Are you the best MC in the country? If you answered yes, the next 550 words could be some of the most important words you will read. Everything I am about to reveal comes from 21 years of experience and If you do what I did, you will succeed in destroying your career.
From my first gig, I knew I was the best MC in the country. I could dance like Travolta; I had a voice like Michael Buffer, and I could get people to do whatever I wanted. I was so good; people would move their dates just to get me. It was obvious to me that I was the best MC that ever lived.
Every party I performed at would result in 3 to 5 bookings. Weddings were my biggest market and within 2 years, I was the number one booked wedding MC in Boston. I was making more money than anyone I knew, and life was fantastic.
By the time, I was 35, everything I had dreamed of, came true. I purchased my 3rd home; I drove a Lexus 430 convertible and I had 4 Rolex watches. I was a member of a country club, and I dined at the Ritz 3 times a week. I was on my way to becoming a millionaire and no one could stop me.
Oh, I forgot to tell you about the people I pissed off while rising to the top.
Photographers, videographers, catering managers and party planners were “useless” to me. If they got in my way, I made sure to let them know I was the star of the show. I told catering managers to rearrange the room because it didn’t work for me. I did bridal dances without the photographer in the room. I told party planners I wasn’t going to pay a commission. I told videographers to get out of my way, and if the caterer didn’t feed me, I got the bride involved. After all, I am a star.
Here is what I didn’t know: Every vendor could have been a future sales person for me. If they loved me, they would have told people about me. Instead, they were deterring clients from booking me. Within 5 years I was booked solid but little did I know I would be the most hated MC in Boston.
It took 8 years for me to realize what I had done. My referral network was destroyed, and I was on my own. My career was in jeopardy, and I needed to change my attitude immediately. I would spend the next 13 years reconciling with people in order to save my business, however, I still feel the effects of my actions today.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still doing very well: however, I would have been able to retire earlier if I knew the repercussions of my actions.
So, “How to destroy your career in 3 easy steps.”
1. Treat everyone like they don’t matter.
2. Act like a superstar.
3. Alienate yourself from your referral network.
Just follow these 3 steps, and I promise, your career won’t last long. You may be the best in the world but, if you treat people as I have, you will fail, as well. If you want to be successful, you will need help from everyone you meet. You cannot do this alone.
Final note: Insecurity fuels perfection but it will destroy your career if you are not careful.
