The Job Is What I Do. It’s Not Who I Am.
How Inside the NBA’s Ernie Johnson Jr. turned his moment of shame into a lifelong lesson on humility and priorities.
If you’ve followed NBA basketball for more than a week, you know who Ernie Johnson Jr. is.
The Hall-of-Fame host of TNT’s Inside the NBA has been one of the most respected voices in basketball since the Jordan era and has been referred to as the nicest man in sports.
Though there was a time in his career when Ernie would have told you that nickname couldn’t have been further from the truth.
On a June 2, 2023, episode of South Beach Sessions, Ernie joined Dan Le Batard to discuss his career, TNT’s Emmy award winning show, and a moment early in his career where his ego drove him to shame.
Almost halfway through the interview, Dan asked a question about Ernie’s perspective on life, specifically, what’s important and what’s not. Ernie followed up with a response for the ages.
The job is what I do. It’s not who I am. And the job has been very good to me and my family and has paid the bills for a long, long time. Much more than I deserve. But it’s my job. And there was a time in my life where the job was (my top priority), and now it’s moved into its proper place because I think sometimes we get so driven and get so ambitious that it overtakes everything. It took me a while to learn that and to realize that you can be good at your job without being consumed by it.
The humility and sincerity in his voice as he spoke of putting his job in its proper place struck me. I’ve been a fan of Ernie’s my whole life, so this didn’t surprise me, but his response to Dan’s follow-up question did.
Dan asked, “Do you remember when and where, and how you learned it?”
The nicest man in sports describes an ugly incident from early in his career that put his perspective in place.
While working for a sports show in local television, one night, a producer mistimed the show's segment, leaving Ernie with less airtime than he had anticipated. Following the show, the producer apologized for her mistake, and in front of the production crew, Ernie responded to her apology by berating her in the control room in a manner that he describes as “off-the-charts vile.” Ernie ended his blow-up by walking away, proud of how he handled the situation.
For years, this ugly moment bothered Ernie because though he knew he needed to apologize for his inexcusable behavior, he never did.
Years later, Ernie found that this producer was working for TNT’s sister company, CNN. He first reached out to her via email but was later able to meet with her in person. In his email, after saying, “I don’t know if you remember me” (of course, she did), he apologized for being years late in acknowledging his wrongdoings and hoped she could forgive him for his behavior and for failing to apologize sooner.
The producer responds by saying, “I forgave you the minute you did it because that’s what my faith tells me to do.”
Ernie was rocked.
I’d imagine his embarrassment, shame, and her ability to forgive a man who arguably didn’t deserve it led to him telling himself, “Get over yourself. Get over your job. Get over your ego, and realize where this fits into the big picture, and it’s not at the mountain top. There's a place for it, but that’s not where it is.”
I’ve met folks at parties, even at playgrounds, who, within seconds of introducing themselves, will ask, “So, what do you do?” The topic is extra sensitive to me in this season because, well, I’m struggling to find work.
As a longtime HR professional with experience in Employee Relations and Recruiting, I’ve had conversations with thousands of people. Getting to know people has quite literally been my job for over a decade.
I’ve met folks like early career Ernie Johnson who put everything into their work and despised those who struggled to move at their speed. I’ve also met folks like present-day Ernie Johnson, who are thoughtful and empathetic, understanding their job is a means to a life outside of the office. People like present-day Ernie are happier, healthier and are often surrounded by people who want to spend time around them.
I’m amazed by people who are great at what they do. Talented writers inspire me to be a better writer. World-class scientists make me grateful to live during a period of great innovation and scientific growth. Servers, drivers, teachers, custodians, etc. Each profession has people who are at the top of their class, and the world is a better place because of their dedication.
But when I look at my life, and more importantly, when I look at my daughters’ lives, I’ll ask myself, “What do I want to be remembered for?”
Do I want to be remembered for my ability to shape culture? Sure. Do I want to be remembered for recruiting and bringing on great talent to my organization? Sure. Do I want any of my professional accomplishments to play a prominent role in my eulogy? Absolutely not.
Talk about my role as a dad. Talk about my role as a husband. Miss me for the man I was, not the profits I put in shareholder's pockets. At the end of my life, I want my family and the people who knew me as a friend, a neighbor, or even an acquaintance to remember me for the impact I made in people's lives. That is the only measure of success I care to chase.
It took Ernie a while to realize that you can be good at your job without being consumed by it, and if we’re smart, we’ll listen to those words.