For years I used an auto mechanic named Lucky. One day I figured out his nickname. When I took my car in for a tune up, if something needed to be fixed it was bad luck for me and good luck for Lucky. That is what comes to mind when I hear the phrase tune up, my thinking has been adjusted.
When Bill Stainton hears the phrase tune up, he thinks of his Steinway piano. And his career.
“It occurs to me that some of us treat our careers kind of like my friend Alan treats his piano,” says Stainton. “Alan only gets his piano tuned when he thinks it sounds out of tune. This is not a good thing.”
Stainton is more than a piano player and music lover. He is a 29-time Emmy Award winning TV producer, writer, and performer. As the executive producer of Seattle's legendary comedy TV show “Almost Live!”, he led his team to 10 straight years of #1 ratings and more than 100 Emmy Awards of their own.
Today he works with leaders who want to produce those kinds of results—in their industries and with their teams.
Stainton poses some interesting questions for those who depend on attracting high-paying clients. Do you really want to have your clients think you’re out of tune before you notice it yourself? Do you want your customers starting to look at other options because your service has slipped imperceptibly? Is your career in need of a tune-up?
“We all know people like this, don’t we?” says Stainton. “People who are counting on their past accomplishments to get today’s rewards. But the audience doesn’t care how great the piano used to sound—and your customers, and your team, don’t care how great a leader you used to be.”
Stainton is a keynote speaker. He says today’s audience doesn’t care about yesterday’s standing ovation. All they care about is how good he is today.
“Here is a livelihood tip from my piano tuner named Brian,” says Stainton. “Give your career a tune up at least every six months. Give it a good look and listen. Are your skills up to snuff, or have you been a little lax? Are you current with your professional reading, or have the books and magazines stacked up? Has it been a while since you’ve been to a professional association event?”
Maybe it is time to examine how you make a living and how you clearly articulate the message. For example, Stainton says he makes his livelihood in three ways:
- Keynotes, breakout sessions, and workshops on the topics of “Leadership,” “Strategic Creativity,” and “Producing Under Pressure.”
- Talk Show Host/Interviewer for leadership teams or special guests.
- Presentation Skills "Crash Course" Coach. He is brought in to help non-professional speakers tune up their presentations.
To find out more about Stainton or to check out his tips, visit BillStainton.com. Oh, and get a tune up for that career of yours, why don’t you?
