Siouxland Magazine - Volume 2 Issue 5

Celebrate the Wins
By Tony Michaels
It is easy to take wins for granted sometimes. Yes,
I am a Husker football fan. I am guilty. Back in 1995, I just
assumed Nebraska would be dominant all the time. My
Hawkeye buddies at work remind me on a nearly daily
basis that’s not the case.
With the benefit of some reflection and a few decades
of struggles, I have come to really savor the wins. This
revelation led me to a grandiose tenet in life: We do not
celebrate the wins nearly as much as we should.
Siouxland Magazine | Converse / 19 21
I was fortunate enough to be named to the inaugural
“Top 10 Under 40” by Siouxland Magazine back in 2012.
Because of that I was able to meet other members of the
2012 class and realized we all had varied backgrounds
and skillsets. Being the radio guy in the group, I joked
that I was included to bring down the annual average
salary of the group. If I were to meet you for a taco
lunch date, I’d be more than happy to tell you I chose a
career path motivated by love of being on-air in radio as
opposed to big paychecks. I just wanted to be “happy“
and live out my dream job. For the last 25 years, my job
has felt more like a hobby and would do it for free. (Make
sure my boss never reads this.) I know plenty of great
broadcasters under the age of 40, I just happened to
make that first list in 2012 because of the contributions
of many at Powell Broadcasting.
Powell Broadcasting proudly displayed this frame....then
I turned 40 and one week later it came crashing down!
Hope that isn’t a bad omen.
Wins aren’t always guaranteed. Pop the champagne and
spill the Gatorade!
Tony Michaels, KSUX morning show host with Candice Nash.
And one grateful dude. Serving KSUX listeners since 1997.
Photo Contributed by Powell Broadcasting
Paid advertisement.
Since that first class of 2012 was announced, I have
been fortunate enough to serve as an adjunct professor
at Morningside College in the Mass Communication
Department. Every semester I am blown away by the
talent and compassion of those students. Many of the
undergrads in my courses come from all over the world
to Sioux City. Luckily for our community, some stay in
our area after receiving their diploma. Siouxland is a
better place because of Morningside College, Briar
Cliff University and Western Iowa Tech. No doubt. We
benefit from these great hubs for professionalism and
entrepreneurial spirit. Day by day, the workforce and
non-profit agencies get better and better because
talented individuals like the ones featured in this issue
stay in Siouxland.
This leads me to my wish. If I had a magic wand, I would
love to have more alums of these lists find their happy in
Siouxland. About half of my class left the area. Showing a
spotlight on these individuals with Siouxland Magazine is
a tremendous way to CELEBRATE younger professionals
and the wins they produce. These individuals really
strengthen the area. If your workplace has a star under
the age of 40, please submit them for next year’s issue….
or at least give them a Gatorade bath in the breakroom
and carry them into the parking lot like those Husker
football players did for Dr. Tom Osborne in 1995.