Lessons learned from the incomparable Paul Magers

So Paul Magers… is hanging it up. Retiring from news. After a decades-long career… a “most charmed” existence… and an unusual level of influence – on so many.

I want to share with you the last part of that story – the influencer part.  In our 15+ years of working together, I saw and learned a lot. He was a profound influence in my own life. And it was a real privilege to work with a guy so ‘in it’ – for all the right reasons. 

There were no formal tutorials… there were no big ‘sit down’ moments… what I learned from him… I learned from just being there.  

Big things: like what it means to lead, the value of quiet confidence, how to carry yourself in such a public/high profile role – even when you don’t want to be there… and, honestly, as much as anything… the importance of having a good time.

Lore

So let me start with the leader part first.  Best. Story. Ever. Even pre-dates my time with him a bit. By the time I got to KARE in the late 80’s – it was already lore.  In fact that’s one thing I learned from him right away:  One thing real leaders will do, is create lore. I’ve seen that happen in great and horrifying ways over the years, by the way.  But Paul’s was pure genius. Natural. Heartfelt. And inspiring.  

KARE was an up-and-comer in the mid-80s. Coming out of nowhere really. Not long before this they were being beaten by wrassling at 6pm.  But things were looking up. Gannett moved in. They were very deliberate about the talent they were recruiting, the focus on photography & storytelling. They were just starting to build a tremendous brand and a great stable of talent.

Paul & Diana were relative newbies… but – by all outward appearances – their stars were definitely on the rise. Gannett, for whatever reason, decided to take this particular moment in time to go to war with various labor groups at the station.  It got rocky.  And all indications were – the photographers were going to walk. What to do?  

Magers was looking for ways to mitigate what appeared to be the inevitable.  He walked upstairs and tried to talk with the management team about alternative ways to solve the dispute. They kinda tolerated him. There were a couple conversations.  

As the story goes, just before the inevitable ‘walk out’ – he walked in to the boss’ office… with a message that went something like this: “What you’re doing right now is wrong.  And I just want you to know, if those guys walk… I will act as their spokesperson.”

He would have been in his early 30s at the time. Putting pretty much all his newfound capital on the table in a standoff – against his own bosses – on behalf of others. 

Management had to look at what he was doing as ‘interfering with a contract’.

But his bet paid off.  The strike was averted.  His legend, I think, maybe right there, was born.  People talked about that for years.

How to carry yourself

One thing that I admired most about the guy… and this might sound peculiar… but he had a tremendous respect for the influence of his position. His “person”. It was not ego (that’s the crazy part!).  

There was seldom a whiff of “here I am”. I never saw that. But he had an awareness of the person others perceived him to be. And he respected that. He would stop & make time – even in a rush. He was gracious with others. But I don’t think he really had the expectation of adulation.  In fact, I’d say Paul was most comfortable pretty far away from all that.

Forgive me, but as a recovering news guy, I can tell you.  I saw the news business (still do pretty much) as those who got into the business for adulation. And those who got in the business to work on the stuff that really moved them (going after the bad guys, figuring stuff out, being at the center of the thing everybody was talking about, capturing the greatest pictures, finding the greatest stories). 

For many in the latter category – they’d actually be put off by the extraneous attention or others ‘wanting something from them’.  One of Magers’ greatest personal gifts, I thought, was navigating the unusual space between.

Among his peers, he also exhibited gracious and leader-like qualities.  You know, in newsrooms… the ‘official leaders’ usually have titles like “News Director” or “Executive Producer”.  And they pretty much run the day-to-day show.  

Paul managed himself in such a way that… he exuded respect. And while there may have been tiers and layers of formalized leadership all around him.  He was one teams turned to, regularly, for clarity, validation, and insight.  He earned it.

The Fun Factor

No remembrance of this guy – or time spent with him – could be absent the good vibe & sense of humor that seemed to come so natural to him.   Whether it was his easy-going singing through the newsroom… the goofball Halloween talking thru the Randy Shaver mask (Count Randula?)… or the countless light hearted, in-the-moment exchanges he had on the set.

As impromptu as it all seemed to be… at least some of us suspected… the guy actually spent an inordinate amount of time thinking up crazy sh*t.  

One time – quite literally… he was being asked to be Grand Marshall of the Aquatennial Parade.  He declined… but then showed up & asked if they’d let him drive the sh*t sweeper behind the horses.   He had so freakin’ much fun on that machine.  And the crowds went crazy.

He was brilliant at the State Fairs… which is not easy, people.  I’m just sayin’.

And there were a multitude of memorable moments behind the scenes of course.  Among my favorite… the day he was asked to come in to a thing the sales department was doing at like 8am in the studio.  They were bringing in a bunch of potential clients… and they really wanted Paul Magers to come in and say a few words.

He was like: “8 o’clock in the morning? Are you kidding? I don’t even get home til midnight!”

There was all kinds of sales-person groveling going on. And he caved-in. 

He showed up the next morning – literally got out of his car in the parking lot in his pajamas & a robe… with big furry slippers (which I am certain he bought for this moment)… and he walked into the sales meeting… and explained he really wasn’t up at this hour… and he hoped they’d forgive him… and proceeded to do his whole presentation to the potential clients in his p-j’s.

I’m laughing out loud as I write this.

And that’s what we all hope for isn’t it? To run through all the crazy stuff we do in our careers… through our lives… and when we take the moment to step out of the storm… have the people around you look back… and say… “you remember the one… ?”

Thanks, Paul… for bringing that into my own life… and the life of so many other wonderful people I had the pleasure to work with along side you for so long.  We were lucky to have you. 

I hope to see you again, soon.