Incumbency vs. Success

It seems easy enough to distinguish between the two words.

Incumbency means being there.

Success means making good things happen, while you're there.

Unfortunately, anymore in our industry, we've totally blurred the two. And it's having disastrous effects on all of us.

I can't think of a week gone by in which I'm not debating between the two with one of our ADG clients. Most often, it comes up when we're considering someone for a job opening.

"This person worked in a large market, so they must be pretty good."

Wrong-o.

"This person WON in a large market, so they must be pretty good."

Getting warmer. But not the ONLY measure of success...

"This person PERFORMED EXCEPTIONALLY in ANY SIZE MARKET, so they must be pretty good."

Aha! Now you get it.

Unfortunately, I hear the first quote hundreds of times more than the last one.

Size Does Not Matter...

Of course, market size has NOTHING to do with it.

Neither does the format, the daypart, whether the tower has red or white flashing lights, or any of the other supporting details.

What we're talking about when we refer to success only has to do with the PERSONAL PERFORMANCE characteristics of how we choose to respond, or not respond, in a given situation.

Some of us strive for success all the time.

Some of us live for it.

Some of us are actually afraid of it.

Sometimes we achieve it, and sometimes we fall short.

That's all good. Because all together, it can make life pretty interesting.

But remember, success doesn't just occur by showing up...

...or doing what you're told.

...or doing what everyone else is.

I hope you'll take some time this week to salute someone close to you who is driving success.

Similarly, I hope you'll chose to better invest the time you might otherwise spend saluting someone whose only positive contribution is attendance.

Why? If we champion success, we all get better, and that brightens our industry's future.

I am wishing you great success in 2006!