Sometimes, things happen in life that are designed to make
you think a bit about life and why you do what you do.
This is one of those weeks.
As I write this, I am in the hospital, a few hours away from
(likely) some surgery that from a long-term effect, may give me a little more
room for healing in my right foot – something that has been the goal for some
time.
But, with that comes some advice, very well-intentioned
advice, that I don’t quite know how to react to – “Slow Down.”
I have tended to approach my career in a full-throttle type
mode. I want to do everything I can to leave no doubt in peoples’ minds about
my talents. That was the case when I began my radio career back in 1991, and it
still rings true today – whether I am broadcasting a high school sporting event
or interviewing the Entertainer of the Year.
A lot goes into that place of thinking. First, there are
several who have either made the comment – or inadvertently made me feel – that
what I do is not a “career,” but rather an excuse to get out of more sensible
work. I’ve tried to silence those voices in my mind, but sometimes they are
still there. Also, unless you are one of a very fortunate few in this business,
you’re always wanting to take advantage of every opportunity – every interview,
every review, every chance to make people aware of what you can do. Granted,
there’s room for a lot of writers, but you want to always put your name where
people can see it. Simply put, I don’t want to be forgotten.
In the next few weeks, I am likely going to have to be a
little more selective in what I cover live – at least for a while. What those
selections will be – and how can I “slow down,” when you’ve still got to work?
We will see!
