(The song shown above was written for me on Father’s Day by my daughter, Candis Johns.)

RADIO GEO’S LIFE-LINERS

Taking too long to decide what you’ll do with your life may result in it being over before you begin.

Being told, “You can’t have that, ” only made me want it more. 

Does anybody ever like what they see in the mirror?

Contrary to what you see on TV and in the movies, I think most folks marry within their race and/or their religion.

The best thing about fear is it keeps you vigilant.

Nothing is nearly as good or bad as it seems.

Becoming a parent is the most joyous moment you’ll ever experience. Unfortunately, it’s followed by a lifetime of worry.

I was schooled at TCI but educated at Pete’s Poolroom.

Most men will back off if their wives or children are threatened.

Young wives are wonderful, except that they’re still working on the future while you’re living yours.

Women aren’t that innocent; they know what we want. Great morning show folks tell stories about the city they live in, and their fans tell stories about them.

As much as I like to drive, I must admit, there’s nothing better than having a driver.

Here’s what the ladies don’t understand, there is no way to share in the upside if they don’t share in the downside too.

I know a few guys with private jets but only one guy with a private train.

Most things are rarely as permanent as they appear to be.

COMMENTS

Jerry Bobo: George, during those long sessions one year, Jim gave me a plaque with our annual billing goal on it, which looked like an unreachable amount for KVIL, and told me to hang it on my office wall as a daily reminder. Like the sometimes cocky SOB that I am, in October of the next year, I got a nail, scratched a big CHECK mark on it, and sent it back with a note that said, “DONE; what’s next?” That was the last time he gave me a plaque. One of my goals was to charge and get the highest price per spot in America. What I wanted the KVIL clients to understand is that KVIL wasn’t just another radio station. It was a special breed and the best in all of radio broadcasting so they had to pay more for being with the best. In fact, I wouldn’t allow clients to buy just the Ron Chapman show; they had to purchase other dayparts as well. Ron did not voice spots except for one “Grandfathered” auto dealer. His endorsement was strictly for KVIL and our audience. It pissed a lot of clients off, but they soon got over it once their store traffic increased. Several months before it came time each year to raise the advertising rates, I would annouce to the sales staff that I was raising the rates much higher than I would actually but I would always raise them a little over half of what I had announced. So AE’s had the clients thinking a big increase in the spot rate was coming, and when it was much less than expected, everyone accepted the new higher price with ease. We were billing over $2 M a month back in the 1980s; that’s why Richard M gave me a new Mercedes one year. Boy, those were the good old days of radio. (Fairbanks Management)
Geo: Jerry, you gave me my consulting career. When you hit your first million-dollar month, my phone started ringing off the wall. I had two choices answer their questions or sell them the answers. I chose “Faster Cars, Older Whiskey, Younger Women, and Mo’ Money.”What a ride, love ya, man!”

Bruce Munson: If I ain’t teasin’ ya, I ain’t lovin’ ya!” George, your line is remarkably similar to what my dad used to say to his grandkids! Like you, he loved to tell stories. Another of his favorite lines was, “Now, if you’ve already heard this…don’t stop me because I want to tell it again.” (Fairbanks management)Radio
Geo: I completely understand what he was talkin’ about, Bruce.

Bruce Devine: Geo. Roger Klein says that when you were at CFRA: ‘You took Ken  ‘The General’ Grant’s uniform Away’ ?:) (Character!)
Radio Geo: I wish that were true, Bruce:-)

Jack Schell: Mighty interesting words and picture on your blog this morning…even with the horizontal squish of that picture that takes 40-50 ponds off of each participant…some of them, on the way to looking just a bit like Beldar, The Conehead.The text of it all had me thinking about how, when there was a need at KVIL, Ron assigned me the jobs of DJ, Chief Engineer, Program Director and Promotion Director, now and then, along the way between 1967 and 1993…plus, taking on his show (commuting from Gun Barrel City each morning to do it) in the very early 2000s when he went on vacation.  As a result, I have an odd collection of anecdotes…some happy, some not.  Oh brother, DO I! Anyway, Ron wrote a lot of thank you notes, which I still have…I collect stuff.  Among them, a small Post-It Note, from him, from among the batch, has been attached to my bathroom mirror for many years, so as to see it at least at the beginning of each day (when home).  It isn’t really negative (although a first impression might make one think so). It simply says, “Remember, Jack, no one cares…except for a precious few”.  It was intended, not as a reason to become depressed and give up…but to be careful, diligent and undeterred…kinda like those signs along the highway that say, “Bridge freezes before road”  Like, no prob, just watch your step.  I thanked him often.  This rare note to your blog is NOT meant to spill the story of my life in radio, but simply to help you bring that picture of the Fairbanks crew back to reality…it is not all that difficult with today’s digital gadgetry.  In the meantime, I find it difficult to fully express how glad I am that we had that little get-together in Dallas (2019?) with Ron, you, Bill G., Becky, Xrey, sales folks, and many more.I know, I know…”Blah, blah, blah – where’s that fixed picture, Jack?” Alrighty (and have a super 2023, George)!  Also, you’re welcome. (Fairbanks Management)
Radio Geo: As usual, Jack, I have trouble staying with you, but I think I got this one. You and all the crew a KVIL did a spectacular job and should be very proud of yourselves. Thanks for the fixed picture; it now adorns the Blog.

Wendy Holmes: Looks like you had a very successful radio career, George; congratulations! I met Beau and Tom at the radio station on the Pembina highway. An optometrist office that I worked at was in that building, and they were our customers. Tom was pretty quiet, but Beau was quite contagious. Did you ever meet Howard Kroeger? (Character!)
Geo: Thanks for the read, Wendy. Yep, radio’s been very good to me, and no, I’ve never met Howard Kroeger.

Growing up in Transcona, one of the things my Father used to say was, “If you’re not sweatin’, you ain’t workin’.”
It was just one of the many things we disagreed about because I think if you’re sweating while you’re working, might mean that you’re not very good at what you’re doing.
(My Dad, Sandy Johns, pictured on top)

Gifted people, though, tend to go in another direction; they’d rather rely on their gifts and not do much work.
Not to worry, though, because most productivity comes from creative people, and you can learn how to do that, whereas you can’t learn how to be gifted.

Working hard is admirable, but working smarter gets you more places.
Once you learn how to be creative, your only concern is that the gifted people wake up and learn creativity too.

On the rare occasion of this happening, I suggest getting out of their way.
These folks, when they’re on fire, have the capability of producing some pretty magical things.

Unfortunately, many of them come from the dark side and tend to self-destruct.
When this happens, it’s time for the rest of us to get back to creativity again.

I wonder if Loren Michaels ever considered or cared how much work some of the cast members of Saturday Night Live put into a skit before he decided to cut it or not.

Speaking of gifted, Chuck Riley, back at CKY in Winnipeg, said to me just before slipping out the back Jack to the Criterion Athletic Club (Beer Parlor), “I like you, kid, so I’m going to save you a couple of thousand hours. “You Can’t Splice Strings.”
Then he turned on his heel and left me with, as we say in the biz, “A shit load of production.”

 GEO’S LIFE-LINERS.

It’s easy to get someone’s attention; holding their interest is tough.

You’re much happier when your giving than you are receiving. Who smiles more than Santa?

Laughter cures almost everything.

Without Radio, there’d be no Rock&Roll; without Rock&Roll, there’d be no Elvis or The Beatles.

Unless you need the government’s help, being accused of being prejudiced or racist doesn’t mean much.

I know a lot about a little and a little about a lot.

A desperate man is the most dangerous man of all.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if motivational emails actually inspired someone?

I never did like dealing with negatives, so whenever I thought the station sounded a little loose, I’d threaten the air staff with a “Jock in the Box” session. (A random air check being played that would be critiqued by us all.) The mere mention of that kind of session usually tightened the station right up.

Keeping a secret is one of the most difficult things you’ll ever have to do.

Trying to make payroll tends to lower your standards.

Ain’t it funny how the new big new thing quickly becomes the “flavor of the week.”

Did you know that it costs two cents to make a penny?

Speaking of money, you rarely need anybody’s permission to do a radio promotion that costs nothing.

Speaking of promotions, it’s pretty easy to create a good one if you’re got a good budget; tough if ya don’t, but still doable.

Sometimes having a plan “B” keeps you from focusing on Plan “A.” There’s no such thing as too much praise.

At my age, many things that used to make sense no longer do.

When you’re no longer able to change things, change yourself.

Marc LaFrance: What a wonderful adventure. Always enjoy reading your blog. Merry Christmas, and all the best in 2023. (Bucket List Wrap-Up)
Radio Geo: Joyeux Noel et Bonne Annee Mon Ami, it was good to finally meet you.

Doug Thompson: George, re: WIBC transmitter site being turned into condos. I had the same feeling when CTV bought CHUM and decided 1331 Yonge street would also be turned into condos.  So much history in that building over 50 years at 1050 CHUM with Program Director Allan Slaight and later J. Robert Wood, General Manager Fred Sherratt, and Mr.  Waters for President. You couldn’t have had a more perfect group. Then there was CHUM FM with Ops Managers Bob Laine, Duff Roman, Program Directors Warren Cosford, Ross Davies, and many others over the years. As well as Roger Ashby’s amazing career on both AM & FM. As Chuck Riley once said in a voice track to a CHUM promo, “Time Marches On.” I also never realized that he had such cute knees after working with Chuck Riley on many projects. (The Great Gift)

Doug Herman: Many of us have similar feelings regarding a station that helped “make” our careers.  KCBQ comes to mind for me.  The station still exists (in a Salem right-wing and religious format with near-zero numbers), but the original building and the field with six towers that rocked the industry way back when are now a Lowe’s store. (The Great Gift)
Geo: Doug and Dougie, you’re both right; we thought the great stations earned the right to last forever. Sad!

Kevin Robinson: George Johns – Nazi!  🙂 (CFTR)
Geo: It does look a little harsh, doesn’t it, Kevin? I was much older then; I’m younger than that now.

Radio Geo’s Media Blog is a politically incorrect inside look at Radio, TV, Music, Movies, Books, Social Media, Politics, and Life, primarily written with men in mind.
For a peek at upcoming Blogs or to see some that you may have missed, go to GeorgeJohns.com. On Twitter @GeoOfTheRadio. Sharing and/or commenting is appreciated.
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