For those who don’t know or aren’t familiar with the work of Bobby ‘The Brain” Heenan, he was and is, a true American icon in the world of professional wrestling. Heenan was a manager and color commentator for the AWA, the WWF (now WWE), and WCW. He referred to himself as a “broadcast journalist” despite the fact that his broadcasts contained little journalism.
Ok, what does Bobby Heenan have to do with the current U.S. job situation? Hold on, I’m getting there. Bobby Heenan was always a fan of pro-wrestling and at age 16 he weaseled himself into events to carry bags and sell popcorn to fans. By 1965 at age 21 he began managing wrestlers exclusively and continued doing so (very well some might say) until 20 years later when he replaced commentator Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura on Prime Time Wrestling. This would mark Heenan’s venture into double duty as both a manager and “broadcast journalist”
In 2001 Heenan was a sports agent for the XWF. In 2002 he released his memoir Bobby The Brain: Wrestling’s Bad Boy Tells All and in 2003 Heenan released another book called Chair Shots & Other Obstacles: Winning Life’s Wrestling Matches. Fifty years after Bobby Heenan started working in pro-wrestling he still pops up and later this year WWE plans on releasing a career tribute DVD set.
Wrestling fans will tell you that no one ever replaced the void that Bobby Heenan left when he said goodbye to being a color commentator. Jerry Lawler is the closest comparably respected figure in flavorful additives to typical play-by-play wrestling dialogue, but he doesn’t hit the level of charm Bobby Heenan did. Heenan was a good behind the scenes guy, a great manager, a terrible wrestler, but a phenomenally charming talker.
My point, for anyone who doesn’t care to read a long diatribe about my favorite wrestling commentator, is that he never stopped. He kept managing, consulting and ‘broadcast journaling’ until he found what people wanted from him, personality! Every time I see a resume or a job application I think to myself “there’s no personality.” What would Bobby Heenan put on a resume that says, “I’m so the guy you want to hire!”? No mere words could convey how hard Heenan worked or how legendary his work would become, not without sounding audaciously arrogant.
Bobby Heenan is a testament to what all humans should strive to be: great at something that comes naturally and good at everything else that he worked so hard for. So, what’s my advice? Work hard, be as charming as possible and be great at something. And for god’s sake just don’t stop trying! At least that’s what I Think. -JL
