The Thanksgiving Week I Got Fired and How I Survived It

Today's newsletter is about being fired. It happened to me, and even though it was a while ago, it still lives very much in my mind. The reason I am writing about it is to let you know that you will be ok. It happens, and it very often leads to something much better than what you had.

The recent wave of layoffs in the radio industry has been brutal to watch. I know exactly how much it hurts, because I have been right there in the crosshairs. If you are suddenly without a station, I want to share a story about the time the mic went completely dead for me, and how I found my way back.

Back in 1979, I was the PD at PRO-FM. I loved my job, but my ultimate goal was to be a major market PD. I actually interviewed and was offered the PD gig at WMET in Chicago. After accepting it, I realized the GM and I would not be a good fit, so I turned it down, choosing to stay at PRO-FM. I also interviewed for the PD job at WFIL in Philadelphia, but did not get it.

Then the call that changed everything came from Tom Baker, the general manager at WROR in Boston. From the second we started talking, I could tell Tom was an authentic, high quality guy I could work with. He invited me to Boston for an interview. My wife and I were thrilled, as Boston was always a destination market for us, having spent four years there at Emerson College. This was a potential dream come true, a PD gig in a major market. Tom offered me the job, and I was the new PD at WROR, owned by RKO Radio, the premier radio company in America.

I had a very successful run in Boston, and then PRO called again. They wanted me to come back, but this time as PD at both WPRO and PRO-FM. I had started at WPRO as an intern, was PD at PRO-FM, and now I would run both. It was absolute radio nirvana.

Two years later, after lots of up books, my good friend Tom Baker at WROR called again. Things had not gone well there, and he asked if I would come back. After much soul searching, I said yes.

This is the part of the story where we learn that sometimes you cannot go home again. I loved Tom Baker and everything about him. He was the best boss I ever had, but things the second time around did not go well. I just could not turn the ship on WROR's downtrend in ratings, and before I knew it, RKO brass came in and fired Tom.

A few weeks later, I met my new General Manager, who I could tell immediately did not like me, or anything I was doing.

On the Monday of Thanksgiving week in 1983, I was fired. Done. Out. We had our first child, had just purchased a home, and now, I had no job. I had a contract, but I had to get attorneys involved. It was a massive mess.

I could have completely shut down, but I did not start a pity party for myself. I brushed myself off, and got incredibly active in securing my next gig. Just about the same time I was let go, the PD job at WBZ opened up. I loved WBZ, called the GM immediately, and did the interview. I was amazed how little they paid, but I still wanted the job. No luck, they went with someone else.

My next call was to the folks who owned WPRO, Capital Cities Radio President Jim Arcara. I wanted back in at PRO, but he was good there. He said he could really use some help in Detroit, and asked if I would be interested. Leaving Boston for Detroit was not what my wife or I had in mind, but I went out, interviewed, got the offer, and took it.

That job in Detroit was WHYT and the rest is history.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. It may have been a little easier to get hold of people back then, as people actually answered phones, but where there is a will, there is a way. My point is this, even though radio has changed dramatically, the core principles of bouncing back have not. If you are navigating a recent layoff, you cannot wait for your inbox to ping. You have to get out there, be aggressive, and contact everyone you know.

Your Survival Blueprint

• Skip the Pity Party: Allow yourself a moment to breathe, but do not let despair paralyze you. The industry is tough, and your next move requires a clear, focused mind.

• Work Your Network: I immediately called WBZ and Capital Cities. You need to pick up the phone, send the emails, and reach out to your connections.

• Stay Flexible: I did not want to move to Detroit initially, but being open to an unexpected market led to the most defining role of my career at WJR.

• Be Aggressive and Be Bold: My friend, the late Bill Burton, once gave me a piece of advice. He said if you really want the job, get in the car or a plane, walk into their office, and ask to see them. They will not say no. It is a ballsy move, but it just might be the exact thing that cuts through the noise in this email only world we live in today.

If you know me, you may have heard me say that "everything happens for a reason, and in the end, everything works out ok". I believe that, and if you were affected by recent layoffs, you will be ok.