When Nick Medline started talking I frankly thought “who is this guy he looks like he’s not a professional he looks like he’s my age in college”. The thing that surprised me was a college student wrote for the Northwestern Wildcats. I liked how he said ‘values are the most important thing to have’. That you need to have set values and things that are the most important to you which also goes with having set goals.
He has short term and long term goals on what he really wants to do. He is really focused on what he has to do and he does it. When he started in 2011 he was stuck with Field Hockey and Women’s Softball and Tennis, and like most people he wanted to have the fun exciting sports so he worked his butt off to get to cover the football team. He did what he needed to do by being good at covering those sports so he could get hired to do what he really wanted. He is really proud of his work ethic.
Some of the lessons he learned and wanted us to know is that everyone gets passed over. So don’t take it so hard, and when you start off you’re not going to be the best but you will over time by getting better and better. He said he writes everyday and we should too. It took him three weeks after he was hired to feel like he made it.
Nick said it’s all about practice no matter what you’re doing. Another thing he told us was that making mistakes is about the process and the idea is to really go for it. He also mentioned not to be afraid to make the cold call. Another important thing Nick brought up was to not to burn bridges and be personable, talk to people and network. Nick also said that getting along, making friends and creating good first impressions were important. Don’t be overwhelmed, look like you belong there. Also, interviews with athletes are the best. Nick wants to work for Baseball Prospectus or have a national column or guest host. The last thing Nick said which stuck with me was nothing is owed to you.