How my old job secretly prepared me to build a flourishing company | Entrepreneur

I started my journalistic career in 2004. Within a few months it was clear: the industry changed – quickly. The dismissals of De Nieuwskamer, cutbacks on the budget and the shrinking of staff became routine. Whispers of “threatening cuts” turned into annual realities. Every year, fewer resources, fewer colleagues and more pressure to do more with less.

In the end, the tone of the industry changed completely. We went from reporting the news to defending its existence. I remember getting scripts to read on-Air and asked viewers to “support local journalism.” Imagine reporting on the world while you are quietly campaigning to save your own job. It was humiliating – and revealing.

Then I realized that I have a plan B.

About eight years after my 15-year career as a reporter and anchor for the largest private broadcaster in Canada, I started building a real estate marketing agency. Calm. In the newsroom they were rejected busy crowds. Some managers have even forbidden them. It was a strange contradiction: everyone knew that the industry is shrinking, but nobody was allowed to prepare for what came next.

So I did it anyway.

Over time, that desk grew quietly in the background. And one day it was big enough that I no longer needed the newsroom. I stepped away – and got entirely into entrepreneurship.

What I did not expect was how much of my journalistic skills would become fundamentally for building and running a successful company.

This is what translates – and why it matters to everyone who navigates the uncertainty in their career today.

Related: The 3 biggest mistakes that made me a better entrepreneur

Deadlines build more than discipline – they build trust

Deadlines were not flexible in journalism. If your segment was not finished with broadcasting time, it didn’t go to the air – simple if that. There was no “I run a little behind.” That kind of real -time pressure trains you to deliver, whatever happens. And more importantly, it teaches you that other people count on you to deliver.

The same mentality is a competitive advantage in business. When you consistently get deadlines – for customers, employees or even yourself – you build a reputation if someone can be trusted. In a world full of flakiness, that trust is rare and valuable.

Clarity is the most underrated communication -skills

As a journalist, it was my job to take something complicated – legislation, economy, crime statistics – and to make it clear quickly. I learned how to break down ideas, so that a viewer without background knowledge can still understand the story.

That skill transported directly into business. Customers are not looking for more information – they want clarity. They want someone who can explain things in clear language, with confidence and precision. If you can do that, you win attention and loyalty, even in busy markets.

Reading the room is a business skill, not just a social

Every newsroom has an unspoken energy. Some days are tense. Others are working together. You learn to read body language, anticipate reactions and adjust your tone accordingly. Sometimes you learn the hard way – by saying the wrong at the wrong time. But in the end you get good at it.

That emotional intelligence became essential in business. Whether I am in a sales conversation, a client pitch or a team check-in, I rely on the same opportunity to measure the room. Knowing when to speak, when pause and when you have to turn is not only fun to have – it’s how you build a report, close deals and lead people.

Your visual presence sends a signal – whether you like it or not

In television is how you appear, is part of the work. Lighting, clothing, posture, eye contact – everything is important. You are trained to think visually because you are seen, not only heard.

As a business owner I wore that ahead. Whether I am on a zoom call, record video content or meet a customer personally, I think about how I show up. Not because I care for superficial Polish, but because I understand that the presence builds up credibility. People make snaping benefits. Being intentional about your appearance – your energy, tone, body language – is part of your brand.

Asking smart questions leads to better results

Great interviews do not happen because the journalist talks a lot – they happen because they ask questions that no one else thought he was asking. They listen. They dig. They help the subject to achieve something real.

Those skills apply almost everywhere. Whether I go on board a customer, hire a new team member or resolve a campaign, asking thoughtful questions, makes the difference. It leads to insights, not just answers. The better your questions, the more valuable your results.

Content creation is not a fashion word – it’s a daily practice

Before “content marketing” was trendy, journalists did it every day. Writing newspaper heads. Filming segments. Record voiceovers. Edit clips. We created daily, on deadline, with quality and consistency.

When I played in business, that content muscle was already built. I could write quickly. I could make video. I could find the story angle. That made building a content -driven desk much easier. But even more important, it helped me to consistently communicate my value – via blogs, videos, e -mails and social media.

Telling stories is the bridge between facts and emotion

The core of every news broadcast is a story. That does not change in business. The need for story is even more important. Because people do not buy based on data – they buy based on faith.

Whether I am a brand strategy, write a sales page or a webinar script, I ask: what is the story? What is the tension? What changes at the end? Who is the hero? Telling stories is not fluff. It is structure. It’s how you help people to give.

Research before you speak – it builds credibility

Journalists are not allowed to make up for it. We are trained to dig for sources, verify the facts and a backup of every claim. That instinct – to validate before you publish – translate directly into business.

If I do marketing recommendations, I don’t trust the feeling alone. I mention trends, pull -performance data, reference case studies. That builds and builds confidence supported by research helps customers more confidence in their investment.

Related: why entrepreneurship is better than any personal growth book

Writing is a business super power

You write every day in journalism. Scripts, voice -overs, newspaper heads, tweets, captions. You learn how to write tightly. You learn how to write with impact. And you learn how to match your voice with your audience.

In business, that is one of the most useful tools I have worn with me. Clear, convincing writing helps across the board -website copy, e -mail campaigns, pitch -decks, customer reports. Especially now, when so much content is generated and generic, human writing that is sharp and deliberate, is really striking.

Working under pressure is the ultimate team test

Television is not a solo act. Every show depends on producers, editors, camera operators and anchors who work in synchronization, under tight deadlines. If someone drops the ball, everyone feels it.

That taught me how to lead under pressure – and how I can hire people who also deal with it. Things go aside in business. Customers change direction. Launches a break. The ability to stay calm, adjust and keep moving is what amateurs separates from professionals.

The Bottom Line

When I left journalism, I thought I was running away from a shrinking industry. What I did not realize was that I was walking in something that I had already prepared for. Entrepreneurship was not the opposite of journalism – it was its evolution. The same skills that helped me to succeed on the camera helped me to succeed in business.

So if you are in a profession that now feels uncertain, I will say this: look carefully. You probably build up skills that will be of service long after your current role has ended. Maybe you simply collect the exact tools you need for the next chapter.

Do not wait for a crisis to start your plan B. Build it now, even if it is in the margins. That quiet side project, that weekend freelance perform, that small experiment – it might be the thing that gives you security if the job is no longer possible.