Back when I was living my life of debauchery in the French Quarter of New Orleans I received a phone call from an old friend of mine.

She had just graduated from college and wanted someone to ride with her to Atlanta because she had an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Now back in the late 80’s The Atlanta Constitution was a big deal. It wasthe paper in a city which was happening. CNN was headquartered there. It was America’s Next Great City and everyone knew it.

Being the pussy-whipped kid I was then, I first got a list of rules from my girlfriend (she knew that smart girls was my kryptonite) before I was allowed to take the trip.

We argued about the trip all day.
But I did take the trip.
And it completely changed my life.

After dropping Kathy off at the large headquarters of the newspaper I literally had nothing to do.

So I drove around Atlanta.

I saw the WEA building (Warner/Electra/Atlantic) and decided to stop.

If my friend was going to be working for the Atlanta Constitution I should be working for a big record label. (That was literally my thinking.)

I’m sure I looked a wreck (I’ve never been a fashion guy) but I walked in and asked for a job. The secretary gave me a once over and reluctantly handed me an application.

“Um, miss. I’m only here today so I really don’t have time to fill out this application.”

“There is nothing I can do about that. You fill it out and when we have an opening we will look at it and keep you in mind.”

I was too dumb to know I was getting the brushoff.

Instead I started arguing.

“There has to be someone who can make a decision, today.”

Me and this woman kept going round and round until she threatened to call security.

Then Eddie P. happened to be walking by. He heard some of the argument and invited me to his office “so I could calm down.”

He happened to be the head of Black Music for Atlantic and he hired me 5 minutes later.

Now you’re probably thinking that this is where I start telling you all about perserverence and courage and shit like that.

No.

What’s important is what happened after that.

I didn’t go back to New Orleans.

I sucked Eddie’s brain for a year and then parlayed that into a radio Program Directors spot.

I then started a cool life working for myself.

Whenever I needed a ‘regular job’ I would pull out my WEA card to impress people to give me give me jobs I probably didn’t deserve.

O.K., here’s the important part.

One of the biggest lies which is perpetuated is that you have to be smartor you have to be talented to be successful.

That’s bullshit. 

You only have to remember one thing.

Always do favors for your friends.

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