Part 1 - Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery. But who wants to recover?

Most of us think we have it all together, or at least most of the time. We try to work hard at having a good perspective on all things in life - work, family, values, time management, getting life on track - all that stuff that you might read about in some magazine found in the checkout line at the grocery store. "How To Get Your Life Together," or something like that.

Then again, if we take a close look (some of us don’t even have to look too close), we see just how off center, how out of kilter we really are. Ever feel that way? Maybe even more than a little bit? Maybe it's more severe than just a slight loss of perspective. Maybe it begins with a little compulsive behavior here or there... working too many hours... spending more time on the new computer (which is undoubtedly a really cool machine) than with the kids? After all, we have to earn a living - can't be irresponsible. Does any of this sound familiar?

Vance doing his thing

Well, it just so happens that I’m one of those rare people who actually enjoy their job and earn a living at doing something I might do for a hobby anyway. But depending on your point of view, that may be where the good stuff ends and it turns into something possibly worse... Sure it's fun, but what happens when the compulsive behavior takes over and common sense is lost?

What about that new piece of hardware that just came out? Gotta have it? And what about that accessory that you NEED or you won’t be efficient in your work? Or can we just be honest and talk about the new stuff that would just plain be cool to have? Any of you out there know what I'm talking about?

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't consider myself bright enough to be considered a nerd (though it is one of my lofty goals in life), but I have to confess that I'm a gear junkie. All the new cool software, computer gear, audio equipment, testing and measurement stuff... I look at the recent advances in technology and the cool stuff available and suddenly realize there are numerous reasons that I truly need this new stuff. But doesn't it make me better at earning a living? Well, doesn't it? Of course it does! What, you don't believe me? But I really need this stuff!!!

Part 2 - So I get to play with the toys... mine and yours too!

Then there's the part of my job that is really fun. I not only have my new toys to play with (that I REALLY need), but I get to design and work on sound systems with lots of cool toys, and someone else pays for it. (Sorry all you other sound systems designers out there, but some day they were bound to figure out what we really do anyway.) Imagine this - actually being paid to design a cool sound system that rocks (or grooves, or whatever descriptive term you choose), being paid to set it up with all this new cool test equipment, and play those new (and old) favorite CDs on this new cool system. Oh, did I say I actually get paid for it? Wow, a wannabe-musician-turned-gear-junkie's dream.

Now it doesn't take too much effort to rationalize that all this stuff I do really has some value to the people who hire me. I am doing them a professional service, aren't I? And after all, I'm not the only one who derives some fun from the system once it's done. I know that when I leave the jobsite, they just go and play with all the toys themselves anyway. Everyone who goes to that particular venue reap the benefits of having all those cool toys. Right? Aren't all you other guys and gals on t there just as bad as me? Maybe some even worse.

Hey you with the home studio equipped with all that new latest recording gear… How many people get to play with your toys? Didn't your mom teach you about sharing? Or you, the venue manager, I've seen what you do when nobody else is around. Playing that loud rock and roll music just for your own enjoyment... shame on you! At least I'm doing, ahem, "systems testing" when I play my loud rock and roll CDs. So see there, maybe I'm not so bad after all. (Yeah, right.) Ok, ok, so we're all a little guilty. Why don't we all just come right out and admit it. We're mature adults here, aren't we?