"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." ~Albert Einstein
Way back in 2003, I lost myself to the grid. How? It all happened on the day that I purchased a Blackberry.
It was an early model – one that pre-dated the vaunted track ball. My Blackberry was only slightly smaller than my shoe, and I wore it like a goddamn badge of honor from an awkward holster fastened to my belt. This wondrous device allowed me to work from anywhere, at any time. It also allowed me to fuck off with tremendous efficiency, thanks Brick Breaker.
Being an early adopter only gave me a head-start on a road to nowhere, paved with work, cat memes and abundant porn.
Now everybody has a smart phone. Everybody is available. All of the time. From anywhere, essentially.
We are always, forever, online. Texts, emails, social media messages and posts…. it’s all there, like a giant pile of digital dung awaiting fresh boot prints.
Recently, I declared my independence from the grid.
Bailing from technology entirely would be career suicide for me, and so my independence comes in the form of a two-and-a-half hour reprieve each and every night.
Every night at 6pm, I turn off my phone, turn away from my laptop. I turn back on at 830pm. This 150 minute break allows me to recalibrate my human brain, have dinner with my family, and bathe my children. Sometimes we walk the dog. Sometimes I play the piano. Sometimes I stare at the wall and drink a glass of bourbon. It’s my time, our time, a brief window each day where my life isn’t dictated by the noise and scurry of my work life.
My management clients all know and approve of my evening break. Recently I’ve begun to share my practice with other music business professionals, and some of them have told me I’m crazy, or that they could never step away from work for that long regularly… I believe that is the talk of the ego, or someone working under a maniacal boss, and frankly a bunch of horseshit. We’re not curing cancer. We’re selling records and concert tickets and t-shirts. It can wait. If you’re working for someone who cannot wait, that is your choice, not theirs.
I am fortunate enough to love my job, and do not mind working all of the time. That’s not the point. I also used to believe that if I didn’t work every waking moment of every day, that my work life would fall apart, or that business would flow elsewhere while I wasn’t looking. I no longer believe that’s true, but even if it is true I am at peace with the idea that I will accomplish exactly what I am meant to accomplish without limitation or worry. The Law of Abundance has my back: http://www.wellbeingalignment.com/law-of-abundance.html
And if you care to make fun of my hippie-dippie bullshit, go for it. Share this article and write a snarky comment about how ol’ Spiewak is losing it with your post. I won’t see it until after 830p…
With Love -
JLS