The 5 A's Of Longevity

I’ve just recently done something rare in radio; I made it to my 20th anniversary of working for the same radio company! Thank you so much to the many, many smart and talented people I’ve worked with over the last 20 years who have helped me be the radio person I am today.

All that said, a question I get a lot, especially the more years I put on as a WayFM (now Hope Media Group) employee, is how have I done it? How does one make it 20 years working for one company?

So, instead of a glib answer (like, “I know where all the bodies are buried”), I gave it some thought and came up with my 5 “A”s of how to successfully stay at a company long term, basing it on both what I think has made it possible for me along with observing what has made it so other’s haven’t. Of course, this all presumes you WANT to stay at the same company long term; obviously that isn’t for everybody.

1. ABILITY - The number one thing you have to have to make it long term in a job is to have the ability to do your job. Competence. This one is more of a no-brainer, but it is an important first step.
2. ATTITUDE - To me, this is actually the biggest one (assuming you can do at least the basic functions of your job). I’ve seen a bad attitude cost many people their job over the years. So what does having a good attitude look like? Check your ego, and make sure it’s not out of control. Don’t look at any task at your job as beneath you. Yeah, maybe sometimes you have to take some trash out or help with some dishes or even just help a fellow co-worker out with a task that isn’t technically in your job description; if you walk around with the attitude that everything “Isn’t my job” then eventually, your job probably won’t be your job. Respect the authority of those in leadership above you; yes, there will be time you have disagreements and differences of opinions (which is okay!), but if those then turn into a negative attitude about those in leadership above you, eventually, you’re not going to be employed. Finally, make your self likable (easier for some than others). Find ways to endear yourself to those around you. You don’t have to be everyone’s friend, but you don’t want to be the guy that everyone hates because you have a negative demeanor all the time either. Be gracious to those around you.
3. AGILE - Guess what? Change WILL happen. In some companies, change may happen all the time. It can be scary, confusing, and stressful when change happens, whether it’s a new boss, new co-workers, or even a brand new company. The key to surviving those is being agile and adaptable. Roll with the change. Remember that change isn’t necessarily good or bad; what’s good or bad about it is how you handle that change. It may take patience and may require you to learn new things and new people, but change is part of life and part of a business. Even the most healthy companies change (and should), and if you want to work long term at a company, then you need to adapt and be flexible as those changes happen.
4. AVAILABLE - This one ties back into attitude, but I thought it was worth doubling down on. Be available for your co-workers, whether it’s the president of your company, or the newest employee. Be willing to help others when they need it; offer a helping hand or ear or whatever is needed. Treat others as you’d want to be treated (I think I’ve heard that somewhere before…). Do that, and you’ll likely also have more success where you’re at.
5. ACCEPTANCE - So, the actual word here is a little more of a stretch, but I wanted to keep with the alliteration. What I’m really going for here is to be present where you’re at, and treat the job like it’s one you’re going to be at long term. Accept what you’re doing. If you’re always looking for your next opportunity elsewhere, you’re probably not going to be giving your current job the attention that it needs. Now, I’m not saying you should never apply for other jobs elsewhere; matter of fact, it could be healthy to do so and could be what you need to grow to the next step of your career. I’m more talking about not ignoring where you are and how you treat your job and role. We all know those people who are always looking for their next job (and almost treat that like that IS their job, to find their next thing). Make sure you’re not creating an air of dissatisfaction about your current role while you’re doing it

If you do all those 5 things, does it guarantee long term success? No. Things happen, things change, and sometimes things just don’t work out right. What I do think is that if you do all 5 of those, you’ll be set up to have success no matter where you work, and will have a much better chance to be that guy who’s been there a long time.