Attitude Is Infectious In 2009!

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Isn't it great to be in 2009? I, like you,-if you are selling media today- had the unexpected happen in 2008. However, LPG properties had efforts and results that are some of the best success stories of 2008 relative to what's happening in the global economy.

After wrapping up 11 straight weeks on the road ending December 21^st-which was probably the most challenging road trip I have ever had, there were many people who looked at me and wanted to hear good news-good things that our properties were doing. Success can be relative you know. Compared to some of our media competitors-we didn't lose one person in our group that was an asset to our properties. Many competitors in our markets were laying off sales reps-cutting back in a major way their programming talent. Does each and every part of your company need to produce a return on investment? If they're not-you're in big trouble. In an unprecedented recession-Horizon Broadcasting Group in Central Oregon added a news talk station on September 1^st. Imagine that! Adding a new station while competition is cutting back jobs! Our Internet property in British Columbia grew by 40% in 2008 and that's no small number relative to it being one of the TOP 25 revenue versus per capita Internet properties in the world. What they do at Castanet.net is still unbelievable in most media circles-however a good idea fostered into a growth curve can do unreal things. Nobody told them they couldn't do it. Remember Ernest Shackelton? Maybe not! He was the South Pole explorer who saved all 27 of his men at the turn of the 20^th century in what today is still one of the great survival stories on modern record. Jeff Parke-our General Manager of KCAL and KOLA in Riverside, California did the unthinkable-he was able to take all of his sales reps (except one-different story for a different time) including his GSM on KOLA through the 2008 floor dropping market recession on the West Coast. Amazing!

Verstandig Broadcasting in PA/Maryland-our 2008 Sales Force of the Year-came through 2008 and is on the attack in 2009. If you want a personal motivational story for 2008, I have one-Garry Bowers-owner and general manager in Morgantown, West Virginia overcame a liver transplant in March and overcame what many doctors thought he couldn't do-and he runs his stations in Morgantown on a day to day basis at 70 years of age. If you feel sorry for yourself-you need to contact Garry-I have his number. Afroditi Tompakidou of course makes our Top Sales Manager list again for what she did in 2008-4.4 million Euros in Thessaloniki, Greece-no small feat relative to the market-it's just the best results you can get period. She and her staff are amazing! Atlanta-well, John Zieler and his sales force fell short of 2007 in 2008 by 2%. Compare that to the market recession in Atlanta and you get one of the year's best performances. Those are just some of the success stories for 2008! There are a lot of stories to be told and performances that were incredible that I simply don't have enough writing space to cover them all.

On December 19^th, I went on a sales call here outside of the Baltimore area with a sales rep and we presented a spec idea. This business  hadn't been on our radio stations for 2 years. We had a new rep on the account. We presented the idea she came up with that day. Today-January 7^th we followed up on the call since I was back in the market. Andrea closed an annual contract. 3 weeks after presenting her original idea. The point-business owners are looking for new creative ideas to move product and services. They are WAITING for YOU to come in the door with that idea! Ideas are the currency for 2009 and in a doom and gloom economy-they need you.

So what's your attitude going into 2009? Many people want to hear bad news because it makes them feel better-misery loves company. It's just that they're not going to get it here. We're on the attack! When you have the best trained sales force in the market that can create opportunities-you will win!

As you're reading this-I want you to take a pen-put out your hand and write a 10 on it. Don't worry; it's not enough ink to kill you. Go ahead-do it. Look at your hand and see the 10. How do you see yourself today? Are you a 10 on a 1-10 scale with 10 being super enthused-working smart-great time management skills-having an infectious attitude that people feed on? See your hand and smack your forehead with your hand. Now, you're a 10. Look in the mirror. Stand tall and take charge in 2009! You're a 10! You made it through 2008! Attitude is infectious!