FEW of us go through life just seeking praise from others, while an occasional thank you is appreciated, it isn’t the be all end all.
That said we all would like to believe that our friends and workmates see us as someone who cares about them.
Over the years I have had the honour of leading many newsrooms and I have always enjoyed mentoring and watching the young journalists grow in confidence and ability.
Current Chanel Seven newsreader, Sharyn Ghidella, was once a cadet journalist in one of these newsrooms and I hope that she enjoyed working with me while I was the news editor in the FNQTV newsroom in Cairns.
Other young journalists I have worked with have also gone on to have outstanding careers, with some working with leading networks throughout the world such as CNN.
You get an inkling about those who are going to excel and when you see them do just that it is personally rewarding.
It doesn’t matter what industry you are in, watching young workers you have mentored achieve gives you great pleasure.
You help them because you want to, you don’t do it for them just to contact you years later and say “thanks, you helped me, and I owe a lot of my success to you.”
That said a young journalist I employed in 1992 at Channel TEN in Canberra took the time to actually do just that, sending me a hand-written card from his current home in New Zealand.
Since leaving Canberra he has worked around the world and along the way won a major international journalism award.
His card took me by surprise and it made my day. It prompted me to think about the many cards I could have sent out to those who helped me along the way.
Thanking them for the advice they gave me that not only made me a better journalist, but also a better person.
I am sure that like myself you have people in your life that took the time to listen and handed you some worldly advice that helped guide you.
If there is that person I’d suggest you sit down and write them a note.
It doesn’t have to be long, in fact it can just say “I’d like to thank you for your help and guidance, it made me a better person”.
I am now writing out a few cards of my own.
