Maybe it’s the fact that I worked in market #228 for over a decade. Maybe it’s the fact that the only other communications major at my small college in northwestern Ohio works for ABC News and is a contributor to Good Morning America. Whatever the reason is, a single phrase helped me get through some of my most trying times working in small market television and radio.
“Big time isn’t a place. It’s a state of mind.”
I heard the phrase the first time while covering an introductory press conference of a Division II college football coach. He was leaving his job at the University of New Hampshire to come to a small Ohio town and become the head coach. When he was asked why he’d take a step down from FCS to Division II, his response was “big time isn’t a place. It’s a state of mind.”
Considering he moved on from that small Ohio Division II job to join the staff at Ohio State, I’d say the mantra has worked out for him.
I would venture to guess that the overwhelming majority of folks who get into this industry dream of the bright lights, big stage, big markets, and big salaries “the big time” offers. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming. There’s nothing wrong with ambition. The folks who don’t have it don’t make it very far. But, again, for the overwhelming majority of folks who get into this industry, they have to eventually come to grips with the reality that “the big time” isn’t going to be attainable, for whatever reason.
It’s something I’ve had to come to grips with myself. Of course, the allure of someday being the next Colin Cowherd or the next Rush Limbaugh was a reason for getting into the industry. The idea that an audience, no matter how big or how small, was going to care about your opinions on sports feeds into an ego I’ve tried to keep in-check for a long time. But, you slowly have to come to grips with the sacrifices needed to reach that level that isn’t going to be in line with the willingness of other people in your life to help accommodate those dreams and goals. And that’s not to speak ill of anyone, it’s just something that happens to a large number of people in this industry.
The somewhat common refrain I hear when you have deep and meaningful conversations with people in the industry is, “I had plans to keep moving up, but…” and the inevitable “my spouse didn’t want to move” or “my parent got sick” or whatever else got in the way of the dream rears its head. And it’s always slightly depressing to hear because you know the talent and passion the person you’re speaking with possesses.
So having the ability to turn whatever job you hold into “the big time” is a fantastic mindset. I know it’s not easy at times, but it will help the disappointment that comes with not completely fulfilling your dreams. Not only does it benefit your psyche, but your listeners will be able to hear it from you, as well. People have a fantastic bull excrement meter. They can tell when you’re packing it in, they can tell when you’re doing something because you have to, they can tell when you’re saying something you don’t mean, and they can tell when you are simply existing in this job until you can move up the next rung of the ladder to inch you closer to “the big time”.
As I’ve started this endeavor with Barrett Sports Media, the amount of large market sports and news talk radio I’ve listened to has significantly increased. And do you know what I’ve found? It’s not much different from medium and small-market sports and news talk stations.
So while you might not be where you want to be personally or professionally, and I realize some random guy you’ve probably never met telling you this might not be the most inspiring messenger, know that it’s likely you’re doing fantastic work in a fantastic market with fantastic listeners and fantastic sports fans.
And while I’m sure you’re still holding out hope of making it there, please know that big time isn’t a place. It’s a state of mind.
Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing bi-weekly industry features and a weekly column. He has previously served as Program Director and Afternoon Co-Host on 93.1 The Fan in Lima, OH, and is the radio play-by-play voice of Northern Michigan University hockey. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
