Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Hayes.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story begins like many young men with dreams of becoming an NFL superstar. So when I played my last college football game at Howard University — I realized I’d have to find another way to make a living. Well, I always knew when I was done playing football, I wanted to take my love of the game to airways and become a sports broadcaster. Those jobs proved to be very tough to come by–so I was offered a news reporter job in Albany, GA aka All-benny! And the rest is history–I packed up my wife and son and we moved from New York to south Georgia and never looked back. I will say it was somewhat of a culture shock. I’ve always been a city boy, born and raised just outside New York City.
Our travels were just beginning, as we moved a short time later to Rochester, NY. Followed by Denver, CO, Baltimore, MD, Detroit, MI and finally, or so we thought Atlanta, GA. After a decade, I noticed the grass growing under my feet and we headed west again to Dallas, TX followed by another stop in Cincinnati, OH. Shortly after arriving, we realized how much we loved Atlanta and needed to get back and so we did. And I can’t see us moving again, the great city of Atlanta is our home and its always felt that way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to success in television news is full of speed bumps and potholes. It’s not for the faint at heart and will definitely humble you along the way. It’s an incredibly competitive business and even more competitive now than 30 years ago when I began. Social media has changed the way newsrooms function and gather information. And that’s made it even more difficult to compete with information sources like Twitter and Facebook, who don’t have the same standards as conventional news gathering outlets. We could go down that rabbit hole all day long, but I’ll spare you that pain.
I knew a career in television news was gonna be tough when my agent told me, “You haven’t really worked in tv news until you’ve been fired!” Wow–so when I was fired the first time–I wasn’t sure that I wanted to that again, LOL! But when I was let go in Detroit — it paved the way for a great opportunity here in GA so it ended up being a blessing in disguise. The lesson here is that setbacks are great opportunities for comebacks, just stay positive and stay focused and keep your eyes on the prize.
The other difficult aspect of pursuing a career in television news, primarily for on air talent, is the amount of flexibility you have to embrace. You must be willing to move for opportunity. There are occasions that folks can rise through the ranks in one city — but often times you have to move several times throughout the course of your career–either by your choice or someone else makes the choice for you. And it’s tough on your family, especially your spouse, so be sure that everyone is on board when you’re not a solo act because it can be very tough. Typically you’re working long and unpredictable hours and a spouse can be left alone or with the kids and you have to be wary of how difficult that can be. Those are just some of the challenges that you will see in the world of television news, and there are others, but there are many positives too.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
As a former television news anchor with 30 years of experience, I realized that my superpower is finding common ground for conversation with anyone, anywhere and at any time. It drives my wife crazy. I never met a conversation that I didn’t like, and that included difficult and awkward conversations with my sons when they were teenagers.
Back in August of 2016, my oldest son succumbed to lure of opioids and pills that were enormously popular on the streets of Atlanta. He ended up involved in a horrible crime to try to help feed his drug habit. Thank goodness he didn’t physically hurt anyone but found himself facing a lengthy prison sentence. Even knowing right from wrong and with two parents that invested time and energy, he managed to work himself into the prison industrial complex. And it was largely because he cut off communication with his family. The people guaranteed to urge him to get the help he needed. The saddest part is that he has a college degree and served in the U.S. Navy and is now incredibly remorseful about his mistakes.
But his incident taught me that communication is the most important thing we can do with our children, the most important part of being a parent is being an effective communicator. So with my new business, we will help parents of student athletes transform their communication styles. We will help them go from insecure and frustrated to meaningful mindful communication that helps you enjoy their athletic pursuits.
Watching my two sons, who were both college athletes deal with their struggles, it was easy to see that communication is the only to help them when they are at their lowest point. And every college athlete will struggle at some point. It is inevitable. And when they do, we as parents need to be the calming voice or uplifting force in their lives. If we are not, they will find outside influences that are bound to steer them in the wrong direction. We will help provide the tools you need to connect when it matters most. And we will also create a community of former college and pro athletes, parents and mental health professionals to share experiences and aid in the growth and development of other families. I’m so passionate about this project — because I live each day with purpose to help families stay connected and grow together. Especially during this pivotal time in a young man’s or young woman’s life.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned on my journey is first and foremost, perseverance. Without a dogged determination to succeed, you will easily be pushed to the side and out-hustled by your competitors, especially in the field of television news. There are no schedules when you are pursuing a lead on a story. Your phone will ring in the middle of the night, and you are expected to answer, jump out and get out and win the day. There is no substitute for hard work and a strong work ethic.
The next most important lesson and just as important as that dogged determination is the ability and the thirst to realize you need to always be eager to continue learning. The thirst for knowledge and pursuit of adding new skills and depth to your arsenal will help you maintain your value to the organization or your entrepreneurial pursuits.
And lastly, my parents, who grew up in the segregated south, always reminded me to believe in myself and the sky’s the limit. You are what you believe you are. If you think you can, then you will. If you think you can’t you won’t. That simple. So believe in you–perfect your skills and pursue your dreams and goals with a zeal and vigor that guarantees you a positive outcome.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@markhayesconsulting.com
- Website: Varsityconnects.com
- Instagram: markhayestv
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markhayesiv
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MORNINGMANIAC
Image Credits:
Eric Sun Photography Image #4 Home Depot display–“Ross Knight Courtesy”
