There really are some great people in the world....
There are really some great people in the world. I mean that in all sincerity. I think the world of my family, but there are some others that I want to point out.
This past weekend I went back to Knoxville to surprise Alex and Ben, as well as work on the house some more so that we can sell it. On my way into town, I called my friend and mentor Dave Foulk to chat. Dave was working so we could not talk long. I tried calling again on Saturday, he was busy, so I made time to go see him on Sunday morning.
I went in to see Dave and actually got there before he did. We caught up on a few things, but since we swap e-mails frequently, there wasn't a whole with him that I did not already know. He is always great to talk to. Dave has lots of interesting insight on things and a wealth of experiences, both good and bad, that he is willing to share.
Heck, I owe Dave a ton for all of the help he has given me in the last five years. Rather than ignore the obviously OLD intern in the sports department back in 2002, he offered advice and helped me get to where I am. When I was about to graduate, he told me which job I should take when the offers came up. And I listened. But Dave also was there as a sounding board for my frustrations. He also gave me great advice when it came to be time to consider moving on. There were few others outside my family that I could talk to. Dave was one that I could. Lucky for me, he still is...though mainly via e-mail and phone calls now.
I got an e-mail from another one of those great people in the world on Friday morning. I responded to let him know that I am in town. Scott Simon was my program director at WNOX and we became friends. In fact, if not for Scott, literally, I would not be here in Jefferson City today.
In a place where outsiders are pushed away and sometimes shunned, Scott and I hit it off. I guess the fact that we were both Midwesterners led to that. The fact that we BOTH love the radio business was another. I can only guess that Scott saw in me some raw, untapped and under-developed talent. Under his instruction, I learned a lot about what it takes to put together good talk radio in the 21st Century. Scott allowed me to get greater opportunities within the bounds of the station, so that I could show what I was capable of doing.
And it was Scott who referred my current program director to me. So, directly, I got this job with his help. I hope that I can return the favor someday.
Both Dave and Scott are what I consider great for one very BIG reason. Both of these men went out of there way to help me with no expectation of any direct return back to them. In other words, they didn't have to do anything for me. They gave me the push toward something bigger. They gave me a push to keep working to be better. You could even say that they provided more tools, figuratively, for me to use.
Hopefully, I have learned more than the specifics from these men. I really hope that I take away the generosity of character that both of these men have shown me.
In many ways, these men remind me of my own father, only they are younger. (Had to get that in there, Dave and Scott could read this). Dad has taught me a lot. And as he would tell anyone, sometimes I needed to get another voice to reinforce the points he was trying to make. Well Dad, I think Dave and Scott have done that for me on the professional side of things. I am pretty sure that it has also extended to other areas as well.
There are many others, but these two are top of mind for me right now. I will share stories of others later on. (Mom, Kathy...you have to wait until Mother's Day/Wedding Anniversary week. Dad, you will get the full treatment near Father's Day....Topher, Dan.....birthdays?? Maybe? Ha ha ha....) I will tell these stories, or you can ask me.
So, who have you had a positive influence on today? This week? Month? Year?
Hope you don't find that you are thinking too long and hard on that.
Comments?
