Your resume tape is in the can, so why should you care?

I don't get too many comments from people who are happy in their jobs these days. With increased workloads, pay cuts, and benefit losses, it is understandable that many employees don't feel any loyalty to the companies for whom they work.

But this is about being loyal to yourself.

In case you hadn't figured this out, you have to watch out for your own back in this business, because no one else is going to do it.

I've often heard, "My tape's in the can, so I can just cruise until I find another job." You're ticked off at the company, the ND is a blue meanie, and the stories on your tape are certainly good enough to get you out of the ninth circle of hell. So why not phone it in?

Two reasons. The ultimate story may be heading your way like a runaway train, and you never know who will be watching.

Some reporters can be defined for a lifetime by a single story. And what if today is the day the stars are aligning for you? Will you fail to grab that opportunity because you're ticked off at your boss? These opportunities are rare, so you have to be in the correct mindset to tackle them full force when they come your way. Your resume tape may be done, you may have fifty copies, but the national watercooler story may fall in your lap today and be on everyone's mind tomorrow. And be watched by every ND in America tonight.

The second reason has nothing to do with the ultimate story, it's about doing a solid job every single day. Today may be the day some big market ND is driving through your market, his car breaks down, and he's stuck in a hotel with nothing to do but check out the local product. If he sees you, will you make a good first impression, or will he see a reporter who is phoning it in? Will the solid story you do today make the feed, be grabbed by a producer in a big market, and capture the interest of the ND who is watching his own newscast? You'll never find out if you're on autopilot.

There used to be a service that would tape airchecks of every station in America. I remember this because I saw an aircheck of my station on one occasion... and it was taped on a day when I did a mediocre job at best. I remember being embarassed that some ND saw what was not close to my best work.

So never phone it in. No matter how bad your current situation, the only way you can make it better is by going the extra mile every single day. Do that, and the odds will be with you when the stars align and the right person is watching.