By Abi Smith
When NBC News experienced a low ebb in 1981, anchor Tom Brokaw had two choices: Stay at a network with low ratings or leave for ABC, which was pursing him heavily.
According to the Associated Press, Brokaw reflected, “I came very, very close to going. So close that I went out to dinner with [my wife] Meredith and said, ‘I’m gonna do this,’ and she went to bed thinking it was a good idea. Then I sat up and drank some scotch and smoked a cigar and stared out the window for several hours.”
In the end, Brokaw stayed, and NBC — as well as the nation — benefited from his talents. Most importantly, though, his actions are instructive for this generation.
To the University of Louisville’s May 2005 graduating class: remember Brokaw’s methodology. Contemplate and be forward thinking. There’s no crime in that. Whether you decide to continue in academia or to enter the job market — good luck on that score — always guide your decision-making with your future firmly in mind.
Allow things to marinate, and reject the urge to react on impulse. It’s intoxicating to think only in the present, jumping for every opportunity that crosses your path. Don’t forget, however, that what might seem like a stellar opportunity today could disintegrate tomorrow. And you might very well be led nowhere … fast.
Brokaw’s story also offers a more latent prescription: Don’t be afraid of the road not frequently taken. There is no doubt that most individuals in his shoes at that time would have left for ABC without a second thought. It’s not difficult to see why. Who wouldn’t want to go the easy, obvious and well-traveled route where the rewards are clear and well-stated?
But don’t assume that gaining the keys to success requires following any set formula. Bill Rancic, winner of the first “Apprentice,” once stated that “different paths can lead to the same destination.” He’s right. If you think that a particular plan is best, go for it, even if everyone else is slobbering over the some other option; the gold could be at the end of your rainbow.
Also understand that you will be the only one dealing with the consequences — good or bad — of taking a certain path. If things go well, people will pat you on the back, offer you enough “Congratulations!” to sink a battle ship, and maybe even take some of the credit. If things go terribly wrong, however, you’ll be the only one doing the suffering; all anyone else will do is empathize, if even that. So listen to your coaches, if you wish. But ponder the last game play on your own.
In the end, you’re much more than what you do or what others want you to become. Live for someone else, and you’re sure to become dissatisfied. Decades from now, you’re going to want to look back on great times, not on a plethora of regrets.
In addition, know that the idea of “diversification” isn’t just for Wall Street. Treat your prospects as if they were investment portfolios, and embrace more than one option. Avoid being placed in a box or succumbing to categories and labels. Opportunities abound; always have a back-up plan, and don’t let yourself to develop tunnel vision. Allow yourself the personal, professional and creative freedom to explore your life choices.
Tom Brokaw did; and he’s all the better for it.
Abi Smith is a graduate student in Political Science and a columnist for The Cardinal.
E-mail her at: asmith@louisvillecardinal.com
