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The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk:

Episode 245: Maria Taylor - ESPN Gameday, Embracing The Grind, The Value Of Versatility

Maria Taylor is in her sixth season as a host analyst & reporter. In the fall of 2017 Taylor will enter a new role as co-host on ESPN's College Gameday and sideline reporter for ABC's Saturday Night Football.  

Show Notes:

• How to quickly build rapport with the people you interview?
  • Be prepared with a purpose, truly try to learn about them as a person (quickly), it's not just about their sport or their job.  Care about them as a person
  • Being viewed as an athlete -- "It's helpful working in the sports world that they know I played sports"
• "As an athlete I was always a perfectionist, I always over prepare."  -- Maria sending her producers a copious amount of notes -- thoughts on situations/games/ideas
• How to earn promotions quickly? "I never said no to anything.  I was never too big for any game."
  • Maria did high school football games, ACC digital.  She's traveled everywhere, stayed in bad hotels, etc.
    • "You have to be comfortable in the grind, you can't get discouraged."
    • "If I'm not doing something (work wise), I feel wrong."
• Why Kirk Herbstreit is the best in the business -- "He's the most invested person I've ever seen.  He's always the most prepared person."
• Adnan Virk "Always show up." -- "They remember how you made them feel."  Be conscious of that
• Balance?  It will never be perfectly balanced.  Think of it as a stew - vegetable and beef... Certain bites are vegetables and other times it's beef.  That's work-life balance.  There are moments where it is all work, all day, every day.  There are other times where you can relax at home.  It's never a perfect 50 50 balance.
• The story of Maria making the decision to be a sports broadcaster as a junior in college at Georgia... And then also earning her MBA as a backup plan!
  • She grew up loving sports.  Her dad played college sports.
• Maria was recruited to play both volleyball and basketball at Georgia.
• Our mutual feeling about the structure of being "in season" and how the routine helped us get better grades.
• The first 90 minutes of Maria's day:
  • Start the day with gospel music (worship/faith)
  • New York Times daily podcast
  • Joyce Meyer podcast
• Why do multiple jobs? (Gameday, sideline reporter, women's basketball studio host)
  • To diversify -- "I don't want to just be one thing.  It's an opportunity to flex different muscles."
  • "I try to investigate to find the best answer"
  • "I like challenges"
• Person most enjoy interviewing?
  • Nick Saban.  "I try to steer him off the line he's trying to stay on."
  • Receiving coaching as a broadcaster... Who provides it?
    • SEC network producers
    • Feedback is just as important to what you put into your body.  It needs to be healthy and helpful -- "What are we filling our minds with?"
• How to handle "Twitter haters?"
  • "Sometimes I'll put them on blast..."
• What is an ESPN Gameday production meeting like?
  • A cast of characters - (listen around the 43:00 minute mark to hear the inside scoop)
• Winning Edge Leadership Academy
  • Helping young women and minorities in broadcasting
  • Focused on student athletes
  • Doing a retreat in Miami
• The sense of responsibility Maria feels as an African American woman
  • "Being black.... Half time spent assimilating and half time spent helping your people."
  • The Jemele Hill story at ESPN... Maria's reactions

Social Media:

• Follow Maria on Twitter:  @MariaTaylor7
• Connect with me on LinkedIn
• Join our Facebook Group: The Learning Leader Community
• To Follow Me on Twitter: @RyanHawk12

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Episode 107: Simon Sinek – Leadership: It Starts With Why