Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield’s critical lesson on media success
Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings.
What in the world do two NFL quarterbacks have to do with success in the media industry? A lot in terms of what success can look like.
Neither of these athletes ever stepped foot inside a media company or edited a day in their lives. They wouldn’t know what three-point lighting is, a jump-cut, or the current state of a rapidly changing industry.
But, they can teach us three critically valuable lessons about achieving success in the media landscape.
Baker Mayfield was selected as the number one overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns; Sam Darnold was selected two spots later by the New York Jets, the franchise quarterbacks, and the future of their hapless franchises.
Within four seasons, they were traded to the Carolina Panthers, then released and became backups for other teams. The collective world declared them a bust. Then, they eventually found their way to success. Currently leading their teams to the playoffs.
Was it an accident? Absolutely not! They can teach us three incredible lessons of what it takes to achieve success in the media industry.
An industry as competitive as the NFL, with lots of companies investing in talent. We must understand these lessons so we not only reach success. But, we maintain it.
Here are The Three P’s to Success In Media:
People--Success in media is about connections. It's not just what you know, but who you know. In a competitive field, your network can make all the difference. Surrounding yourself with the right people—those who recognize your value and maximize your talent—is crucial, from talented colleagues to supportive management. Sometimes, the situation or timing isn’t right, and people may move on too soon. This brings me to my next point.
Patience- Be patient with yourself. The road to success is long. It’s not going to happen overnight. It will be filled with many obstacles. Don’t let it stop you from your belief in yourself and your goals. Be patient that through consistent effort, clear focus, and discipline, success will come. Tolerate delay to succeed.
Perseverance-Isn’t this the same thing as patience? Patience is the ability to tolerate delay or problems without becoming upset, while perseverance is the act of continuing to try despite difficulty. Sometimes, you have to keep betting on yourself. The adage If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Sometimes, you run short of patience after being faced with so much adversity. Follow One Course Until Successful despite difficulty or opposition. I always see perseverance in terms of a quote from one of my favorite figures in history.
“Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm,”
Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield can teach us in the media industry a lot about success. If they gave up on their dreams after their first, second, or third major obstacle, they would never give us all this incredible lesson.
Just remember People, Patience, and Perseverance. Believe and invest in yourself, and success in media will come your way. You will go far! You got this! I’m pulling for you!
