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Lessons Learned from My Days in Radio

By
Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

Lessons Learned from My Days in Radio

When I was a kid I would listen to the radio for hours and grew to idolize a few radio personalities.  I was terribly shy then and thought radio would be a great place to hide.  As I approached college, I decided to study mass communications in the hopes of working in radio myself.  By my senior year, I had the opportunity to work with some of those I had idolized.  I learned a lot about life in a period of about seven years while working in the field.  I may have entered the field on the shy side, but I left with the shyness having been trampled out of me.

BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING.  One of the first experiences I worked as a shy intern was a gay rodeo.  I had no clue what to expect of the event, but I dressed in the only western wear I had and put on a smile.  Turned out to be a miserable, cold and wet day, but I had a blast.

YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO.  The sheer fact that I ended up working with those I'd idolized was enough to convince me that I could do anything I wanted.  And whenever I doubted that, my friend and radio producer Diana was there to spur me on.  Imagine being tasked with finding the hotel and room number that Governor Bill Clinton was in during the DNC.  That was my job.  I pulled off the flawless act of being a daughter in distress, needing to speak with my father.  Boom.  Done!  That small accomplishment set the stage for many moments of heart pounding anxiety about a task ahead to be brushed aside.  Just do it!  The worst anyone can say is no, and if you aren't trying, aren't you assuming no anyway?

APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED YOU GET WHERE YOU ARE.  The radio hosts I worked for had a knack for really appreciating their fans to a level where they were included in the show or live events.  They never forgot the  people that made them who they were.

SET YOUR EXPECTATIONS ACCORDINLGY.  AFTER ALL, WE ARE ALL JUST HUMAN.  When we put someone on a pedestal of admiration, we can forget they are human just like us.  They get in bad moods, have bad days and can make some pretty poor decisions.  You can imagine the disappoint of seeing an idol fall from grace.  In the end, we are all just human.  Nowadays, I prefer to keep a safe distance from those I look up to, or at least set really low expectations of them.  That way, I'm never disappointed.

YOU CAN'T PREDICT CRAZY, OR REASON WITH IT.  I remember working on getting an affiliate for this particular show for one year.  One year of wining and dining, sometimes literally, a radio station in Richmond.  My show hosts wanted their program broadcast there badly.  The first week on the air in Richmond, the very hosts who begged and pleaded for a station in that market, fired the one I got for them...ON THE AIR.  They then looked at me to go get another.  The station manager in Richmond was furious and there was nothing I could do to mend the bridge between he and the hosts.  I think I went gray over night.  It was then that I realized you can't predict crazy, or reason with it.  

These are just some of the lessons from radio that I take with me every day in real estate.  A lot of these lessons come in handy in my dealings with Short Sale Banks.  It's really odd the path that takes us where we are going, but when I look back on the crazy days in radio, real estate looks calm in comparison.

 

 

 

Comments (16)

Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

Chris Ann...this post really brought back memories to me and some of my experiences parallel what you described. Your "lessons learned" are things that will serve anyone well, no matter what career path they choose.

Suggested!!!

 

Sep 15, 2012 12:42 PM
Nick T Pappas
Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL
Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource
Chris Ann, not just lessons learned, but five great mantras. In our business, I'm particularly drawn to "You can't predict crazy, or reason with it".
Sep 15, 2012 01:03 PM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Chris Ann, ditto with my experiences as a film producer - like the day the bank client was drunk (unbeknownst to us) in the bathroom of the cardiologist's house where we were filming, shaving himself with the doctor's razor and the doctor's wife happened to come home to find him in her bathroom! It took a lot of smooth talking to convince the doctor to let us stay in the house and finish our shoot. Yes, our past lives definitely help with this business and in some ways it is calmer. At least we don't have 5 AM call times!

Sharon

Sep 15, 2012 01:10 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Chris Ann, you are so right!  We can't  precinct crazy or reason with it, whether it's another agent on the edge or a stressed out client!

Sep 15, 2012 01:45 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Hey, Chris Ann!  I included this post in Last Week's Favorites.  Have a great week!

Sep 15, 2012 10:41 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I had to count on my fingers the number of years that have passed since you shot that photo. At first glance, I thought 10 years ago but since I have no concept of time and am apparently bad at math, I just realized it was actually 20 years ago!!

Sep 16, 2012 01:04 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Chris Ann - Those are all great lessons to learn, and they're available freely almost everywhere you hang your hat, if you pay attention and think about what you're experiencing.

Sep 16, 2012 01:41 AM
Peggy Hughes/pha logistix, inc.
pha logistix inc - San Francisco, CA
SF NYC LA

Isn't it great how our past educates us for our future success?  Great post, Chris Ann!!

Sep 16, 2012 05:50 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Chris Ann~ I missed this post yesterday and would have missed it entirely had Patricia not included it in her weekly favorites.  It's hard to imagine you as shy.  LOL!

Sep 16, 2012 08:04 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for sharing your lessons for success.


Have an outstanding week with your camera in hand.


Sep 16, 2012 11:27 AM
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

Good Morning Chris Ann, very nice story. It shows that every expereince we have, works to make us stronger for the future.  Have a great Monday

Sep 17, 2012 01:05 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Diana:  We all bring a certain perspective on real estate from our former lives.

Nick:  Ain't it the truth.  I was walking on the boardwalk with a friend of mine yesterday and she engaged a crazy person in conversation.  Rule #1 of any road trip became, "Don't talk to crazy people."  Unfortunately, crazy doesn't make itself known in real estate right away.

Sharon:  That's funny!  I can't imagine having to deal with that.  

Pat:  Thanks for the feature in your post.  Love seeing that thumbs up from  you.

Sep 17, 2012 02:10 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Elizabeth:  Yep!  It seems like yesterday.  

Dick:  Exactly.  Radio was such a drastic difference to the other places I'd worked it was like a culture shock, but was so much fun.

Peggy:  Thanks.  Everything we experience shapes who we are. I think I needed that shock brought on by the radion industry to get out of my shell and be who I am today.

Donna:  I was REALLY shy.  I needed these experiences in radio to be who I am today.

 

Sep 17, 2012 02:19 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Roy: Thanks.  It's off to a good start and I have some neat pics from my beach trip to share.

Scott:  It sure does.  We are all works in progress with every experience we have shaping us.

Sep 17, 2012 02:20 AM
Curtis Van Carter
Better Homes & Gardens Wine Country Group - Yountville, CA
Your Napa Valley Broker Extraordinaire

Chris Ann

Great story and full of life experiences. I can see you doing the morning or is evening drive time talk show. cheers cvc

Sep 19, 2012 05:15 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Curtis:  I was behind the scenes all the way.  Rarely called in on the air.

Sep 19, 2012 05:40 AM