How To Succeed Even If Your Old Boss Didn't Think You Could

I'll never forget what happened.

This conversation occurred in 1998 after I graduated from the Radio Broadcasting Program at Humber College near Toronto, Canada.

Before that interesting chat, I was fortunate enough to secure a full-time job as an editorial assistant at the premiere Canadian national television sports network in the late 1990s, TSN (The Sports Network).

You have to understand, back in 1997, I was a young, enthusiastic sports nerd who was working as a dishwasher at a chicken restaurant called Swiss Chalet.

This was a year after I worked as a chicken factory plant assembly line worker where I'd hang dead chickens on hooks and their blood splattered all over my uniform.

As you can imagine, I was desperate to move on. :)

Earlier in 1997, I had applied for an internship at TSN, but was turned down once then later on, I received this magical call while I was at work.

It was TSN calling me up to the big leagues of broadcasting!

This was an absolute DREAM come true. I was soo PUMPED!

I couldn't believe it. I think I may have teared up.

You see, I had watched TSN for years and didn't think it was possible to actually work there.

But, it HAPPENED!

So, I ditched the chicken job and began my journey watching sports games and writing highlight package scripts for on-air TV anchors.

It was a fast-paced and challenging gig, but it was good for a 20-year-old. I learned a lot about the broadcasting business and how to handle pressure especially when I was running to get my highlight packs scripted, edited then handed in during a live show.

When my internship wrapped up in August 1997, I felt I made a decent impression.

I was certainly memorable.

Case in point.

There was this one highlight script of a San Francisco Giants baseball game where former Giants pitcher, who was left-handed, Dave Dravecky threw out the first pitch with his right hand.

In my opening shot of the highlight package, which featured Dravecky, I wrote something like, "Former lefty, Dave Dravecky is throwing out the first pitch today."

So, what's the problem with that?

Well, HE LOST HIS LEFT ARM DUE TO CANCER!

I called him FORMER LEFTY!

YIKES!

I wasn't very bright back then. :)

Our veteran on-air sports TV anchor at the time spotted the mistake and called me on it and from then on everyone in the newsroom couldn't help but laugh.

I heard that story became the stuff of legend at TSN for a while.

You see, I was MEMORABLE. :)

One of my bosses during that first run at TSN was one of the producers of the network's flagship highlight show, SportsDesk (now SportsCentre).

He was great at his job and demanding of his people.

Fast forward to 1998 when I had just returned to TSN, he wanted to have a chat.

So, here's me with this grizzled veteran of sports broadcasting in an empty office behind the newsroom where he was quite blunt.

He told me directly that he didn't want me back at TSN.

I wasn't his choice.

That's all I remember from that conversation.

As a 21-year-old kid, I guess it didn't really sink in until later that this guy wasn't very nice.

The thing is, I didn't yell back or get emotional or anything.

I just ate it.

I would eventually let my game do the talking.

I wasn't the greatest editorial assistant in the world, but that was okay.

I had bigger things in mind.

So, I left TSN in 1999 where I'd have 2 on-air broadcast jobs that year including a stint as a radio traffic reporter and as a sports voiceover specialist at The Score Television Network.

After an 8-year career at the Score (where I'd perform thousands of voiceovers for sports highlight packages and I created nationally televised on-camera reports covering the Toronto Blue Jays, Maple Leafs and Raptors), I remember working as a television guest booker for a TSN sports TV talk show.

One day, my old boss visited our office. He seemed like a different guy. I felt a certain level of respect from him because of what I accomplished at The Score for all those years.

I could see it in his face.

We didn't speak much at all that day.

Actually, I didn't have to say a word.

I knew my body of work did the talking.

It felt good.

He taught me a lot including how to use negativity as a positive motivator for success.

I'm grateful for that. I hope he's well.

If you ever go through a similar situation like I did...

1 - Don't complain.

2 - Don't cry.

3 - Just use the negativity as motivation and do great work.

If you accomplish that, your success will feel pretty sweet.

#Careers #Television #Sports #Broadcasting