I resigned from my job to write a book; 10 years later, ESPN called

Journeys are a funny thing. You never know exactly where they’re going to take you, and sometimes they start before you realize.

Take me for instance.

At 16, I was inspired by a local basketball team that beat LeBron James in the state championship. At 26, I resigned from my newspaper job to write a book about it. And at 36, I narrated a short film about that book—“The Chosen Ones: The Team That Beat LeBron”—for ESPN.

I’ll never forget the day that film aired. It was March 13, 2022. Selection Sunday.

Ten days earlier, I had become a father. I sat in my Chicago condo, snuggling my newborn daughter and watching as one of the greatest sports stories ever was broadcast to millions.

It was a surreal, come-full-circle moment personally and professionally, and I couldn’t help but think of the road less traveled that led to that point.

Eleven years earlier, I did the unthinkable: I resigned from my newspaper job during the financial crisis to write a book. I was 26, broke, and desperate.

And then one decision changed everything.

As I reflect on that journey, here are some lessons to keep in mind as you navigate a career pivot or change:

1) Know what you are (and are not) walking away from

In 2011, journalists were being laid off left and right. People went to work scared, wondering if that day in the office would be their last.

I wasn’t immune to those fears, and after almost three years of angst, I finally acted. I submitted my resignation.

As friends and family learned of my decision, many reached the same conclusion: I was crazy. How could you possibly leave your job, in that industry, in this economy, to write a book?

Answer: pretty easily.

I was making $12.25 an hour. That’s $25,480 a year. Before taxes. Before furloughs. Before daily gut-punches to my pride and dignity.

What was I going do? Hang on for a few more years until my position was eliminated or the newspaper folded?

If the book flopped, would it have been all that hard to find a job—literally any job—making $25k a year?

To me, playing it safe made no sense. When you’ve got a losing hand, you’ve got to fold or go all-in. I went all-in.

As you weigh your options, what’s your true worst-case scenario?

There’s a fine line between being reckless and taking a calculated risk. Avoid the former; lean into the latter.

2) Think before deciding; work before acting

It often takes me 20 minutes to decide what to order at a restaurant. Well, it took me less than an hour to decide I was going to leave my job to write a book.

At least in theory.

The reality was I needed to research and reach out to key figures from that historic win and confirm that a) they would talk to me and b) there’d be enough content to fill a book.

The answer to both was a resounding yes. Several months and dozens of interviews later, I resigned.

The decision was made in one afternoon, but the action came months later. If you’re thinking of leaving your job, don’t leave without laying the groundwork.

3) Stretch your skillset (you don’t have a choice)

After I resigned, a few publishing houses got word of what I was doing and offered to publish my book.

I turned them down.

This is a choice every aspiring author must make—and it’s often made for you. For me, this book was my baby, I was risking everything for it, and I wanted complete control and final say over everything.

In making that decision, I wasn’t just responsible for writing a book. I was responsible for all financial, legal, and promotional logistics for that book. I was responsible for turning a Word doc into a product that could be printed and shipped all over the world.

Along that journey, I went from writer to entrepreneur.

If you change jobs or careers, you will need to stretch your skillset. Don’t shy away from that reality. Embrace it.

4) Assess your personal situation—and have a plan

We often think of our personal and professional journeys as completely separate entities.

Well, they ain’t.

When determining what we want or need professionally, we must first determine what we want or need personally.

In 2011, I was 26 with no spouse, no kids, and no mortgage. Now I have all three. Beyond wanting to publish the book for the 10-year anniversary of the game, I knew the longer I waited to take this chance, the harder it would be to pull off.

That’s not to say you can’t take big career swings if you’re married, a parent, or a homeowner. But you need to account for all aspects of your life.

Can you still afford a roof over your head? Can your kids still eat? Can you lean on your spouse if things get, well, lean?

Reflect. Anticipate. Consider every variable.

Mike Tyson says everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. I say everyone gets punched in the face if they don’t have a plan.

5) Invest in yourself and play the long game

I resigned from my job in June 2011. The book didn’t come out until June 2012. ESPN didn’t call until almost 10 years later.

Success doesn’t happen overnight. External validation doesn’t always come quickly—or at all.

You need to be okay with that. You also need to understand what your goals are—and why they matter to you.

For me, writing this book wasn’t about copies sold or movie rights optioned. It was about thinking outside the box. Pursuing a passion. Telling a story that needed to be told.

The book opened doors for me in so many ways. It led to opportunities I never would have had otherwise.

Including lost income, I invested north of $50,000 becoming an author. Is that a lot of money? Yes. But it’s all relative. People spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a college degree, all to hang a piece of paper in their home office, but are hesitant to invest in their career during their actual career.

That doesn’t make a lot of sense.

There’s never a bad time to invest in yourself. You’ll benefit in ways you don’t see or understand today, and your true ROI can’t be measured with a calculator alone.

But rest assured it’ll be there—and you’ll be better for it.

6) Don’t worry about the haters

People said I shouldn’t leave my job, that I shouldn’t self-publish, and that no one would care about this story.

Literally all of them were wrong.

The sad reality of our world is this: The haters will always have something to say. They’d rather denigrate you than elevate themselves. Harsh words are easier than disciplined actions.

It’s okay to use naysayers as fuel, but be mindful of your motivation. That whole “it’s not proving others wrong, but proving yourself right” thing.

If you can’t harness critiques in a healthy way, you’ll never be satisfied. You’ll never be happy. No accomplishment will ever be “enough.”

Haters lash out when they know they don’t have your talent or work ethic. Their toxicity is not a reflection of you; it’s a reflection of them.

Focus on your work, and let the accomplishment speak for itself.

You don’t have to drop your mic to silence theirs.

_____

The difference between the life you have and the life you want is often just one decision away—and that decision rarely involves playing it safe. It’s the result of taking calculated risks and betting on yourself.

Is that easy? No. Is it sometimes necessary? Absolutely.

Roger Bacon’s players and coaches got a book for the 10-year anniversary of their historic win and an ESPN short film for the 20-year. What will the 30-year bring? A full-length documentary? A reunion with LeBron himself? Time will tell.

But that win didn’t just change their lives or LeBron’s life. It changed mine as well—even if I didn’t know it at the time.

That’s often the sign of a good journey—and in this case, it’s one we’re all on together.

Tony Meale is a Chicago-based author, ghostwriter, and executive communications leader who helps high-profile individuals elevate their voice, build their brand, and expand their business. He has advised and written for solo entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 CEOs, and professional athletes for more than a decade, generating millions of dollars on their behalf. Connect with him here.