The magic formula

My other half is a math teacher who deals with absolute formulas. Two plus two always equals four.

That's not always the case in television news when it comes to your career.

People are always looking for the magic formula in order to find that perfect job. After one of my clients gets a good job, new clients frequently ask me, "Can you do for me what you did for her?"

There's no way to answer that question, because every person, every situation is different.

In math terms, you guys are all mutually exclusive.

This coming Sunday, the Jets will play the Colts. The Jets always seem to choke late in the year, the Colts seem to do so when they rest their starters after they clinch a playoff spot early.

History means nothing in this game. It is mutually exclusive.

Your career is the same. There is no reporter with your exact style, with your look, your background, your experience, your voice, your demographic. You may see someone who seems to be a carbon copy, who has made it to the top, but that doesn't affect you.

There is no magic formula. An agent cannot wave a magic wand and produce a job for you because said agent got a job for someone like you. I can teach everyone the same set of skills, and people will end up in very different situations.

When looking for a job, when planning a career, the only thing that matters is you. Sure, your classmate may have shot up the ladder while you're stuck. Someone you know may have just gotten some dumb luck. And some dumb people may just be lucky.

I've known very talented people who never got a decent break and crash dummies who ended up in a major market or a network. Life's not fair. Broadcasting is really not fair.

So what's the best thing you can do? Do your best. Trust in your abilities. Work hard. Send out your tapes. Hopefully you'll find the right formula that works for you.