Mun2's Joe Bernard on Acting Class
By | August 7, 2013
Editor’s Note: In recognition and celebration of the diversity within the cable industry, we will be highlighting some of CableFAX’s 2012 Most Influential Minorities and their responses to a series of questions on mentoring, job skills and diversity. For the 2012 CableFAX Diversity issue in its entirety go here.
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Joe Bernard
SVP, Sales, mun2
NBCUniversal
Tell us at least one true story of a mentor (or mentors) who gave you advice you still use to this day.
Good things happen to Good people. When I was just starting out in the business and I was 21, one of my managers told me that I shouldn’t get frustrated by the fact that I had to be patient in order to realize my career goals. As long as I worked hard and put in an honest day of work, I would eventually get there. He ended the exchange with, “Always remember, Joe, that good things happen to good people. Try to always be honest and true and if you excel, the opportunities will show themselves.” I say it all the time to the next generation of ad execs.
What’s the skill that has helped you the most in your career—and what’s the next skill you want to master?
The skill that has helped me the most in my ad sales career is acting class. Generally this is a business, but it does require a bit of planning and presenting of your wares. Acting class is where I learned how do break down a scene and develop the beats to a performance. When I plan presentations or speeches, I approach them the same way. What are the beats to this story, and how can I best tell it? The next skill I’d like to master is clear thinking. Some of the best executives possess a skill of making complicated things seem simple. The clearer you are in how you think, the better communicator you will be and lead a team towards a goal. Leadership is a constant work in progress and this is an area of growth for me.
What advice do you have for young people trying to break into the cable industry?
While you are waiting to land your job, continue to do the necessary work to keep you informed about the current marketplace, technology and events occurring within the business. Always keep your mind informed as it keeps you with an edge that can be the determining factor in landing the position.