Sound advice with Steve King
By STEVE KING
It was an older gentleman – I’ve tried for years to remember, exactly, who he was, but I just can’t – who gave me some words of wisdom.
“Especially now that you write for a newspaper, conduct yourself as if there is someone at your side every second of every day who you want to impress,” he said “Even if you’re out in the middle of the woods somewhere, never think that you’re alone. Act as if you’re always being watched, and judged, because you just might be and don’t realize it.”
More from BDD
- The Baker Mayfield Project
- Defensive Coordinator Joe Woods press conference
- Ryan Grigson Joins Browns, again
- Gear section Attention Tribe fans
- Alex Van Pelt hired – Focused on, The Baker Mayfield Project
- Myles Garrett vs Mason Rudolph – The rivalry continues
- Video: Myles Garrett workouts intensify
- Good Move
- Looking for a Monster Golf Swing to show off at the Annual Browns Golf Outing?
That is, don’t do or say anything stupid, lest you end up really paying for it.
I was young and stupid (now my friends would say I’m old and stupid) and I thought I knew everything about everything. Now I know much better, that there is still a lot I don’t know, and perhaps never will, so I had better keep my eyes and ears open and be on my best behavior, lest I say or do something stupid and end up really paying for it.
So, then, if that older gentleman had given that advice to the present me, I would listen. Man, would I listen. The younger me politely listened and then went on about my business and dismissed it, not thinking it applied to me in any way, shape or form. But, for whatever reason, I retained his words, and, years later, I came to understand exactly what he meant.
And he was so right.
When you’re a reporter or a politician or a CEO or a church leader, you’re a public figure. It’s a lot of fun being a public figure, but there’s also a lot of responsibility that comes with it. You can’t mess up, because if you do, then a lot of people will hear about it, know about it and pass judgment about it. It won’t be good.
That’s the lesson from this incident involving longtime Browns beat reporter Tony Grossi. It’s a great reminder for everyone in the public eye – but only if you’re willing to listen.
Related to Sound advice with Steve King
