Glenn knows that small businesses can still make it in tough economic times, and the evidence was all over the news this morning with the announcement of two big hires for “The Blaze”. The first hire, who Glenn promised to talk more about later in the show, was Betsy Morgan, for CEO of The Huffington Post. But the other hire was a man that Glenn had known for years, Kraig Kitchin, former President of Premiere Radio Networks.
Glenn told the story of how he first offered a job to Kraig Kitchin several years ago when Glenn was struggling as a broadcaster with a young national show. He said, “I want to tell you this story and I want you to remember one thing. Never, ever, ever down grade your dreams. Never, ever, ever listen to people who say you're crazy. Never feel uncomfortable for having an idea.”
Glenn said that when he went to sign his second contract with Premiere Radio Networks, syndicators of Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Delilah, Ryan Sescrest, and more, his show was struggling and they almost didn’t renew.
“We went through months and months of negotiation and we finally get this deal and I went to Chicago to sign it because Kraig, I think, was in Chicago and so we went to a hotel that I couldn't afford but he could, the Peninsula. I think it was the Peninsula in Chicago and we had breakfast. We met at this little breakfast area where he was having breakfast and he gave me the contract and I signed it there for breakfast. Now, this -- keep in mind, this is a contract that I barely got. I mean, it was -- I think he may have started the conversation on the contract with, Whew, well, that was a close one, but we got it done. Okay? I think that's what he said. He was basically saying, You almost were unemployed. You're lucky to have a job. Sign before I change my mind.”
Glenn said, “I signed it and I looked at him and as I pushed the contract back, I said, I want to talk to you about something. And he said, Okay. I said, now, I know this is a little like Mr. Ace Hardware coming to Mr. Home Depot, but I'd like you to work for me. Now, this is the guy who owns Premiere, this is the guy who was the CEO. He's running the whole thing. He's got Rush Limbaugh and -- he's got successful talent in his stable and I say to him, I want you to work for me. He looked at me and he went, excuse me? I went, not now, but in a few years there's going to come a time and, Kraig, I see something in you. I see something in you. You are a good businessman. You're a good, honest man and you would be great with Mercury and he said, why don't we concentrate on just fulfilling this contract? And I said, We will. Don't worry. It will be great, but I want you to know I'm thinking in the future and I don't know exactly how this is going to come out, but you need to work for Mercury.”
At the time, the proposal was crazy. As Glenn said, “Crazy things happen to those who apply themselves and believe in themselves. I can't tell you. When you know, you know. Just keep moving forward. No matter how dark things are, no matter how on the he think you are, it will all work out.”
Glenn knows that anyone who believes him or herself can accomplish anything, no matter how crazy. And to prove it, he even offered Bill Gates a job as a computer programmer.
It may sound crazy today, but crazier things have happened.