4) Volunteer. Donating skills and labor to a church, school, charity event or other worthwhile cause is refreshing. Of course, it can also be frustrating so it’s important to know what and who to avoid in these scenarios. But giving of ourselves to a cause that we respect both feels good and provides a unique experience.
It doesn’t have to be a regularly scheduled activity such as church services every Sunday morning, but perhaps a helping hand at busy times like the Christmas production and Easter pageant. Even a simple role, like loading gear and taping cables, can make a big difference to an organization while providing us with a new perspective.
Further, less responsibility can be a refreshing change while also renewing respect for those working under us in our real jobs.
5) Network. Trade shows and seminars are great for this too, and social media can help as well. Get out there and meet people in our industry to share ideas, techniques, best practices, and of course, war stories. I’m personally always grateful to get new perspectives on our business and ways to do things better.
We all (or at least most of us) know a lot of people, and each one of those people knows a similar number of other people. Even though pro audio is a relatively small market, and there are probably only a couple of degrees of separation between any two of us, the goal should be a direct connection to as many as possible. Then as ideas come up, or a job change is inevitable, we have people to call.
6) Plan. One thing I’ve found to be really effective in getting me off the couch and out into the world is to think about where I want to be in 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. It’s easy to belittle this concept since “things always change and our best laid plans then go down in flames.”
But the truth is, A) not all plans are destroyed, and B) even if they are, at least we’re working toward something, staying motivated and engaged. And who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky and actually achieve your goals! (Crazier things have happened.) Go ahead, make my day and tell me something that feels better than setting a lofty goal and then reaching it. (Just keep your responses clean.)
7) Teach. “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Some guy named Albert Einstein said that, and what would he know? I’ve personally found that preparing to teach, or participating in a seminar or panel discussion, clarifies my thinking on the matter at hand. Plus, it feels good to give something back and help the next generation, or even our peers, to learn new things.
It doesn’t have to be calculus, either. Best practices, tips, and road-worn but proven techniques can be a revelation for up-and-coming eager techs looking to get an edge. Plus, teaching can get you noticed by some of the industry associations which may then ask you to, well, teach some more. Embrace it! Who knows, maybe after your back goes out and/or you can’t hear so well any more, you’ll have set yourself up for a whole new career.
Bonus: Get a life. A life outside of pro audio, that is. Hobbies that engage our interests are a great way to get our heads out of the daily challenges of making things sound good. For me personally, music is very important, and I try to play or practice every day when and if possible.
And of course family and other personal relationships outside the business are a key to mental health. Not only having someone to whom we can vent our daily problems, but someone to go on road trips or vacations with and simply enjoy life. After all, that’s a big reason why we’re here, right?
Karl Winkler is director of business development at Lectrosonics and has worked in professional audio for more than 20 years.