#5: Timing is EVERYTHING

Let's talk Timing- both figuratively and practically. If you want to make it as a host- you'll have to have perfect timing-- first to get the job, and to keep it. 

TIMING TO GET THE GIG
If I had a dollar for every time someone told me I was "lucky" in TV and radio, I'd buy a new car every few year. While LUCK certainly has an element of fortune outside of your control, more often than not we make our own luck. Virtually every book on success will tell you that. So how do you generate good luck? The answer can be found in statistics. 

​During my career, I began to see patterns emerge. What came of that observation transformed itself into an equation that I subscribe to today, and teach all of my students. Its my variation of the Theory of Relativity and it goes a little like this: 

LUCK = TIMING + PREPAREDNESS 

In other words, for the hungry host, your opportunity WILL happen. Will you be ready? 

TIMING ONCE YOU GET THE GIG

If practice makes perfect then this is where you must focus. Like any other talent, Hosting requires practice. It will help to flesh out thoughts inside your head, get out the "um-s" and "uh-s" and help you practice your voice. It will also help train that tongue of yours to speak clearly. 

I recommend this trick. As you are driving down the road, start reading the street signs out loud. Ideally, do this when there are not a lot of people able to see you! This will get your tongue in tune. Next, start listening to Talk Radio, or morning shows. When issues come up, consider making a comment -again aloud. Why do we do this? Its simple and yet strange- just as your speaking voice sounds different to others than it does to you when you hear it played back- the worlds that you say can have a different effect when said aloud than they do inside your head. 

By practicing using these methods, you  naturally begin o think on your feet, and by thinking on your feet you are polishing that very skill needed in "live broadcasting" namely to have great timing when on camera.

Remember practice practice practice. Hosting is NOT a "fake it till you make it" talent. Good luck!