What Howard Stern Taught Me About Success

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People are always surprised to hear that I'm an avid Howard Stern fan. If you've followed me for a while, you've heard me write about the "Shock Jock." Of course, that is a term from the 90s, as everything is shocking these days in radio, TV, social media, and more. Back then, Stern was ahead of his time in getting your attention and in building arguably one of the most loyal fan bases around, before it was easy to go viral.

I started listening to the Howard Stern show around 2008 when I purchased a vehicle with Sirius Satellite radio. Since then, I've only listened to two things in the car, the Stern Show and sports talk radio. Every once in a while, I turn music on, but it's super rare.

Stern has been on air since 1975 when he got his start at a college radio station. Eventually, he worked his way up to larger markets like Detroit and then Washington, D.C., before landing at WNBC in New York. It wasn't all roses, though, as WNBC fired him within three tumultuous years. His brand wasn't a fit, the executives hated his schtick, and eventually they had a very messy and very public breakup.

Sometimes those breakups are for the best, though, as he took his talents to WXRK in New York. Stern spent the next twenty years here, becoming the number one morning program in New York City, syndicating to sixty markets, and he even started a TV show on the E! network that ran from 1994 to 2005. He published multiple best-selling books, and even put out a movie called Private Parts based on one of his book titles.

He earned the nickname "The King of all Media" because he showed up everywhere, and keep in mind this was before Facebook, before Instagram, before social media was even a thing. In fact, the internet wasn't even a thing, but somehow he expanded his brand to be seen everywhere he wanted.

Then, in 2005, he moved to Sirius Satellite radio so he could stop censoring everything he said and did, and also because he predicted that satellite radio would be the future of radio. He wasn't completely wrong. Satellite radio grew from 200,000 subscribers to over 35 million since he joined.

The name Howard Stern alone carries enormous polarizing judgment. People who are familiar with his historical brand of radio usually have an opinion on him, but if you've listened to the show as long as I have, you've picked up on a few key things that relate incredibly well to your career journey.

1. He's evolved at all levels of his journey. When he first started out on the radio, he had a persona that didn't work, and when he finally started to lean into authenticity and being himself, it started to click. Evolution at every stage of our careers unlocks new doors, and those who want to remain stagnant and refute change will struggle.

2. He's insanely focused on success and being number one in everything that he does. It wasn't good enough to be the number one morning radio show in the biggest media market; he also had to have a best-selling book and, eventually, a successful movie opening. Stern has even gone so far as to mention that he should probably be on anxiety medications, but if he were, the show would suffer. Now I don't recommend this for anyone, but the dedication to success is incredibly admirable.

3. His dedication and focus to his craft mean meticulous planning and preparation, which is why some people have called him an incredible interviewer when he has guests on. He is incredibly detail-focused to ensure that no stone is unturned with celebrity guests and a sketch or bit they do on the show.

4. Stern recognized when he had a good gig, and although he negotiated, fought, and argued with ownership for better pay and contracts, he still was smart enough to know the position he was in and why not screwing that up was a good idea.

5. He has never been content to just exist in his medium and craft. The fact that he wrote best-selling books, created a TV show, produced other shows, and showed up on the big screen means he was always seeking more. I think we often put on blinders and stop being creative about where we can find success elsewhere.

I've heard him say multiple times that his focus and dedication to excellence have led to his success, and I truly believe it's not a skill we can always learn; it's one we are born with. The desire to never quit and be relentless in the pursuit of success.

You may not be a fan, and that's ok, but you should pick up a lesson or two from Stern or any other individual whose success you admire. Chances are, we can learn from what they've accomplished.

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