On this episode of the Massimo Show

Rod sits down with Award winning broadcaster, author, community leader and popular keynote speaker, Joe Schmidt.   Joe was born and raised in Seymour, Wisconsin just outside of Green Bay.  As a kid he loved sports, all sports. His  mother would have to call him in at night because he was always outside playing until the sun went down. But there was just one problem – Joe was not a very good athlete.   At some point, someone said to him “with your love of sports and your big mouth you ought to put those two together and become a sports broadcaster”.  From the age of 14 on he dreamt of being a TV Sports Broadcaster. With a lot of luck and a little work he’s done just that.  Joe  went to the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse where he found out during the campus tour that he could be on student radio and TV even as a freshman.  He went and did hands on experience only to find out he was pretty awful.  But being new at something didn’t stop him. He learned the harder he worked, the “luckier” he got.  He worked my way up the ladder: first in a small market in La Crosse, then Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on to Green Bay Wisconsin, and eventually KSCPTV – the ABC affiliate in Minneapolis St Paul.  He’s reached his goal to get into a major sports market where all sports are covered, and it was a great place to raise a family too! 

A little Q&A with Joe: 

You are a packer fan and starting your career in Viking country, how did that go over?   It took a long time for anyone in Minnesota to believe that the team I was covering, I wanted to win.  I would have to explain if the Vikings make it to the Super Bowl, I go.  If the Packers make it to the Super Bowl, I don’t go.  As a journalist you become a fan of great events, Athletic efforts, and great events.   Through my process as in the broadcasting business, I became a great story teller.  Those stories led to books and a career that has taken me speaking all over the place.   I am fortunate enough to use my journalist skills to find out the impact, influence of an event or singular gesture many years later.  

What has been your key catalyst to success? Everywhere along the line, you get mentors.  I decided a long time ago, I was not going to be the smartest guy in the room, but I would find the smartest guy in the room and hook up to them and ask questions.  Learn through osmosis.  I worked with John Campbell.  He was a professional storyteller and took my game to the next level.  He was so influential.  

Is there one sporting event that sticks out the most?   In 1987 the twins made it to the world series.  They had an impromptu pep rally.  When they got to the metro dome there were 60K people.  I was broadcasting live.  The place was buzzing.  This was 100% fan appreciation for the players.  It was an amazing event. 

In order to make an impact you have to influence someone.  How can we be a person of impact?    Three things people with an influence have are purpose, persistence, and passion.  We make our biggest impression when we are not trying to be impressive.  It’s the connections we make with people. It is the person we emulate and follow because of how they get through their day, the connections they make with people.   

Let’s talk about the Mt Rushmore of Influencers. How to become someone’s influencer?    In order to make an impact we need to influence somebody. How can we be a person of impact?  An exercise I do with people is give them a picture of Mt. Rushmore and ask them, if you could build your own Mt. Rushmore who would you put on your list and why?  Think about your career, childhood, or someone who helped you through a tough time.  Why, when, how did they do it?