BIO: John Talty is the senior sports editor and SEC Insider at Alabama Media Group. He is the Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban: How Alabama’s Coach Became the Greatest Ever.
STORY: John left New York to take a new job in Jackson, Mississippi. He didn’t do any research before he went and was miserable the moment he arrived.
LEARNING: It’s OK to move on to the next thing if your decisions go wrong. Sometimes you have to move around a little to find the right spot.
“Anytime you make a mistake, or you have a bad investment, learn from it. That’s the most important thing.”
John Talty
Guest profile
John Talty is the senior sports editor and SEC Insider at Alabama Media Group. He is the Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban: How Alabama’s Coach Became the Greatest Ever. His work has been featured on ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and CBS Sports, among other national outlets.
Worst investment ever
When John was in his 20s, he worked in New York at a business publication and was doing well. An opportunity to take a job elsewhere came up, and he decided to take it without much thought. John broke up with the girl he was dating then, packed up his meager possessions in his little Honda Civic, and drove from New York City to Jackson, Mississippi.
In Jackson, Mississippi, John didn’t know a single soul and hated every bit of living there. Two months into it, his boss called him into his office to find out how he was settling in. John was so miserable and ready to quit his job. He told his boss that if the next month would be as bad as the previous months, he’d leave Jackson.
John’s biggest regret was moving into a new city without researching and thinking about the end game.
Lessons learned
- When you make a significant investment that doesn’t work out, it’s OK to cut ties and move on rather than trying to be a martyr and prove to everybody that you can make it work.
- Sometimes, you must move around a little to find the right spot.
- Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.
- Keep powering through the tough times.
Andrew’s takeaways
- It’s OK to move on to the next thing if your decisions go wrong.
Actionable advice
When making a decision, always think about the endgame. Do your research so you have an understanding of what you’re walking into. This will make it a little easier to navigate that challenge.
John’s recommended resources
No.1 goal for the next 12 months
John’s number one goal for the next 12 months is to write another book. He also wants to give himself at least one moment every day to appreciate something about his life or what he’s doing.
Parting words
“I appreciate you having me on so. I enjoyed our conversation and hope people got something out of this.”
John Talty
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