Let me take you back to the moment I truly understood the phrase: “You dodged a bullet.”

Picture this: Monroe, Louisiana. (No offense, but the city… if you want to call it that, did NOT impress me. But as a TV reporter, this is the kinda place you start.)

I’m fresh out of college, bright-eyed, and ready for my very first shot as a TV reporter.

I show up expecting a normal interview — some small talk, maybe a writing test, a polite handshake or two.

Instead... I get ambushed by what can only be described as a verbal pop quiz from journalism hell.

No paper. No pen. Just the news director rapid-firing questions at me like he’s hosting a game show.

Oh, and to make things spicy, I’m competing against the station’s senior reporter... who is already sitting there like this is some kind of high-stakes final round on Who Wants to Be a Local Journalist?

Sample questions included:

• In what war did the most people die?

• What is the second-longest river in the world?

• Which U.S. President had the most pets in the White House?

I wish I were kidding.

Fast forward: I finish the quiz/interrogation, survive the day, and the next day, I grab my luggage to head to the airport and fly home. I’m wearing what anyone would wear to travel: airport-casual, comfy, logical.

Then... plot twist.

I walk outside, and THERE HE IS.

The news director is waiting by his car, ready to drive me to the airport himself.

No warning. No heads-up. Just, “Surprise, it’s me!”

I didn’t get the job.

In the rejection email, he made sure to include that part of the reason was my choice of footwear when he ambushed me at the hotel!

Oh yes. I was passed over not just for my lack of war/river/pet knowledge... but for my travel outfit.

Years later, I heard from someone in the industry that the guy was completely unhinged.

So honestly? Thank God.

Sometimes, not getting the job is a blessing.

And wouldn’t you know, I got my first job in a small market where I ended up meeting my husband (my Canadian husband, at the Dixie Dance Hall in Beaumont, Texas).

Fast forward one year in Beaumont at ABC, two years in Fort Myers at CBS, and four years in Miami at NBC... and here we are.

Christina

PS - I’m not going to email you next week.

Lord knows you’ll get too many Black Friday emails, so here’s my deal...

Half off my Pitch Publicity Profit Bootcamp and half off the (already discounted) Media Mentoring Program.

Just use the code GOBBLEGOBBLE at checkout.

It’ll be good till December 1st.

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