Meet Daniel Paulling, Manager of Swimmer Magazine. Daniel loves swimming competitively and has a passion for writing, too. He was able to find his dream job by combining both professions into a winning match. Read on to learn how he has found how to communicate with the masses while enjoying his favorite sport. – Sarah

What attracted you to the field of fitness and exercise? I grew up swimming, enjoy swimming and am still active, so working for an organization that promotes the sport to adults was attractive. I also love writing about sports so this was a natural fit.

Your Job Title: Manager, Publications

Company you are with now: U.S. Masters Swimming

Website: usms.org

Social Media:  – Twitter (personal): @DanielPaulling  – Facebook: U.S. Masters Swimming  – Twitter (work): @MastersSwimming

A typical (or not so typical) day in the work-life for you: My schedule varies depending on the publication cycle of SWIMMER, our bimonthly magazine. I edit the articles for the upcoming issue the first few weeks of odd-numbered months and work on the final page proofs toward the middle of even-numbered months. I also coordinate with freelance writers and photographers, write stories for the magazine and website and handle other tasks such as our STREAMLINES e-Newsletters. My typical workday is largely all about writing and editing, two things I love doing. I only started in March, but I’ve made an impact by starting to do online event coverage of our open water national championships and changing the types of articles we’re doing in and the design of SWIMMER magazine.

How did you get your current job in fitness and exercise? I spent 18 years swimming competitively, including four in college and five after college. This gave me the background in the sport that I needed to excel in this position. It’s tough to write about something you don’t know much about. I also graduated from the University of Missouri journalism program and worked for six years in the newspaper industry, which gave me the writing and editing background needed for this position. It was just a match of skills and the right timing that led to me getting this position.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way? This is a tough one to answer. I feel like some of my writing and editing skills are innate, but most of it was developed over time. There’s so much good writing you can read to help you improve but also books on the topic. You’ve got to learn how to be a good interviewer so you can get the information you need and then know how to communicate a complex topic to the reader in a simple manner. And then the most challenging part is knowing what to cut from a story. It’s a constant learning process. The majority of the skills related to swimming I learned along the way. 

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you? It’s cliché but look for something that matches as many things you like doing into one job. I love to write, edit, and swim, making this a good job for me. Also, you need to realize and be fine with that there will be aspects of your job that you may not like, but you have to look at the big picture, at the things that you do like. Nothing’s perfect.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be? Food, particularly lasagna

Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist specializing in Weight Management and Sports Nutrition for youth and adults. She writes articles for multiple publications, provides customized nutrition coaching, and is a brand spokesperson. She is founder of Family. Food. Fiesta.Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.