Success after adversity
Journalist Stephen A. Smith discusses need to face tough times
3:21 p.m., Sept. 29, 2014--Stephen A. Smith believes that learning to deal with adversity can be the key to career success and personal fulfillment.
The sports journalist and social critic shared his insights and experiences during his “Adversity: Keep your Head in the Game” talk presented Thursday evening, Sept. 25, in the University of Delaware’s Mitchell Hall. The event was sponsored by the Cultural Programming Advisory Board.
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Georgina Class-Peters, a junior political science and criminal justice major and political communications minor, welcomed the sold-out, standing room only audience of students and members of the UD and local communities.
Branham Menard, a sophomore political science major and business administration minor, introduced Smith, a commentator and analyst for ESPN’s First Take and ESPN radio.
“Before I start out, I want to introduce Mr. Monté Ross, your basketball coach,” Smith said. “He was one of my college basketball teammates at Winston-Salem State University. We’ve known each other for more than 25 years. He’s truly one of my brothers, and I love him with all my heart.”
No one escapes adversity
Smith urged students to develop a strategy to keep their head in the game when facing serious challenges in their personal lives and professional careers.
“None of you will escape adversity,” Smith said. “I don’t care if you are black, white, Asian, Hispanic or Native American. It’s doesn’t matter — adversity is coming your way.”
When it arrives, Smith noted, there are only two places to go. “Some people say that there are three -- that you can fall, stand still or climb,” Smith said. “That’s a lie. You either climb or you fall. You can’t just stand still. If you do, you’re going to get crushed, and you will fall.”
Committing to a solid value system that includes meeting academic responsibilities can be an invaluable skill when times get tough, Smith said.
“If you are lackadaisical, trying to take that shortcut, trying to get over, and you keep taking those shortcuts, it’s get’s going to get over you,” Smith said. “If you think that somehow, someplace, you are going to succeed, I’ve got news for you. You can laugh now, but somewhere down the line you are going to lose. It’s that simple.”
Success in any area, Smith said, includes putting forth the work, making the necessary sacrifices, pounding the pavement and knowing that everyone must fall before they learn to walk.
Starting out
Smith described the beginnings of his career, which included writing for the Winston-Salem Journal and the Greensboro News and Record in North Carolina, and for the New York Daily News.
“I covered high school sports for free,” Smith said. “I asked them to let me do those articles because I wanted to build up a resume.”
The resulting “clips” may not have earned him any money, but they did help get the attention of future editors, the people who were doing the hiring, Smith said.
“When I started looking for a job, there were a lot of college graduates looking for the same jobs, and they all had impressive resumes,” Smith said. “What they didn’t have is 250 published clips.”
Personal losses, and support
Adversity for Smith included losing his brother younger brother Basil in a car accident in October 1992.
“Because the funeral home had several funerals already scheduled, my brother’s funeral had to wait until Oct. 14, which also was my birthday,” Smith said. “For the next 15 years, I didn’t celebrate my birthday.”
Smith also recalled losing his broadcast gig hosting ESPN’s Quite Frankly television show in 2007.
“It was an incredibly difficult time for me,” Smith said. “At the time I felt it was grossly unfair, but I did not come out publicly and make any negative comments about my employer. You have to work with other people, and it’s amazing how far a little respect and courtesy can go.”
Smith also noted that having a support system that includes personal mentors and cheerleaders can spell the difference between falling into an abyss or climbing out and moving on.
“A mentor is somebody who is experienced in a field that you want to be in,” Smith said. “A cheerleader is the person who prevents you from falling too far down in that abyss. You need both. Nobody succeeds alone.”
Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photo by Tyler Jacobson