Program Notes and Looking Ahead

T-minus three days and counting…about this time on Monday morning, I will be feeling no pain, thanks to the miracle of modern pharmaceuticals. I will be off the air all next week, following cancer surgery scheduled for early Monday morning. We’ve done a pretty good job of lining up some interesting guest-hosts for the show that we hope you will enjoy and appreciate listening to…

Monday and Tuesday former congressman Chris Bell will be discussing the business of immigration, and how immigration affects business…health insurance reform, and a few other surprises and connections from his sphere of influence from Austin to Washington D. C.

Wednesday, Jack Warkenthien and C. J. Coolidge will get you pumped up and ready for the middle of the week with some strategies for working through the rough spots in office politics and getting ahead in your career.

Thursday’s guest hosts will be our special version of the Three Amigo’s—Jon Vaughn as ringleader for Bill Payne and John Bott…a weekday morning version of "What’s Working Now," and things you won’t hear about anywhere else but here on The BizRadioNetwork…

Friday’s show will feature three special guests with Jack Warkenthien: Financial guru Rick Friedman, Wilka Toppins, Latin American business attorney extraordinaire, and the man who created bottled lightning and uses it every morning as a hair tonic, Harold Gunn. All in all, an interesting blend of characters and content next week…you may not want me back!

Many of you may not know I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer—I’ve not made a secret of it—have discussed it at length on my blog several times—but I’ve also intentionally not made my cancer a personal crusade of any type.

This show really isn’t about me—it’s about you, it’s about how you can have a richer, more successful life, and about how you can leverage your success for the good of those around you. But you’ve got to stick around a few years for that to happen, so I will be a more strident advocate for the concept of early detection, and the methods available to you for that, because that’s how we caught mine.

I have cancer.
I have friends with cancer, and theirs is much more serious than mine—although the procedure I will be having Monday morning is the closest male equivalent of a hysterectomy, so far as I can tell.
Hence the non-recreational pharmaceuticals.
I’m working on really bonding with my anesthesiologist--kept asking his nurse, Lei, for samples at the Pre-Op appointment.

Cancer is serious stuff…but it need not be a death sentence, especially if you catch it in time. Guys, I know we don’t like to talk about this stuff in polite company…the but truth is, we don’t like to talk about it, period, whether company is polite or rude, crude and socially-challenged. Get over it. Since my initial announcement in late October, I have had more and more people (men) confide that because of my comments here, they have heeded the message and gotten their PSA levels checked. That’s a no-brainer.

Starting the process earlier is pretty straightforward, too. Do it today, you’ll feel better tomorrow—at least you’ll derive some peace of mind that these kinds of things are being monitored. Again, early detection is the key, and you must have a base line from which to determine your status from year to year.

I would also like to thank those of you in the audience who have been so thoughtful in expressing your good wishes and support for me and my family as we begin what will surely be a challenging time in our lives. I personally appreciate so much you who have shared with me your own experiences with cancer, especially those who’ve gone through this particular procedure.

On paper this looks pretty straightforward; they tell me the radical prostatectomy procedure is fairly routine, with the usual risks associated with any abdominal surgery, with one or two unique twists thrown in, just to make things interesting.
Look, it may be routine for the docs who do this for a living, but not for me.
Have I mentioned my gratitude for modern pharmacology?

So that’s it. I have cancer, it’s been discovered early, we’re addressing it appropriately, and the prognosis is excellent for my recovery. It’s just going to take some time, and I believe we’ve assembled a credible cast of players to keep you stimulated and informed next week.

When next you hear my voice, I will be broadcasting from the solarium at The Clanton Hacienda. Thanks for your thoughts, prayers, and support.

Now, where’s that Xanax sample…?