I write frequently about what makes the sportscasting industry difficult and challenges in my career. But it’s not all fire and brimstone. As I’ve written before, sometimes you have to give yourself credit for your success. What I’ve found out over the last couple of weeks is that my Blueprint to Broadcasting Success is working.
How do I know this? Because I recently sent out critique requests to several friends in the business for whom I have great respect. In the past, each of them has skewered my audio like a shish kebab. There were moment where I seriously doubted whether I could ever reach the goals I’ve set for myself. I always appreciated their honesty but at the same time, it was difficult to stomach.
I recently sent current audio to many of the same people. While they still found plenty of things to work on, they all noticed the improvement that I hoped, and believed, I was making. I’m not going to attach names with their comments, but here is a little bit of what they had to say.
I feel like you’re taking steps all the time. And I feel like the decision-makers out there will feel the same way. Your plan of improvement is really paying off. Keep it up!!
Your play-by-play has improved considerably since the first time I heard it several years ago. Most notable are your energy and inflections.
As I think I told you with your football this fall, I can definitely hear solid improvement from you. I wish I varied up some of my descriptions as much as you do.
As far as your clip goes, let me first say that it sounds like you’ve improved a lot. Just thinking back to what I heard the last time I got football from you, it seems like you’ve come a long way.
I’m very proud of my personal improvement. I developed a plan that I believed would work in quickly and dramatically improving my play-by-play skills. I’ve worked diligently to stick to my plan for just over a year and it’s paying dividends.
However, I’m not writing this to toot my own horn. I’m writing this because if I can improve this dramatically, anyone can. If you are a young sportscaster trying to get that foot in the door or a veteran stuck in a career rut, it’s easy to feel powerless in trying to advance your career. And while there are certainly things outside of your control, there is one thing that is in your hands alone, your desire to get better. My plan works for me and may or may not work for you. But the next time you feel frustrated because the next rung on your career ladder seems out of reach, don’t get frustrated, instead think of what else you can do to improve yourself, because that is one thing that is always in your control.
