Tell 'em What They've Won, Bob

Renowned television personality and emcee Bob Eubanks will deliver the Channel Partners Conference & Expo keynote presentation today in Islander Room H. For four decades, Eubanks reigned supreme as the dynamic host of "The Newlywed Game," in addition to hosting or producing several other shows on all three networks.

Eubanks began his broadcasting career as a disc jockey in the late 1950s in California and ended up at the No. 1 rock ‘n’ roll station, KRLA, for seven years. The entrepreneurial Eubanks then launched a chain of nonalcoholic nightclubs for young adults called The Cinnamon Cinder, where he hired acts like Stevie Wonder, the Beach Boys, and Ike and Tina Turner. Also during this time, Eubanks produced The Beatles’ concerts for three years. He, of course, went on to host a number of TV programs including TNN’s "Prime Time Country" and several NBC specials, in addition to nationally broadcast events such as the Rose Parade, which he continues to emcee after 28 years.

Eubanks, who was the last person of the 20th century to receive a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, joined the National Speakers Association in 2001, and began speaking to businesses and organizations about what he believes are the keys to success based on his own experiences. "I’ve been able to take what I’ve learned doing game shows — how to extract information from people, how to make people laugh, how to get the best from the people you deal with — and now I’m using that as I speak to corporate America," says Eubanks.

The legendary host adds he received "quite an education" from working with musical artists such as Elton John, Bob Dylan and Barry Manilow. Eubanks says this "ego-maniacal atmosphere" taught him many lessons on how to deal with difficult situations and difficult people — adding that many of his business lessons also came from dealing with kind and considerate people like Dolly Parton and Merle Haggard.

Eubanks’ presentation, titled, "It’s All About People," will discuss an important aspect of any business today, especially sales — how to maintain people skills in a time of continual technological innovation. Although Eubanks is quick to point out he is not anti-technology, he does believe there needs to be a balance. "We’re sending e-mails to people in the next cubicle, and we’re losing that interaction we used to have when somebody says, ‘I’ve got a good idea;’ and someone else says, ‘What is it?’ and we talk about it," explains Eubanks.

"When we’re lying on our deathbed, no one’s going to say, ‘Bring me my computer,’" Eubanks declares. "They’re going to say, ‘Bring me the people that love me.’ And we’ve got to maintain our ability to communicate with each other and be kind to each other."

As channel partners look forward to inking deals on the show floor, Eubanks wants them to remember one thing — the power of partnerships is people. If partnerships are carefully cultivated and nurtured, especially in the business world, service levels and respect will skyrocket, leading to better deals, larger clients, more partnerships and elevated success.