“Real Lessons from a Silly Show” details Aidan Hatton’s takeaways and lessons learned from hosting the podcast “Games & Grub” on Marquette University Radio. Starting an interview series after the COVID-19 outbreak, Aidan shares the valuable wisdom given by so many local and national success stories in their conversations, presented in a more professional, business-oriented context.
Written June 27, 2020
Sometimes all it comes down to is “finding a chance to do your thing.”
This is how Mark Ockerbloom, the Winchester, MA native described his breakout, building his way up from humble beginnings in media to Emmy-winning success in his home city. When it seems as if we have no open doors left to walk through, Ockerbloom’s story serves as a reminder that the best things sometimes just fall into our laps.
A Providence College graduate now serving as a Marquette University parent, Ockerbloom was kind enough to join the show as our first ever guest interview, on November 2, 2019. In our 23-minute conversation, we touched on his personal journey as well as everything from the history of Al McGuire to his favorite Boston pizza joint.
On how he got his start in media: “I went in [to Providence] as a business major, and I wasn’t feeling it. And then I walked into the radio station in my dorm, WDOM, right in the basement. I went down and you signed up to do an audition, to be a DJ. So I said, ‘Well, here goes nothing!’ …However that went, I know it wasn’t very good. In the end, I ended up getting a shift.”
When rappers tell stories of how they “started in the basement,” sometimes we’re not sure if it’s really true. Example: one of Drake’s most money-making lines to this day is “Started from the bottom, now we’re here.”
In Ockerbloom’s case at Providence, we have no room for doubt!
Furthermore, it is an inspiration to hear a detailed story of changing majors and finding happiness. As an undecided 18-year-old, all I was told going into college at Marquette was: “you don’t have to know! You have time!” It turns out those people were right, and Ockerbloom’s story of switching from business school to a communication provides more fuel to that fire.
That doesn’t mean that switch didn’t require major courage, another key theme from Ockerbloom’s story. He lost his brother to cancer in 2004, two years after running the Boston Marathon alongside him. Delving into the unknown with a sense of courage and confidence is not usually something that can be picked up on a whim, and it is motivating to hear the roller coaster story of Ockerbloom’s life and media career come together.
On chasing dreams: “You know what you do? You follow your heart. It got to a point where I had a fork in the road and I said, ‘OK, you could do sales.’ I was pretty good at it, and I could make a living off of it…and the other thing was, ‘What does your heart think? Your heart says, I want to be around this [on-air] environment.’ I wasn’t playing anymore but I loved being around the atmosphere of sports. That, I think, is what drove me to be more on-air. Certainly at the time I wasn’t sure if I was doing the right thing or not, but I think you follow your heart, not your head. And I think that’s true of anything you do in this life.”
“Little wisdom for you on a Saturday morning,” said Ockerbloom, right after this amazing story on his career choice to pursue an on-air job rather than one selling airtime. His humorous but impactful follow-up points toward the fact that he has learned from his own life how important it is to follow your heart. There are many instances where the answers in our head seem the most logical. In contrast, however uncertain and unimaginable the answer in our heart may be, it always turns out to be the right one. Renowned author Dr. Deepak Chopra puts it straightforwardly: “Embrace the unknown. You are not who you think you are.”
On the Boston Red Sox and team turnover: “I find it very ironic; on the same day that they introduced Chaim Bloom as the new leader of the Red Sox, to put this team together, it was the exact same day that they had won one year earlier the World Series with Dave Dombrowski. So, ‘what have you done for me lately?’”
Although speaking about a professional baseball team, Ockerbloom’s comments echo the sentiments of those in many other industries. “What have you done for me lately?” The concept reminds me of a line from another sports figure: Phil Jackson of the Chicago Bulls spoke during “The Last Dance” about coaching his players up for a repeat championship. He said, “You’re only a success the moment you perform a successful act.” Implying that these “successful acts” have to be repeated over and over again, Jackson reinforces the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately point.
It’s an idea that circles far outside the sports world and keeps employees on their toes constantly. Day by day Ockerbloom takes this mentality to heart being a TV personality, as he finds himself in a business similar to sports in this respect. Doing some jobs requires patience, which isn’t the most popular character trait in today’s society but is a necessary one nonetheless.
Speaking of patience, you made it to the end of the article! A big thanks to Mark for his time and constant inspiration. Next week, Marquette alumnus and current Milwaukee Bucks employee Justin Price — and his fresh set of lessons — will be featured.
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