Brian Sanders “Power Of Pausing”
Dear Christian Radio,
Have you considered the power of pausing?
Sharathon & election season were in full swing. All of PAR’s stations are in the buckle of the Bible belt and the focus of our audiences were on “the greatest show on earth”, AKA, the election. We were down team members in various departments and that increased the stress. During a sharathon, one of the stations lost a main signal. That always makes fundraising fun!
During this time, my Dad called. (Correction…my Dad Facetimed me. They never call anymore. J) I answered and could instantly tell something was wrong. He said, “Well, the doctor just called. I have cancer. It’s melanoma. He said it was aggressive and wants to see me immediately.” I let my wife know and we just sat there in shock.
The very next day a situation presented itself and I was asked to make a decision for PAR.
Allow me to pause here…I have no problem making decisions. If anything, I make them too quickly. But on this day, there were too many things popping. Sharathons…the election…donors reacting to the election…signals down…team members out…and Dad has cancer. And now I’m being asked to make a major decision.
Before any major decision I always discuss it with Kayla, my wife. She’s my sounding board. We make a great team. She sees the details and consequences where I only see the grand vision. In other words, I see the forest…she sees the trees and knows when they bloom, how much water they need and how many leaves will fall. She’s amazing.
She asked me one question, “Do you have to make a decision today?”
She was right. I didn’t have to make the decision right then.
So I paused the decision for 36 hours.
Her insight gave me permission to put off a major consideration until I got to a place where I could make a good and objective decision.
The stress of all the other situations was clouding my judgment. Pausing gave me the freedom to work through scenarios in all the other stressful areas. I could work through pros and cons and account for all the risks.
Signals could be fixed.
The election would pass.
Fundraising can stop and continue after the election.
Team members will return.
God has my Dad in the palm of His hand.
Once I processed that, now I was prepared to make the major decision.
Dear Christian Radio,
- Know your own limits. Have the awareness to realize when you’re maxed and step back to clear your head.
- Have a trusted confidant who will tell you the truth and encourage you. You can’t see everything. Be open to the voice of another.
- Breathe. Mentally file your issues with a game plan. Once your head is clear – return to making decisions.
Do the hard stuff.
Remember…easy never changed the world.
Brian is the Executive Vice President of Positive Alternative Radio in Blacksburg.
PAR has five brands which include Spirit FM in Lynchburg, VA; WCQR in Kingsport, TN; Positive Hits, WPER in Richmond/Fredericksburg, VA; Joy FM in Winston Salem, NC; Walk FM in Ashland, KY, Huntington,WV.
