Balancing Jesus and your job can often be a juggling act, but national correspondent Megan Alexander is a believer it can be done. I recently spoke with Alexander who examines the topic in her new book, Faith in the Spotlight.
Tell me about Faith in the Spotlight.
Faith in the Spotlight—Thriving in Your Career While Staying True to Your Beliefs is my inspirational guide for the young men and women of today. It’s part how-to and part memoir. I tackle all the practical issues that believers face in daily life and in a secular industry. The book covers topics like getting that first job, climbing the ladder, finding a mentor, negotiating a raise and dealing with workplace drama. I also write about covering the NFL as a female and taking risks in your career. I even cover sex, dating and relationships, with my own personal story of abstinence.
Why did you decide to write it?
I received an email from a pastor in Seattle who shared with me that his church is full of young, ambitious women who have big career goals and dreams, but are worried they will need to compromise their faith to get ahead. The pastor said he has few people to point to—few people that he can share as examples and encouragement—who have achieved excellence in both their faith and careers. He reached out to me and asked if I would come speak to his church. I told him I would love to come speak to his church and I would finish this book. I don’t see anything like it on bookshelves right now. Many people talk about bringing morals to television and Hollywood, but few people actually work inside the industry and understand the inner workings of it all. I passionately believe in order to change culture, we must engage directly with culture, and do it with excellence. I call on some of my friends in the industry to share their insights in the book, such as Kirk Cousins, Michael W Smith, Gabby Douglas, Roma Downey and more.
What is the biggest lesson you want readers to learn from the book?
It is possible to thrive in your career while staying true to your beliefs! But it’s not quick or easy. It involves hard work, determination, hustle and a strong sense of self and faith. This is my authentic, honest and practical take at what it looks like, what struggles you may encounter and how I have navigated them.
What do you want your legacy to be?
I want to be someone who lived life to the fullest—who engaged with culture and didn’t just talk the talk, but also walked the walk. I want to have no regrets and raise my children to do the same. I want to embrace this wonderful thing called Life that God grants us.
What advice do you have for women who are juggling a career with raising a family?
Who you choose as your spouse is one of the most important decisions you will ever make in your career. You need a teammate and partner. I would also encourage women to think outside of the box. You can have it all, but you can’t have it all perfectly. Be flexible, be creative, and give yourself a break if you don’t make every single dance recital or work party.
What has been the most surprising thing about your career?
I knew no one in this industry when I started out. I had no “friends in the business.” I started at the very bottom. I picked up the phone and cold-called radio stations and sent out my résumés, asking for a job. I got lucky when a classical radio station in Santa Barbara hired me to be the DJ for the midnight to six a.m. shift called “Classics till Sunrise.” It was my very first break in the biz. I have worked countless part-time jobs along the way, and all of them were valuable. Everything can be a stepping stone to the next opportunity. Never doubt that you can learn from every experience. This has been my career. I’m still learning!
What advice do you have for young women interested in pursuing a career in television?
Be willing to work hard. Be willing to give up holidays and vacations. Television is constant—it’s 24/7. I have cancelled countless dinners and vacations due to this job. I find that most people are very surprised at the work and hustle that goes into this industry. I have flown on more red-eye flights than I can count. But every day is different, and if you like that, this job is exhilarating, and you will meet all kinds of people and get to travel places you never thought possible.
What’s next for Megan Alexander?
I have a small role in the feature film ,Heartbeats which comes out spring 2017. I am also an executive producer of the film. I am launching a podcast on www.faithinthespotlight.com.
Do you have anything you would like to add?
I was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, and attended Kings Schools K–12. I graduated from Westmont College with a degree in political science.
Use my affiliate link to purchase your copy of Faith in the Spotlight.
Megan Alexander is a national news correspondent on the longest-running, top rated syndicated national news magazine television show Inside Edition and has covered CBS Thursday Night Football for the past two seasons. She is a married mom of two boys and splits her time between Nashville and New York City. Connect with her on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
