My Radio

Today I was browsing through TED.com and came across a YouTube video of Gary Vaynerchuk discussing a topic that I hold close to my heart: "Do What You Love!" Just four months ago I walked away from a company that had employed me for the past four years because I was no longer enjoying my work. I kept asking myself "what am I still doing here?"..."what do I enjoy doing?" After coming up with various answers for these questions over the span of about 3 months I decided that I really enjoyed being entertained and entertaining others. I then started researching career opportunities within the entertainment industry, and voila, here I am today working as an Account Executive for two radio stations in Phoenix, Arizona.

Gary Vaynerchuk is the owner of Wine Library TV. In his speech he talks about how he ended up where he is today and inspires the audience to do what they have a passion and love for. Don't waste your time on something that you are even 1% unhappy with. You can tell that his enthusiasm inspires the audience because of theire reaction to him, but even through watching his speech on my laptop computer, I feel like he is talking directly to me. There are several things that he mentioned during his speech that I jotted down for future reflection:

• What do I want to do everyday for the rest of my life?? Monetize it...
• HUSSLE!
• Legacy > Currency
• BUILD BRAND EQUITY!

Of course it is difficult not to think about how to make the above mentioned topics more effective within your own personal business plan while he is talking about them, so during his speech I started to think about my current job. "Am I happy?" "Is there 1% of me that doesn't like what I am doing?" "Am I building a legacy that my grandchildren would be proud of?" His excitement for his company also made me wonder if I would ever be able to be as satisfied with my career as he is with is. At the end of the day, I think my answer lies within the business plan that I am creating for my coursework. Though, at the time it may just seem like another assignment to complete for a grade, I really think that owning your own business is the master key to happiness. You are able to dictate what you want to do, when you want to do it.

Below you will find the video that I watched that gave me all of these revelations and questions to ponder.


Recently my boss emailed out a copy of a transcript that Steve Jobs wrote for a college graduation. In his commencement address he talked about the same thing..."you have got to do what you love" is one of the last things he said to that graduating class.

All in all, unless you have been blessed with a trust fund or have won the lottery, you will most likely to be forced to obtain some sort of career in order to make a living. Because most jobs consume about 75% of your day, it is important to enjoy what you are doing. I am still looking for that 100% enjoyment in my career but I am sure one day I will find it. The important thing is to not be afraid to switch gears when you realize that something else can bring you that extra 1% of happiness.

*~Love, Peace, & Radio~*

Hey Hey Hey Everybody!!!

For my blog post today I am going to do two things:
1) A review on a website article
2) Talk about how another leading lady in radio that has inspired me

Now I will be honest and say that I have only known of Angela's presence in the radio industry for about  6 months now, I think. So, I'm not a lifelong fan, but after listening to her show and getting updates on what she is up to via twitter, I have become quite fond of her unique style and quick wit. I came to know about Angela Yee through Wale Folarin's twitter page. Now if you don't know who he is then we really have nothing to talk about! LOL. Just kidding. But Wale is a hip hop artist and Angela did a interview with him and put it up on her UStream page. Wale retweeted Angela's tweet about interviewing him, I didnt want to miss seeing him and all of him amazingness live, so I followed her, and the rest is history!!! One thing that I love about Twitter is that it allows us to see that celebrities are just regular people that like to party, hang out with friends, and sleep just like the rest of us. They just have high profile occupations that provide them the opportunity to share their talents with the rest of the world. Anywho, Angela is so down to earth! I absolutely LOVE her! The radio show she hosted on Sirius Satellite radio titled "The Morning After"on Shade 45 was absolutely HILARIOUS!!! She said exactly what she wanted, when she wanted, and the good thing about Satellite radio is that its live and you dont have all the language restrictions that you do in traditional radio.

Ok, ok. I've been typing and typing and I have no idea where I was going with this. I just have so many great things to say about this diva that I don't know where to start and finish!! haha.

Alright, Shon....FOCUS!!!

So, just recently Angela tweeted a link to an interview that she did with Lindsay Good of NBC New York. Take a look http://www.nbcnewyork.com/blogs/nonstop-sound/Angela-Yee--111497724.html.

The story talks about Angela's journey through radio. One of the most interesting things I read about her story is that when she started in radio she had absolutely NO EXPERIENCE! And with that, her non-experience having self was offered a job as a radio personality alongside Cipha Sounds. Now up until reading this particular article and watching the video that goes with it, I never had the desire to become a radio personality. Since working in radio sales and recording a few commercials here and there, I have been told several times that I have the "voice" and personality for it, but I always blew it off and continued on with my selling. But now, oh no no no, I want to someday, at least for a little bit, have the opportunity to host a show!! How amazing will that be!! And I also must give some recognition to Maggie, because she told me this as soon as I told her I was getting into radio. So, Maggs, if you are reading this, THANKS! :)

I think that is all I wanted to say about Miss Angela Yee.

Follower her on twitter @angelayee and check out her blog http://www.teamyee.tv

I think next time I am going to do a review on Steve Harvey...or maybe Rickey Smiley...Tom Joyner?? lol. I am ALLL over the place today. It's definitely time for a Christmas vacation.

~*Love, Peace, & Radio*~

I said a few blog posts ago that I wanted to find a video of LaLa talking about her journey through the radio industry and do a review on it. Well I have not been able to find such video, so I have decided to do a summary on what I have found out about her involvement in the entertainment industry as a whole.

Well, let's get started and try to find some interesting information about one of my favs, Mrs. Alani Vasquez-Anthony!

LaLa was born on June 25, 1979 in Brooklyn, New York. She always had a love for music, but never embraced it as a career and lifestyle until she moved to Altanta, Georgia with her mother, step-dad and two half-sisters. In Altanta she obtained a job as a programming assistant at WHTA, an FM radio station.   According to NetGlimpse.com, (2009) "after working for some time at the station, she decided to attend college and relocated to Washington, D.C., where she attended Howard University and studied communications studies. While attending college, she worked as a discjockey for that institution's radio station. Vasquez subsequently returned to Atlanta, and there she received her first big break when she debuted in a radio show alongside Ludacris, called Future Flavas. In 1999, she moved to Los Angeles, California, and went to work for KKBT-FM radio. There she was noticed by MTV and was invited to audition, although was not called back until a year later in 2003."


This is only a small glimpse of what she has done within her career, but outside being an amazing radio and TV personality, she is an avid lover of her fans! From what I have seen of her on Twitter and her VH1 reality show "LaLa's Full Court Wedding", she is very kind-hearted, down to earth, and lives to be a great daughter, friend, sister, wife, and mother.


I can only aspire, work hard, and pray to make a similar mark on the urban side of the entertainment industry. As I work hard to do so, I will remember the humility that she has demonstrated throughout her career and strive to achieve the same. 


Below you will find a video that I found on YouTube that showcases her personality as well as shows her talking about some of the things that were going on in her life at that particular time.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqgOjjmsTCc


Hope you guys enjoyed learning a little bit about one of my favorite celebrities! She is gorgeous, successful, and seems to be extremely sweet! Go check her out on twitter, her name there is LaLa. Also check out her blog www.iamlala.com.


Laterz!!!


~*Love, Peace, & Radio*~

Hey Guys ,

This week I took the time out to sit down with some of my colleagues and talked with them regarding their lives in radio.

Take a listen!

Hope you enjoy!!

Hey Guys!

It's late on a Thursday night, but I just had to come and share my joy about the great successes that I have had at work over the last couple of days. Yesterday I closed on a $3000 sale and today I closed on a $4000 sale. Now if you remember from a previous post I was complaining because I didnt sell anything during our One Day Sale. But, you know what, screw the One Day Sale! Im bringing in some billing baby!!!!! WHOOO HOOOO!!!

On another note, the next blog I post will be a audio clip of some interviews I did with co-workers! They were all so amazingly grateful to help me out! The interviews went great and I cant wait for you guys to hear them. Also at work I have been writing commercial scripts like crazy!!! I even recorded a whole :30 commercial on my own!! I would post that but I'm not exactly sure if I am allowed to do that. Ill have to ask my Sales Director and get back with you guys.

Lastly, I am leaving tomorrow morning to visit one of my best girlfriends in Milwaukee! SHE IS GETTING MARRIED!!!! YAY! Maggie (the bride), Fallon, Amira, and myself (all bridesmaids) are going to be hanging out all weekend and we are going to stop in some dress shops to try on some bridesmaids dresses!

It is going to be a great time and I can't wait!!!!

~*Love, Peace, & Radio*~

Hello...Hello...Hello! Work has been so extremely busy lately that when I come home I am exhausted and not really in the mood to blog, sorry guys! But I'm back!!! :)


I recently read an article on ClearChannel's website about them partnering with The United Service Organization (USO), to help support our American troops and their families worldwide. ClearChannel has agreed to run more than 200,000 PSA's country-wide in order to increase awareness for different programs that we can get ourselves involved in, in order to support the lives of the military and their families. Some of these programs include USO's Worldwide Warrior programs, overall fundraising initiatives, care package, and "Operation Phone Home", just to name a few.

My cousin/best friend Dashun is in the Air Force and he was deployed for two whole years! Everyday I missed and prayed for him so I know what it is like to have someone out there that you care for. Two causes that I always support are "Support Our Troops" and "Breast Cancer Awareness", these two initiatives hold a close spot in my heart because family members were affected by them.

I know that most companies have some sort of Community Awareness/Involvement program spelled out somewhere in their business plan either to really make a difference or to just seem like they are doing a good deed. Either way, I love it when companies make known to the public what they are doing. It shows a great deal of character and integrity within their leaders. One of the books that we have been reading for our Executive Leadership class titled "Developing the Leader Within You" talks a lot about the important characteristics of a leader. What I have read so far has definitely inspired me to start changing myself in order to be a great leader in future years.

Take a look at the article, browse through ClearChannels website and see what local ClearChannel stations are in your city! Listen for the USO commercials and go support!

http://www.clearchannel.com/Radio/PressRelease.aspx?PressReleaseID=2801

Love you guys! And I promise not to stay gone for so long next time!

~*Love, Peace, & Radio*~

Hey guys! I'm so sorry for not posting this weekend! I was so lazy!! I did though get my apartment cleaned up. It was an absolute mess. I will be posting at least two professional stories this week for class so stay tuned for that.

Today at work was so busy! I got there at 8, looked up and it was 3!!! WHEW!

Anywho, I dont really have much to say today, just wanted to let you know I didnt forget about you and that I will be back with a better post tomorrow!

~*Love, Peace, & Radio*~