Skip to main content

How do you achieve success?

I gotta get away from the message boards.

My idea of success is way different from theirs. For the past 10 days one of the most common arguments is of success in radio. No secret that the "shock jocks" get the high ratings. Mind you most of these people say things on the air I wouldn't want to say in front of my grandchildren. And they have masses of people listening to them that think this is "genius." I look at it as compromising one's values for a little fame. Who's going to care 100 years from now? The ones who made a success of themselves are folks like Struke, who got out of broadcasting to become a teacher of media, and Don Olson, a broadcasting hall of famer, who left the business to devote more time to his family.

Pro sports have those who had to bulk themselves up with performance enhancing substances to get a large payday and some mention in the record books. Some bulked themselves out of the hall of fame. Is this too high a price to pay?

And professional wrestling? I've said enough over the years about how some have died way too soon, or are crippled once their careers are over and the money's gone.

All I need to do is pour my heart out on this keyboard and I get a few people to read it. I don't know everything, never claimed to. All you good folks who visit me on a regular basis are a real surprise. I never expected to have this many people come here repeatedly when I started writing this blog in August, 2006.

Comments

Ms Hen's said…
what a great post.. my friend.
Tim Lones said…
Cliff:
Great thoughts..I've been reading the back and forth among the "radio pros" at those message boards..You'll never convince them of anything..They just think their way is so great..

I will say that not everyone has to compromise their standards to be successful..Case In Point.The Statler Brothers Country Music Group..Just 4 (actually 5) regular guys from Virginia that loved to sing..Took advantage of a great opportunity by the late Johnny Cash and made themselves a 38 year career in the Music Business..

They never moved away from their hometown of Staunton, Virginia to Nashville or LA, as was suggested they do..

They found their own niche singing about life, God and Country and the people took them to their hearts..All the while staying in their hometown being involved in their Local Church and just staying grounded in who they are..
Doesnt happen very often..
Pigeon said…
Your post reminded me of one my pet peves. I get bothered when the athletes are refered to as heros. I think that being a hero has nothing to do with being a professional athlete. Comparatively, I agree with your opinion that success has little to do with fame.
Connie said…
Your view of success all depends on what your priorities are. Sounds to me like you have your priorities lined up the right way, Wixy.
Amel said…
Oh...I didn't know what they talked about on the radio...but I've always loved this quote on success:

"To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded."
Anonymous said…
I don't like the fact that a professional athlete can make a gazillion dollars and the people who are in the field of care giving and teaching make hardly anything. Little problem here.
Cliff said…
Karen, that goes back to one of the comments I posted on Pat's blog this morning: Payday isn't necessairly every Friday.

My mom and older sister spent the majority of their working years as nursing home aides. If there wasn't a union at these places, they would get slightly above minimum wage, while being exposed to all sorts of disease and physical hazards.
Syd said…
I don't listen to the shock jocks. And I'm not a big sports fan, although I guess baseball is a favorite. I do like visiting here. You have a good message.
Ben said…
Honest words from the heart will beat "shock" any day in my book. Good for you!

And speaking of the cheating athletes, I guess the Tribe's old pal Manny is in a bit of a fix right now, isn't he?
struke said…
Cliff...thanks for the mention. I've always felt that if I can look at myself in the mirror and be proud of who I am and what I have done, then I'm ok.
Cliff said…
Ben: That was just "Manny being Manny." Ha, ha!

Popular posts from this blog

Post 800: Time to chat

Hi Guys, It's hard to believe that this is post number 800 for this blog. I started this blog out of my desire to communicate. Since radio and television is becoming more and more automated and less and less personal, I'm glad I made the decision to go in this direction as it has given me many blessings. When I first decided to write my musings, a friend from the radio and television boards who goes by the name of newsnomore, told me not to be discouraged if I didn't get any readers. The fact that I did in the early going made me surprised and grateful that anyone was enjoying what I wrote. I've had people tell me that maybe it wasn't meant for me to ever be in radio, that maybe my calling was blogging. Nowadays I think blogging makes for better two way conversation than terrestrial radio, especially the way I do it, non confrontational. The closest I come from any confrontation is the innocent digs that Pat and I shoot at each other. On an average day I get betwee

Lawson's Chip Dip

On a couple of occasions I have written posts dedicated to Lawson's, a convenience store chain that was located in Ohio for close to 50 years. In the late 1980's the chain was bought out by Dairy Mart, of Engfield Ct. Dairy Mart was then purchased by Alimentation Couche-Tard, and most stored were rebranded Circle K. Something that has survived the years since Lawson's has left the landscape is Lawson's Chip Dip. I get many hits on this blog from people out of Ohio, I'm thinking former Buckeyes, looking for availability of this chip dip. I had gotten an email from a former resident of Cleveland looking for it. I emailed Circle K about this sometime ago asking if it was possible to send the dip out to those out of state, they said because of quality issues that it was not possible. My only suggestion would be to get in touch with Circle K in your home area and ask them to start stocking this very popular item that seems to make every get-together complete. Now we wil

Sometimes Sports are Just Sports

 This may or may not make the final cut of my book. I was writing about some events this weekend and what had started as a joyous Friday night at my home school district became a weekend of heartbreak in the area after what happened at another school. Sometimes We Need to Realize That Sports are Just Games   Friday nights in late summer and early fall are sometimes a big deal for high school students and their families. As the long-time band announcer for my local high school, it is a time of year I always look forward to. This past Friday night was originally supposed to be the homecoming game for the local high school. The schedule had to be changed a bit because of the uncertainty of the opponents being able to field a team. There was talk around the league that they may have had to forfeit this game, so homecoming for the local school was rescheduled. The opponents, which are rivals of my local school district, were able to field a team and the game was played. The game was