Written by: Clem Harrod

What I love about life in production is–we’re never alone. Though we may think we are alone as a tech or a solo-preneur, we actually aren’t. We are all husbands, fathers, sons, daughters, mothers, wives, out here doing our jobs. Another way to look at it, we are all brothers and sisters.

There aren’t many people who can understand what we do and what we deal with on a constant basis. The road, the show, the hotel, the airport, the life… The life we leave behind… The stress…

But, that’s only OUR perspective. What about that of our significant others, our families, our friends? Think about what they deal with…

We are traveling artists and professionals doing what we love and making a good living. But, for WHOM are we living?

I am reminded of a conversation I had with Andrew Douglas of Touch Light & Media. He said, “Let’s not lie to ourselves… We do this because we love it.” That statement was in regard to us working so many hours to provide a life, a home, for our families.

If you love what you do, and you’re successful at it, you want to live in that environment. You thrive there. You’re happy… I can admit, there are times where I feel more successful on the road than I do at home. On the road, I have a job to do, a task, and I knock it out of the park. People love it! I receive praise. Then, after a while the praises stop. Not because my work has diminished, but because that is the quality of work I provide. It’s my standard. I can take ownership of that and be proud.

Now on the other side of that coin, is home–the task not completed, the task not up to the standards of the ones I love. What do I do with that? Do I stay and work harder, or do I escape to a place where I know I am successful? I used to escape. Then, the road life felt more comfortable than the one at home. That’s not right!

I challenge everyone, reading this article, to find that brother or sister who empathizes with you. Someone who is traveling this journey and living this life. Someone that gets you. Use that person as a support system. Lean on each other to become stronger.

Now, find someone to look up to. Someone who’s living the life you want to live. Use that person as a role model. A mentor. A bench mark. A projected image. Now troubleshoot your way through to that projected image and achieve greatness! You can do it. You can be successful. You can enjoy the show of your life…