Is this you?

“Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world. The man of talent is like a marksman who hits a mark others cannot hit; the man of genius is like a marksman who hits a mark they cannot even see.”

That is Arthur Schopenhauer who died over 140 years ago, but don’t you think he’s spot on?

We toss the word “genius” around far too often these days. Genius is always rare.

What I want you to understand is that you don’t have to be a genius to be successful as an on-air talent.

None of the best air and programming talent I’ve known and worked with over decades considers him/herself a “genius.”

Radio doesn’t need more geniuses today. Radio needs talent.

Sadly, Radio has far too few talented people on the air, and running radio stations.

I try to speak to them every week, mostly just to encourage them to fight on.

Aim high.

Do your best. Prepare real content for real people.

Think of universal themes, things about life that all of your listeners can relate to, and frame them as personal stories: love, loss, fear, joy, anxiety, courage…hope!

Speak to a million people as you would to one. That’s what the best do in every medium.

Say something worth hearing, something that makes a difference in at least one life today.

That’s a good start.