Andrew Heyward has had a career that I envy. The one-time president of CBS News now has two jobs in academia. He’s a Senior Research Professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. He’s also a Visiting Scholar at the MIT Media Lab’s Laboratory for Social Machines and a Senior Advisor at its non-profit spinoff Cortico, where he is working on artificial-intelligence-based tools to strengthen local journalism and civic engagement.

In this episode of the Pre-Made Podcast, Andrew reflects on his extraordinary career and offers advice on how to maximize professional happiness and satisfaction, including:

As you advance in your career, try to double down on the work you enjoy and seek to minimize if not eliminate the tasks you don’t like.

Don’t let the opinions of others impact what you do or don’t do.

Skills evolve as we age, so look for work that will reward these new skills you’re likely to acquire with experience.

Broaden your network beyond your field of work.

Consider the value of career breadth versus pure specialization.

Be prepared to let circumstances unfold and guide your path. You don’t need to have everything figured out in advance of a transition.

Find a mentor who can help you make better decisions.

Email Andrew at aheyward@asu.edu.