I'm not big on making resolutions?

Resolutions shouldn't necessarily be things to stop doing or to get rid of, but instead they should be about embracing a different mindset. 

It's time to drop the bad habits. A purge if you will!

The key is to find what makes you happy and do whatever it takes to get it and keep it. 

Here are some ways to make this the best year of your whole life:

Do something that scares the shit out of you.

Spend time with people who make your life better. 

Allow yourself sleep in sometimes!

Take a day off just because you want to.

Perform a random acts of kindness.

Don't take everything so seriously.

Pick a new hobby that makes you happy.

Don't bring work home with you.

Don't dwell on things you can't change.

Do something that makes you feel accomplished

Make time for yourself.

Finish something you started.

Treat yourself to something you've been wanting forever.

Get rid of things (and people!) you don't need!

Decide what you want, and go f*cking get it.

Sweet Lou’s 2018 Goals

2017 has been an extremely trying year. As with any year, one must take the good with the bad.

Last year at this time I found out that I had Prostate Cancer. I got the news just before Christmas 2016. I had no idea what was in store for me in the next few months. Sure, there were a lot of procedures, but nothing was as horrible as the waiting. Knowing there was a growing cancer in my body and that there was nothing I could do? It’s not like you take a pill for a few days and you’re better?

In spite of all this, we launched The Gallagher Entertainment Network and a show called “Men Are So Smart!” This had been a dream of mine for quite some time. Where others talked a good game. I knew I was committed to my dream.

There were many stumbling blocks and a learning curve. It’s kinda like the first time you get in a car to drive and find it has a stick shift. You know how to drive. You know where you’re going. You just don’t know how to operate the car to get there?

I have been relentlessly dedicated to overcome said hurdles. Seeing a problem and finding some way around it. If I were to make any less of an effort, I wouldn’t be able to say I gave it everything I had.

So with a new year just around the corner, rather than resolutions, I have decided to make a list of my goals for 2018. Smarter people than me have said that writing them down make them more real and tangible.

Having said that, here are my personal and professional goals:

1. Find a better balance between work and family.

This is a fine line. I work a lot and must remember that my family is why I do this. If I work all day Saturday, Sunday will be spent at home with my kids and grandkids. A day of rest.

2. I will be even more aggressive in my marketing efforts. If that’s even possible? My goal is to have five or six advertisers to support the show. We have three now.

The Gallagher Entertainment Network is just that, a network. I would like to acquire several different shows that will be fun and informational and run on the network. I would like to see a minimum of 3 other shows. One has been confirmed and is in the works as we speak!

3.  We will continue to bring you a quality entertainment show called “Men Are So Smart!” We’ll strive to be even more topical, interesting, funny, and friendly. We’ll have interesting guests and insightful and funny interviews. I will continue to try and improve and hone my skills.

My number one “GET” in 2018 will be to have Mark S. Allen on with us!

4.  We will get to 10,000 views and over 100 new subscribers.

I don’t think these goals are too lofty. I believe if I say them, I WILL make them happen. I will let nothing stand in my way of achieving my dream! I invite you to come along with me on this journey! 

But buckle up, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride!

Dear Sweet Lou,

How did you get your start in Radio?
Thanks,
Jeanne in Dixon

Jeanne, thanks for the question! Here goes!

The phone rang one afternoon just before Labor Day in 1983. It was my sister calling to let me know "she had gotten me a job!" I told her I already had a job. I was managing a Kragen Auto Parts store and doing pretty well with a child on the way. “This job,” she said “was on the radio!” Little did I know that my life would be changed forever.

My sister had attended The California State Fair that day and ran into a guy by the name of Chris Collins. Chris was doing a live broadcast there that day. She was a pretty attractive young girl and I got the impression he must have been flirting with her.

She explained to him that her brother did impressions of celebrities like Rodney Dangerfield. He asked if he could get her number so he could call me? (right) She went on to explain that her brother was married and didn’t live with her. So he asked that she have me call him. Sounded like a bunch of hooey to me. But I took down his number and thought about calling.

Thinking I might have some regret if I didn’t do something, I decided to give him a call. He was very receptive and invited me to come and “sit in” on his show on Labor Day Monday. The show started at 5:30 and the studios were in Woodland (a rather long drive from Sacramento). It was called the FM102 Morning Zoo and though it was very popular, I had never heard it. They played Top 40 (CHR) and that just wasn’t for me. I was more of a rocker. I had never done anything like this before and no idea what to expect.

The morning came and I was extremely nervous and anxious. I woke up at 4:30AM to make sure I wouldn’t be late. The studios were on the second floor of a bank building, so I climbed the stairs. At the top were a group of guys in suits. Turned out that one of them was Rick Gillette the Program Director. As soon as he saw me, he said “You must be that guy that does Rodney Dangerfield! Do Rodney for us! Right now!”

So that’s exactly what I did. In high school, I had been part of a group of guys who spent their lunch hours making each other laugh! My specialty was Rodney. I knew all his jokes by heart! So. I busted out a few one liners and he loved them. I heard him yell “Chris, this guy is great, put him on the air now!”

The very next thing I knew, I found myself wearing headphone and they shoved a huge microphone in front of my face. Chris Collins then says “You’ll never guess who stopped by this morning! It’s Rodney Dangerfield! Rodney, how’s it going? That was all I got! Not knowing what to do, I just started with a series of what I thought were his best jokes! Everybody in the room was rolling on the floor in laughter. In stand-up comedian terms, I killed it!

And that began my 34 year radio romance.

To be continued....

Christmas Memories by Lou Gallagher

The Holidays can be especially rough when both of your parents have passed. My folks made such a huge deal about Christmas for my sister and I.

Christmas Eve was spent together at my Grandparents house here in Sacramento. All of my cousins and aunts and uncles would share a meal. Sometimes a card game would break out? There was always a bottle of Seagrams nearby.

The grandkids always got to open their gifts from Grandma and Grandpa on Christmas Eve. I think it was mostly to keep us busy and out of the holiday fun!

On Christmas morning, my parents would always make a big production! My sister and I would have to go to my parent’s room and wait till Dad got to make and have some coffee. He would start a fire in the fireplace and then and only then could we run down the hallway to the tree! As we would tear open each gift, my Dad would burn the wrapping paper in the fireplace (one year, he actually burned an unopened Barbie?).

So we’d open all the gifts and as most kids, we’d say “Is that all?” To which we already knew the answer! My parents would always hide our biggest gift in the kitchen. For me, one year it was a ten speed bike. Another an electric guitar and amp from Sears! But the best gift I ever got was a motorcycle! It was used and kinda old? But it was mine! We had a huge backyard and I could ride this any day and any time I damn well felt like it! I was the coolest kid in the neighborhood thanks to my Dad!

As my wife and I have grown old together, so have our kids. Once they reach teenage years, the magic of Santa goes away. But that’s how time works.

Now we have grandkids! They are both still a little too young to understand the chimney man. But they love the lights and trees and wrapped up presents of pure fun. Pro-tip: Save the boxes the toys come in! They are just as much fun as the toys for the kids!

Now, my kids will start family traditions with their kids. I can hope they incorporate some of the ones we’ve instilled in them. The stocking will be hung by the chimney with care. We will feast on Roast Beast. Then we’ll all settle down for a long winter’s nap as we know St Nicholas soon will be here!

The greatest gift I could possibly receive is seeing Christmas through the eyes of my own grandchildren. It makes Christmas “MAGIC” again!

From all The Gallaghers…

Merry Christmas! And the very best in 2018!

Lou

Email:
lougallagher@yahoo.com

Social Media:

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/menaresosmart/

https://www.facebook.com/lou.gallagher

Twitter:
@GallagherLou

Men Are So Smart on YouTube!:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOCwmVQfeAgSmjnBBde1Lfg?disable_polymer=true