Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Some of the best tips ever given to me – at a pivotal point in my career – were given to me in the 1980s by one of the nation’s pioneers in radio and TV. At the time, he was the president emeritus of a major broadcasting company, Bonneville International.
He launched it in 1964 after personal and professional successes in New York City.
His name: Arch L. Madsen. There were many reasons why I approached him even though the company had just laid me off.
Mr. Madsen had been appointed by President Ronald Reagan to help oversee Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty.
Relentlessly, he defended the First Amendment. It protects freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, right to assembly, and the right to petition for the governmental redress of grievances.
NAB director
He had been a director of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) as well as the Inter-American Association of Broadcasters, and other organizations.
He was a recipient of the Peabody Award and the NAB’s distinguished service award.
At the time under his leadership, Bonneville stations had enjoyed great success with its values-oriented programming and community involvement. He passed away in 1997, a decade after our meetings.
Even though I had hit a career wall, I knew the key was to get the best advice I could. And Arch Madsen was a stud.
In seeking his counsel, all it took was a phone call. I knew that seeking a mentor was and still is the best investment to sustain your career.
As a result of his childhood polio, he walked with a limp and the aid of a cane. He proved to be wise and direct. I asked him about his life’s obstacles. He explained how he overcame poverty in the 1930s, including stories about his youth when the power was turned off in his home in frigid Utah winter weather.
Overcoming obstacles
He said it explained it was important to treat obstacles as stepping stones for success – whether you run a business or you need to turbo charge your personal brand as an employee.
With subjects ranging from a career makeover to launching a broadcasting company, we met on three occasions in which he recommended three salient elements:
– Implement effective self-marketing
– Read thought-provoking books for leadership
– Lead a values-oriented, spiritual life
In particular, his counsel on self-marketing and reading were most helpful. It was then I stepped up my reading about people – how and why they became great – and developing a great elevator pitch.
With his advice on self-promotion – applicable whether you operate a company or work for a business – I became a student of his ideas.
Keeping in mind his philosophy and as the Digital Age evolved, I developed 8 basic tips:
1. Develop a high profile in your community. Become active and engage in cause-related marketing, which can greatly increase sales. Volunteer your time and energy in helping those who are less fortunate than you.
2. Develop leadership skills. Become an expert in your industry, but take leadership roles in developing programs and heading committees. Take the necessary steps to unlock your potential as a leader.
3. Improve your networking. Focus on an attitude of gratitude and an attitude of service. Help others by helping them to connect and by providing information of value and strive to build strong relationships.
4. Maximize your social media. Lay a foundation with quality references about you. Share useful information, especially on Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter to attract fans.
5. Provide your expertise as a trusted source of information. Approach journalists and offer to be available as a news source. Provide information about your industry and you to leverage the news media.
6. Give speeches. Target organizations applicable to your business and career to get opportunities as a guest speaker.
7. Write articles in the media or other blogs. Take steps to improve your odds to get published as a guest blogger.
8. Start a blog on your Web site. Write thoughtful articles about trends and your industry with timely information. Remember, there are nine content traits of the best blogs.
Good luck in your shameless self-promotion. Mr. Madsen, I’m sure, would approve of these techniques. After all, they’re extensions of his playbook.
From the Coach’s Corner, here are more tips using the Arch Madsen philosophy:
7 Steps to Become Great at Thinking on Your Feet – Have you ever been at a loss for words? For example, when asked a question, have you been tongue tied in a sales presentation, while speaking at an event, in negotiations, during an interview or a staff meeting? Getting tongue-tied is not a fun experience.
Vision in Setting Goals with 8 Best Practices – Whatever your entrepreneurial dreams, focusing on the right details is a skill conducive for setting goals strategically.
12 Tips for Profits to Keep Your Business Dreams Alive – Most businesspeople agree the economy continues to be challenging. Signs of a lingering downturn are everywhere.
9 Tips to Connect with People after You Make Your Speech – Typically, in making a speech at a public forum, businesspeople hope to get a return on their investment. After all, giving a great speech or serving on a panel before a targeted audience necessitates your valuable time and effort in preparation.
3 Best Interview Strategies for a Promotion in Your Company – So your company has an opening that would mean a promotion for you. Great. But make sure you prepare properly to avoid disappointment. To get the job you must interview well. Here are best practices to ensure your odds for success
“Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.”
-Brian Tracy
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