Stephen a. Smith’s pay day is a lesson to know your value

• Stephen A. Smith has signed a new contract with ESPN for “First Take”.
• He said that his $ 100 million salary request was to be “fully aware” of the market and its value.
• Its research strategy on your industry and what the most efficient is paid is good advice when negotiating the COM.

When the sports commentator Stephen A. Smith compared his ideal compensation to that of a quarter-back starting from the NFL, the man’s interviewer fell.

Smith, however, was without excuse for asking $ 100 million over five years.

“I still want as much money as possible, I’m not going to apologize – I’m capitalist,” said the sports commentator in a September interview on “The Chris Wallace Show”.

It seems that his approach has borne fruit – and it is a lesson in the role that confidence in what you bring to the table, combined with research on the wider market, can play in remuneration negotiations.

Friday, ESPN announced a multi -year contract with the personality of 57 -year -old television as a commentator and executive producer of “First Take”. The agreement is worth at least $ 100 million, athletics reported. Business Insider has not independently confirmed the value of the agreement, and ESPN refused to comment.

The justification of Smith to request $ 100 million is a advice that anyone can apply when preparing to request an increase in their next annual examination or a job offer.

“I would ask, respectfully, pay attention to the industry, see what people are paid,” said Smith. “See how much money they earn and what they bring to the table.”

In an uncertain labor market with layoffs and job gels, it can be embarrassing or intimidating to ask for more money.

Smith’s approach should not be confident – he had the number to support him, pointing his past notes. His ESPN program, “First Take”, had an “unprecedented record race” in 2024 with an average of 482,000 viewers per show in April of last year, said the sports network in May.

Smith said that preparation is the key – and he also advised to let emotion drive the conversation or take things too personally when negotiating remuneration.

“The figures are still questionable,” said Smith in an interview in November. The objective, however, is to have an “idea of ​​a stage of what these figures are and your value, and because of this, when they come to you, you are able to negotiate.”

Timing can also play a role.

“Consider raising your request for a salary increase after a project or realization, because most successful negotiations occur during these moments,” said Bi Bi Bouillon, CEO of Maxime Bouillon, CEO and Archie Co-founder, a hybrid workspace platform based in Montreal.

Smith told Wallace that everything comes down to one thing: “I am fully aware of what I am worth.”