Meet Kathy Smith | Broadcast Sales Executive

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kathy Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kathy, what do you attribute your success to?
I believe that the most important factor behind my success is being mindful to focus on looking UPWARD instead of inward, which is our human tendency. We are being led in directions by God, and our challenge is to quiet ourselves and be near to Him regularly to feel for those nudges, be aware of doors (or windows) opening that we may otherwise miss, and be willing to trust that there is a reason to embrace these not-so-happenstance occurrences through faith. And listen to people and circumstances as there are hidden gems everywhere that we are too distracted or zoned out to hear, see, or feel.

If you focus on doing each new next RIGHT thing, for your clients, your co-workers, company, friends, family, and unfamiliar brothers and sisters who cross your path, things seem to work out for the greater good. And isn’t that really what we want? In the end to be seen as a truly good caring person ~ that would be a picture of success for me.

So it’s really not about “me” or “my” success if my gaze is set higher to receive the divine blessings intended for me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have almost always worked in Broadcast Sales (4 decades now), and I currently work on the Underwriting/Sales team at Rocky Mountain Public Media for the last 4.5 years.

Selling TV and radio advertisements/commercials has not been an easy career through the many economic waves, but it is a rewarding one. It is fascinating and educational to talk with a wide variety of businesses, owners, advertising agencies, managers, marketing people, etc. and learn about their stories, struggles, and achievements.

Salespeople tend to want to TALK ~ talk about everything that their station’s marketing platforms can bring to the table, and talk about it in detail. I learned relatively early on that it is not about me, or anything that I have in my bag of tricks that I (or my sales manager) need to sell them. The focus is all on THEM and gaining as much detail as possible about their needs. It is important to do a Client Needs Analysis to learn their pain points, goals, what have they done before, how has the marketing that they have done worked or not worked, who do they want their messages to get to and why, how will success be measured? There is so much to uncover! This discovery is a vital initial step plus gaining this knowledge is fun and educational. You have to stay curious.

I think an important characteristic of a salesperson is doggedness. I like to be kindly and genuinely persistent when I feel that our stations truly could make a difference for them. Organization is key as well because media salespeople have a lot of balls in the air at once.

I feel privileged to work for Rocky Mountain Public Media which includes multiple TV stations: Rocky Mountain PBS-TV, PBS Kids, WORLD and CREATE-TV, along with 2 radio stations of KUVO Jazz 89.3FM and The DROP 104.7FM.
Being public, we have a mission of helping to provide “A Colorado Where Everyone Feels Seen And Heard”, and it is refreshing to be with an organization whose focus is our statewide Colorado communities.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Starting south, first stop is Red Rocks Amphitheater. If the timing is right to catch a concert, even better. Then up 93 with a stop in Golden for maybe a Coors Brewery tour or sample some microbrews in town and walk along the Clear Creek pathway.
On northward to Pearl Street Mall in Boulder to check out the street buskers and the variety of places to stop into. Circle up north to Nederland for a unique experience and find one of a number of trails to hike off of Peak to Peak Highway. Head south through Central City and Black Hawk and walk through the historic district and Ameristar. Then back down to Golden via Clear Creek Canyon. After a day like that, I’d just want to stop for a micro-brew and a food truck dinner.

The next day starts mountain time. Head west on 1-70 (point out the buffalo) to enjoy our picturesque towns of Vail, Frisco, and Breckenridge for hiking, entertainment, hot-tubbing, biking, drinking, enjoying good meals, making new friends, and relaxation. Then come back to Denver via South Park and Conifer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Book-wise, I most recently credit This Is The Life by Terry Hershey; Mostly What God Does by Savannah Guthrie; and always The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.

I feel so fortunate to have grown up in a small mid-west town and raised with a strong Christian background by God-loving parents.

Unexpected doors have opened for me when I felt discouraged and when MY plan for my career or future was halted. I credit the love and support of family and friends and God being patient with me while waiting for me to “get it”.

Life is a journey, and I have not always had this focus. There is a peace that comes when I remember to start each day with a mantra of “I am happy, I am grateful, I am blessed.”

Website: https://www.rmpbs.org/ https://www.rmpbs.org/kids/ , https://www.kuvo.org/ , https://www.thedrop303.org/ , https://video.rmpbs.org/ , https://create-tv.com/ https://worldchannel.org/ , https://vimeo.com/showcase/10860268/video/895926378

Other: https://www.rmpbs.org/social/