today with one simple rule: Only my best. Every day, every shift.

Remove the plank from your own eye before you gripe about the speck in someone else’s.

Raise the bar inside your building, especially inside the studio.

BTW, that PD and air staff – from Morning Drive to weekend overnights – was the best staff, person for person, that I ever heard on one station. And they had ratings to prove it.