2inspire Network Inspirational Man: Lindsay Wesker

Lindsay Wesker is Music Editor for MTV Base and is a man that we really wanted to feature on our Men’s special Profile on the 2inspire Network blog not just because of his philanthropic work but also because he has been a mover and shaker in the music industry in the UK for over two decades. Read this great interview from Lindsay which gives a great insight into his career.

Before joining the music industry, Lindsay wrote two episodes of BBC TV series ‘Angels’, then a radio play for Capital Radio. He then wrote three plays for the Black Theatre Co-Operative, all performed at Royal Court Theatre Upstairs. Since joining the music industry in 1981, he has worked as journalist at Black Echoes, a radio broadcaster, co-written a black music encyclopaedia, worked at 5 different record labels, created free! magazine (later re-named Touch), and helped radio station Kiss FM earn a legal licence. Whilst working at Kiss (86-94), he presented shows and was Head Of Music between 1990-94. Since 1999, Lindsay has worked at MTV. He was initially employed by MTV to create R&B and hip hop TV station MTV Base, and then went on to launch MTV Hits and MTV Dance in 2001. Lindsay still works at MTV, programming music videos. Lindsay has also self-published a novel (about the music industry) and, in 2012, self-published a ‘stocking filler’ book entitled ‘The Crap Husband’s Guide To A Successful Marriage’. In 2013, Every Generation Media published ‘Masters Of The Airwaves’, written by Lindsay and co-author Dave VJ, which is a history of British black music radio.

Please tell us about typical working day for you?

I wake up at 6.00am, walk to work (6.1 miles) and start work at 8.30. I’ve been walking to work for about four years. I like to finish at 5.00 but, if all my daily tasks are not completed, I work until they are complete. That could be 6.00? 7.00? Or 8.00?

What made you enter this line of work?

I joined MTV in 1999. They wanted to create an urban music TV station and they knew I’d created the music policy at Kiss FM, so I launched MTV Base in 1999. MTV has been an essential part of my life since it launched in 1981, so it was a really honour to start working there.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in your career so far?

My greatest accomplishments in business have been the things I’ve helped to create and launch: free! magazine in 1989 (later re-named Touch), Kiss 100 FM in 1990, MTV Base in 1999, and MTV Hits and MTV Dance in 2001.

What has been your biggest challenge in the business so far?

The perpetual challenge in business is to maintain your market share. I love being No. 1 but I prefer being No. 1 all year long!

What are your future career plans?

My future plans are to maintain and grow the TV channels I work on.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every experience, even the traumatic ones, have been educational. Every mistake I made taught me a good lesson!

What’s the best compliment you could receive in your line of work?

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I love it when people copy me. I’m a creative person and some people in the creative industries are not, so they are always reliant on ideas people like me!

Why is it so important to inspire the next generation to follow their dreams?

It is VITAL to educate and inspire the next generation; important to give them good habits and principles. Whether they listen is down to them! Kids always think they know it all!

Lindsay delivering a talk & educating the 2inspire Academy: Young, Gifted & Talented Group

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?
I would always advise anyone to know what they’re talking about. Knowledge is power. Serious people only want to deal with serious people. A business expert can spot a phony a mile off!

What or who inspires you in business and why?

I’m always inspired by people who believe 200% in what they’re doing and have the drive and determination to see it through. Lots of people have dreams and make plans and talk about doing things but never make them happen, let alone see them through! Success takes courage and mental strength.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

My favourite quote is something I always say in my talks and lectures: “Be nice!” Good manners and a cheerful disposition go a long way. Good people would rather deal with good people. If you can converse and find common ground with someone, you can create a business relationship and maybe even a friendship?

You can catch Lindsay on his weekly radio show on www.mi-soul.com (and DAB all over London), ‘The A-Z Of Mi-Soul Music’ (Saturdays 1.00pm.)

Twitter: @LindsayWesker

Tumblr: http://lindsaywesker.tumblr.com/

2Inspire Profile: Chantal Cooke, Co-Founder of Passion for the Planet Radio

In this inspirational interview we meet Chantal Cooke who co-founded her radio station over 10 years ago.

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

My day is generally divided between creating content for the radio station (researching topics and interviewing experts, then editing and mixing those interviews) and promoting the radio station (giving talks, networking, social media, blogging et)

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

I have always loved radio and I’ve always been passionate about the planet so this is the perfect combination of my two loves. Radio is a very powerful medium, but having worked for many radio stations, as both a producer and / or presenter, I felt that most of them didn’t really use that power in an inspirational way. There seems to be a lot of blame, moaning and gossiping – none of which I find makes me feel good! So I wanted to create a radio station that was both entertaining AND inspirational. A radio station that intrigued and motivated people to live a full and ethical life.

 What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

Raising over £500,000 to launch PASSION for the PLANET radio – and launching it, on time, under budget (in 2002).

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

It has always been matching the ideas with the resources. There is so much we could do if we had the resources. But I guess most businesses have that challenge!

What are your future plans for the business?

To keep growing the listener base, to make sure we remain the leading station for health and environmental issues, to inspire more and more people every year.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

There are lots of things I have learnt in the last 10 years since we launched PASSION for the PLANET so it’s inevitable that I would do things differently if I did it all again. But, that said, I am comfortable with the decisions I made at the time with the information I had at the time. I think that’s very important.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

It’s important to inspire everyone to follow their dreams – but it’s also important to help them understand what’s achievable and realistic. I am a real believer in following your dreams – but I do not believe we have a right to live them. We need to earn them and be responsible for our own lives. Sometime that’s means compromising. Just because it’s a dream doesn’t mean the world owes you the right to follow that dream. You earn the right through hard work and commitment. Some dreams are achievable, some aren’t. Some dreams are responsible, some aren’t. If your dream means that others have to suffer or shoulder a burden so you can live it, then I certainly wouldn’t encourage that dream.

 

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

You need to be really passionate and really committed. You need to understand the legislation and regulation surrounding the radio industry, and you need to be prepared to earn very little for a long while! 

What or who inspires you in business and why?

People who are living life to full, following their dreams and taking risks – these are the people that inspire me. I am lucky I meet quite a few of them in the course of my work at PASSION for the PLANET. When someone is passionate about what they are doing I can’t help being pulled into it and feeling inspired and energised. I believe that it doesn’t matter what “floats your boat” what’s important is that you float it with passion.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

My favourite quote and the one I try to live my life by is: The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to stand back and do nothing.

Chantal Cooke, co-founder PASSION for the PLANET radio, http://www.passionforfreshideas.com

Email:chantal@passionfortheplanet.com

Twitter @passionftplanet