Hi all,
Six months ago, back when I was still writing regularly on LinkedIn, I shared a post called "11 Things Guaranteed in Broadcasting."
It was a quick recap of my 27 years in this industry: 5 things I haven't enjoyed, and 6 I have. (Plus a bonus.)
The "not so good" list could have been longer. Long hours, pressure, politics, egos. You know the drill.
But of everything on that list, my favorite is the people.
That one is tough to argue with.
Nothing in this business has ever come close to the chance of meeting new faces. Making new friends and keeping the old ones. Learning from the newcomers and from the veterans. Coworkers who became friends, and friends who became part of my extended family.
The Hardest Part
Maybe this is me getting closer to 50 (still two and a half years away, for the record).
But one of the worst parts of this job, and of life, is saying goodbye to colleagues.
I started very young, so many of my early teammates were older than me. I have said farewell to a lot of them. And to some who were my age.
Because it's not about being young or old. We are all going to go at some point, and the timing never makes it easier.
Losing family is painful. Losing the ones you love is painful. And losing that extended family, the friends and crew mates you collect throughout a career, hurts just as much.
Companies Pass. People Stay.
So this week, I want to bring one thing to your attention.
Take the opportunities that life and this industry give you, day after day, to appreciate those around you.
Think about how many companies you have worked for that don't exist anymore. Bankruptcies. Mergers. Rebrands.
The companies pass. The people stay.
And if we don't show our appreciation now, we never know how long they will be working next to us.
You will say: "But Oscar, this applies to everything, not just broadcasting."
And you're right. It does.
But in our world it matters even more. We meet someone on a show, in a truck, at a tournament, and sometimes we never cross paths again. So make the effort to keep them in your life. Value them week in, week out, not only when they are standing beside you.
This is it for this week.
Send the message. Make the call. Tell a colleague what they meant to you while you still can.
P.S. This week we lost a great friend in Jamaica who made a big impact on our lives, personally and professionally. He worked around the world, bringing his talent and kindness everywhere he went. Brian St. Juste, rest in peace, my friend.