Cakmis Coaching and Consulting

COACHING COAST-TO-COAST
It is a comforting thought to believe that because you were born with a bit of natural wit, speed, or charisma, you are destined for a long and legendary career in media. 🏛️⚖

Unfortunately, relying on raw talent alone is a trap. Most people in this industry are talented, shiny, and capable. What separates the short-term flashes in the pan from the true industry icons is a simple, earthshattering truth: Preparation is 90% of the game.

Too many professionals jump in front of a camera daily without a proper warmup, without parsing their copy, and without evaluating their finished product afterward to fix their mistakes. If you aren't actively practicing, you are letting a highly perishable skill fade right before the audience's eyes.

I had the pleasure of checking in with a team that knows exactly how to bring the energy through strict professional discipline during a visit to WXIA-TV 11Alive in Atlanta. Backstage on the set of the Morning Rush show with Chesley McNeil 11Alive and Crash Clark 11Alive! These two are masters at creating dynamic, spontaneous-feeling morning television, proving that real chemistry and pacing are built on a rock-solid foundation of preparation.

If you are wondering why you aren't building a career as quickly as you'd like, look at your pre-show routine. 🎙️✨

Learn how to master the details that create true media authority in my book, Loyalty, Trust & Success, available now on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Loyalty-Trust-Success-Transforming-Weathercasters-ebook/dp/B082FPGLZV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2L49A4A1TXWZ0&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.41AJ89JHva-Y758DCU0JHQ.D_lclnyuKvDV4tYskYclsglbE0Pd9m2nCgKoR3c2Rpw&dib_tag=se&keywords=CAKMIS&qid=1781707234&s=books&sprefix=cakmis%2Cstripbooks%2C467&sr=1-1

COACHING COAST-TO-COAST
When a television show or a business venture becomes a massive hit, executives often try to replicate the formula by hiring a carbon copy of the original creator. They see a successful stand-up comic or a charismatic leader and say, "Get me another one of those!"

What they fail to realize is that those icons aren't just "personalities." They are individuals who spent years on the road, honing a specific voice and cementing a very definitive Quality Core.

Everything in the presentation business comes down to personality, but it must be an authentic one. Anyone can recite data or read a line of text, but not everyone can make real sense of it. True impact happens when you mold the material to your own unique sensibilities and morals, turning your internal core into the driving force of your work.

I had the privilege of observing this exact standard on the set of The Big Bang Theory with the wonderfully talented actor and comedian Melissa Rauch. Melissa is the perfect example of an elite performer who brings her whole self to her craft. Her success isn't an accident; it’s the result of attaching a deeply defined, highly specific voice to a character.

If you want to achieve real, long-term success, you have to stop imitating others and start defining your own Quality Core. 🎙️✨
Master the core principles of human behavior and career longevity in my book, Loyalty, Trust & Success, available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Loyalty-Trust-Success-Transforming-Weathercasters-ebook/dp/B082FPGLZV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3FUOFZGJ5W7GS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.41AJ89JHva-Y758DCU0JHQ.D_lclnyuKvDV4tYskYclsglbE0Pd9m2nCgKoR3c2Rpw&dib_tag=se&keywords=cakmis&qid=1781530655&s=books&sprefix=%2Cstripbooks%2C163&sr=1-1

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COACHING COAST-TO-COAST
"We can't do a dynamic show because our studio cameras are stationary." 🏛️⚖

I hear this excuse constantly from news directors and anchors across the country. But a stagnant show isn't a hardware problem—it’s a design problem. And that is exactly where Camera Choreography comes in as the ultimate cure.

Choreography is built to support the production, the producers, and the on-camera talent simultaneously. It transforms a broadcast from a series of disjointed talking heads into a fluid, highly-energized team presentation. When the choreography is precise, the entire crew operates with confidence and the show gains a distinct, professional polish.

I took this exact philosophy to the main evening news set at WSAZ NewsChannel 3. Pictured below, I am leading a hands-on workshop on the studio floor with the exceptionally talented and energizing anchors WSAZ Taylor Eaton, Amanda Barren WOWK, and WSAZ Tim Irr. Even with a stationary camera setup, their commitment to mastering the geometry of the set allowed us to inject incredible pace and teamwork into the broadcast.

If you are waiting for a miracle to fix your show, you’re missing the point. You don't need a miracle, you need movement. 🎯🎙️

Discover how to build authority, trust, and flawless presentation in my book, Loyalty, Trust & Success, available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cakmis&i=stripbooks&crid=2R4U38JS13HXL&sprefix=cak%2Cstripbooks%2C415&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

COACHING COAST-TO-COAST
What makes a professional stand out when everyone on the field is highly skilled? 🏛️⚖

The answer is simple, yet it is the ultimate cornerstone of a communicator’s power: Communicators are remembered for their QUALITY, not just their talent.

We take professional expertise for granted nowadays. If you want to be compelling, you cannot rely solely on the data you have to impart. Real connection happens when the quintessential parts of yourself are interwoven completely throughout that data. When you bring your pure, spontaneous core qualities to the surface, your material comes alive, and the audience feels it instantly.

Amy Grant (c.2015) perfectly epitomizes this truth. Amy's legendary status is rooted in her quality of character and personality. She doesn't just perform; she infuses her unique self into every single note and word, proving that longevity belongs to those who attach their human core to their craft.

If you play the game, be prepared to win by bringing your highest quality to the table. 🎙️✨

Discover the actionable steps to building true quality, presence, and impact in my book, Loyalty, Trust & Success, available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Loyalty-Trust-Success-Transforming-Weathercasters-ebook/dp/B082FPGLZV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39N96JHMJCN8X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.41AJ89JHva-Y758DCU0JHQ.D_lclnyuKvDV4tYskYclsglbE0Pd9m2nCgKoR3c2Rpw&dib_tag=se&keywords=cakmis&qid=1781101073&s=books&sprefix=cakmi%2Cstripbooks%2C256&sr=1-1

COACHING COAST-TO-COAST
In every high-profile profession I have coached, the ability to push aside self-doubt and focus entirely on the task at hand is what separates true champions from the also-rans. 🏛️⚖

But elite focus isn't a random stroke of luck; it is a byproduct of five daily habits designed to protect consistency and career longevity:

Take Care of Your Living: Stanislavski wrote that becoming a great actor meant working on 'the self' as much as the part. Confidence in your body, mind, and spirit translates directly to your on-camera performance.

Establish Pre-Show Rituals: "Wipe your feet at the door" by letting go of real-world problems before stepping onto the set. Spend five minutes pumping yourself up with investment.

Control Your Schedule: Use "back-timing" to ensure you walk into your day with dedicated space left over to rehearse and focus.

Do a Physical Run-Through: Rehearse out loud and in real time. Even a brief run-through allows you to springboard into the show with virtually no glitches.

Be Your Own Coach: Review your past performances and airchecks weekly with a dispassionate third eye to monitor your progress and push for growth.

I had the absolute pleasure of working with an anchor team that embodies this standard during a 2019 coaching visit to 11Alive WXIA in Atlanta. Pictured here in the studio with Cheryl Preheim and Ron Jones Reports —two exceptional journalists who completely understand what it takes to perform at the highest levels. They possess that rare, quiet intensity that commands the room the moment the red light goes on. 🎙️✨

Ready to find your zone, master these habits, and command your space? Grab a copy of my book, Loyalty, Trust & Success, available right now on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Loyalty-Trust-Success-Transforming-Weathercasters-ebook/dp/B082FPGLZV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2XIP3B0VGMWE8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.41AJ89JHva-Y758DCU0JHQ.D_lclnyuKvDV4tYskYclsglbE0Pd9m2nCgKoR3c2Rpw&dib_tag=se&keywords=cakmis&qid=1781023985&s=books&sprefix=cakmis%2Cstripbooks%2C328&sr=1-1

COACHING COAST-TO-COAST
Mature thinking depends on accepting that two seemingly contradictory truths can completely coexist. 🏛️⚖

When we experience setbacks, bad career moves, or challenging professional relationships, the temptation is to view the entire chapter as a waste of time. But separating an experience from its eventual outcome changes everything.

A useful distinction to adopt today is that you can be genuinely thankful for what emerged from an experience without being thankful for the experience itself.

For example, a professional might say: "If I could do it over, I might choose a completely different path. But I am deeply grateful for the skills I developed and the people I found along the way."

This perspective is infinitely more honest than trying to force your history into a strict category of entirely good or entirely bad. Gaining the capacity to hold multiple realities at once relieves the pressure to make simple judgments on complex situations, making you a more grounded, trusted, and impactful leader. 🎙️✨

Transform your presentation and career in my book, Loyalty, Trust & Success, available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Loyalty-Trust-Success-Transforming-Weathercasters-ebook/dp/B082FPGLZV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=XBIKXHRO2042&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.41AJ89JHva-Y758DCU0JHQ.D_lclnyuKvDV4tYskYclsglbE0Pd9m2nCgKoR3c2Rpw&dib_tag=se&keywords=cakmis&qid=1780931196&s=books&sprefix=cakmis%2Cstripbooks%2C391&sr=1-1

COACHING COAST-TO-COAST
Have a great weekend, everybody!!

COACHING COAST-TO-COAST
Is your news broadcast feeling a little "stuck"? 🏛️⚖

The most common excuse I hear from stations is that they are limited by stationary cameras. However, I believe that is the very reason why Camera Choreography is so vital today.

Camera Choreography isn't just about where the talent stands; it’s a system designed to support production, producers, and talent alike. It creates a sense of pace and style that raw technology alone can't provide. When the choreography is great, the show feels energetic and the teamwork is seamless. 🎙️✨

In the photo below, I’m working on the set of a local news station that felt saddled by their stationary setup. I am leading a workshop for the entire crew to show them how choreography can completely transform their look and feel.

If stationary cameras are your problem, let's make choreography your cure. 🎯🎙️

Discover the principles of professional success and presentation in my book, Loyalty, Trust & Success, available now on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Loyalty-Trust-Success-Transforming-Weathercasters-ebook/dp/B082FPGLZV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KMQC9T3K6RFY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.41AJ89JHva-Y758DCU0JHQ.D_lclnyuKvDV4tYskYclsglbE0Pd9m2nCgKoR3c2Rpw&dib_tag=se&keywords=cakmis&qid=1780595497&s=books&sprefix=cakmis%2Cstripbooks%2C172&sr=1-1

COACHING COAST-TO-COAST
Do you have a strong vision of your future? 🏛️⚖

I challenge my clients to get away from general statements like "I want to be rich and famous". Those terms are relative and mean nothing without a detailed plan.

Coming up with a ten-year intention may take hours, days, or even months of working and reworking your ideal future scene. You need to account for your house, your pets, your finances, and all the facets of your career.

The magic happens when you work backwards. By identifying what you need in eight years to reach your ten-year goal, and then breaking that down into two-year, one-month, and one-week intervals, you turn a dream into an executable reality. 🎙️✨

I recently brought this focus on precision to WSAZ NewsChannel 3 Huntington, West Virginia. Pictured below, I’m on the studio floor directing a camera choreography session with the very talented . To hit the mark on air, you need a plan—and to hit the mark in life, you need an intention.

The road to mastery is never easy, but it is always worth the work.

Ready to get serious about your future? Grab my book, Loyalty, Trust & Success, available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Loyalty-Trust-Success-Transforming-Weathercasters-ebook/dp/B082FPGLZV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3PCVMJF5XFBJS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.41AJ89JHva-Y758DCU0JHQ.D_lclnyuKvDV4tYskYclsglbE0Pd9m2nCgKoR3c2Rpw&dib_tag=se&keywords=cakmis&qid=1780507572&s=books&sprefix=cakmis%2Cstripbooks%2C184&sr=1-1

COACHING COAST-TO-COAST
In the broadcast news business, it’s easy to feel like Sisyphus rolling the same boulder up the same mountain every single day. We write the same kinds of copy and build the same kinds of segments until repetition naturally begins to soften our edge and kill our urgency. 🏛️⚖

To keep your performance fresh, you have to embrace the "process of the process". Practice isn't a sign of weakness—it's about tweaking and honing your skills to find more dynamic ways of connecting with your audience.

Highly successful people are list makers. They don't just "see what comes"; they work toward a specific vision for their performance and their show. 🎯🎙️

I saw this level of dedication first-hand in 2016 while working with Ashlea Kosikowski at WECT News in Wilmington. Ashlea is a truly fabulous individual—charming, kind, and professional—but what truly sets her apart is her commitment to being prepared. She is the consummate pro who knows that reaching a final goal is only possible if you get on the path to begin with. 🎙️✨

Learn the specific pre-show checklists and preparations that are elemental for every on-camera personality in my book, Loyalty, Trust & Success, available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Loyalty-Trust-Success-Transforming-Weathercasters-ebook/dp/B082FPGLZV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3T5SKZ5MCA5UJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.41AJ89JHva-Y758DCU0JHQ.D_lclnyuKvDV4tYskYclsglbE0Pd9m2nCgKoR3c2Rpw&dib_tag=se&keywords=cakmis&qid=1780409797&s=books&sprefix=cakmis%2Cstripbooks%2C686&sr=1-1