Walking away from stability can be daunting, but what if staying put is even riskier? Emmy-winning journalist Molly Grantham is proof that betting on yourself can lead to remarkable success.
Grantham built an impressive career in broadcast journalism, earning two Emmy Awards and nine nominations while anchoring at WBTV, a CBS affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina. She began as an intern at ABC-TV in Sydney, Australia, and worked her way through various stations before landing at WBTV. Over 18 years, she became a household name.
Then, in early 2024, she made a significant change. Grantham transitioned her storytelling expertise beyond the news desk. She is now a keynote speaker, author, and media consultant, helping professionals and organizations refine their messaging and communication strategies. She is scheduled to speak at the Women in Insurance Summit Chicago on May 14.
Success is Built in Motion
For Grantham, success isn’t about having every detail planned out but about taking the leap and figuring things out as you go. She says she’s “building the plane as I fly it,” and emphasizes the importance of being “fierce” and taking action. To bet on oneself, she believes, means to be courageous and decisive.
Her decision to depart from a stable career wasn’t about having all the answers. It was about embracing the courage to move forward. “Practice makes progress because we were taught wrong. I think every one of us was taught ‘practice makes perfect.’ There’s nothing that’s perfect. No one’s perfect. Our falls are what make us interesting. So, the progress along the way, and adding on top of everything, is the journey,” she said.
Grantham has seen many people hesitate because they believe they need everything figured out before starting. “I use this analogy often; you say you want to lose weight; you don’t just start out by running the 5K. Walk 10 minutes every day, then see where you are,” she says. The same principle applies to building a fulfilling career; it’s a process of consistent progress, not necessarily giant leaps.
The Power of Emotional Intelligence
Even with the right mindset and work ethic, another crucial factor comes into play: emotional intelligence. Grantham understands the difference between being smart and being effective. Without emotional intelligence, even the most skilled individuals might struggle to advance.
“Insurance can sound really dry, but you’re actually talking about things that impact people’s lives. It’s not sexy stuff, but it’s the needed stuff,” she said. “With news, I was in people’s homes, talking about things that really mattered to them, their lives, and their families. Truth-telling about stuff that made a difference. “Emotional intelligence is putting yourself in someone’s boots. You get the smartest person around you, but if they can’t relate to the person talking to them or can’t be relatable to a customer or someone they’re working with, they’re never going anywhere.”
She has observed firsthand that the best leaders, the ones who inspire, drive results, and build teams, understand this. Those who fail to connect with their team often stagnate. Too often, leaders focus on numbers and metrics while overlooking the factors that help a team thrive.
“What fosters collaboration is obviously important, and not everybody coming in is going to be your best salesperson. So, everybody has different strengths,” she said, “We all have different gifts inside of us. Maybe someone always leads with empathy, and that can be a person on your team that is needed for different reasons than the top sales. For the top person making them this money, maybe someone is a remarkable networker. Maybe someone else is just great at organization—they’re naturally structured.”
A successful business is more than just sales; it thrives when leaders acknowledge and utilize the diverse strengths within their team.
“My gift is writing. I can write fast. I can process information quickly. I can talk to a parent of a very critical child to be able to write something while they like quickly, fast. Put it out [on] social media. People see them. I’m lifting up that child. It cost me nothing. But now this family feels seen, and they educate, oftentimes, the community out there about whatever the illness might be that, very often, is greater or unknown,” she explained. Every company has individuals who contribute in ways not easily measured, and the strongest leaders know how to harness that potential.
The Hardest, but Most Important, Step: Betting on Yourself
Recognizing strengths in others is one thing; recognizing them in yourself and acting on them is another. Grantham knows the temptation to stay in a comfort zone. She calls that a lie.
“Bet on yourself, because the ‘can-do-it-ness’ we have inside of us is so often not tapped, or we get very comfortable in our positions where they almost become these mindless things we can professionally get through and do,” she said. Her journey demonstrates that betting on yourself is not just a leap of faith but a strategic approach to long-term success. And for Grantham, that’s the ultimate win.
