From Firing to Fortune: Atlantic CEO Nick Thompson’s Unconventional Journey
As CEO of The Atlantic, Nicholas Thompson has come a long way since his infamous firing at 22. Meanwhile, he’s learned to “just keep moving forward” and find lessons in his failures.
The Power of Resilience
Thompson’s story is one of resilience and determination. Consequently, he’s become a successful entrepreneur and author, with a new book, The Running Ground, that explores his experiences as a competitive runner.
Thompson’s father, W. Scott Thompson, was a political science professor and member of the Ford and Reagan administrations. In addition, he was the first openly gay presidential appointment. Thompson’s father’s life was a valuable lesson, teaching him to never get too confident or complacent.
The Lessons of Running
Thompson is a long-time runner and has set the American record for men 45 and older in 2021. In addition, he’s learned to appreciate the mental and physical challenges of running. Meanwhile, he’s found that running can be a way to build good mental habits and create mental space during the day.
Thompson believes that running has deeper metaphors that can inform a career. Consequently, he’s learned to deal with setbacks and failures, just like a runner deals with plantar fasciitis or a bad meal before a race.
From 60 Minutes to The Atlantic
Thompson was fired from 60 Minutes on his first day of work. However, he’s since become a successful journalist and entrepreneur, with a stint as editor-in-chief of Wired and a current role as CEO of The Atlantic.
Thompson’s advice to Gen Z is to “just keep moving forward” and not get too down on themselves if they get fired. In addition, he recommends finding a job where you have great colleagues and mentors who can help you grow.
A Moment of Serendipity
Thompson had a moment of serendipity when he ran into Steve Kroft, the legendary correspondent from 60 Minutes, at a Livingston Award ceremony. Consequently, Kroft apologized for not backing him up when he was fired.
Thompson’s experience has given him a healthy kind of paranoia, teaching him to never be too confident that things will stay the way they are.
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