When I was in college, my best buddy in the broadcasting program and I decided to pitch small, local stations on a show that featured both of us as a team.

One day, from a phone booth at school, my friend contacted the program director of a small suburban radio station (with me by his side) and I plainly heard him say, “Jerry and I want to do a show for your station”.

The program director told him, “I don’t need two djs doing a show. I need one part-timer for the weekends”.

My friend took the job right there and then without even consulting me.

I was shocked, hurt and disappointed.

But I learned a lesson.

Friends who are selfish will regret their selfishness.

He took the weekend job for minimum wage in a radio station that was dumpier than a gas station.

I continued to look for work.

We remained friends but things were never the same.

Then, I made a call to a local TV station by myself and got hired as a booth announcer for more money than I ever made in my life up to that point.

The one thing I never forget is that if my friend had not sold me down the river, we would still be shopping that ill-fated show and I would have missed my opportunity to make the phone call that eventually got me a job in a market television station.

Out of bad comes good.

When friends disappoint, rise above it because you may find a greater reward without them.

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