Years ago, I was a professional musician.
I say “professional” in the sense that it was my sole source of income, and in the not-unconnected-sense that I was broke.
One evening, probably a Tuesday, I was due to meet a couple of my bandmates for our customary 5 pints. But this night was different, as I’d arranged a job interview with a sales organisation the next morning.
C’mon, said the guitarist at 10.30, just one more! No thanks, I replied. I’m off home.
You’ve changed, he summarised.
Yep, I guess.
And not in a bad way, I thought.
I’d realised that I didn’t like the company I was keeping.
Not the musicians – all my enduring, multi-decade friendships are with those amazing, beautiful, creative folk – but the venue owners, the agents, the “clients” and everyone else who’d exploited my talent and skills for nickels and dimes those past 5 years.
And right there, I walked away from an old life to start the journey that got me here, right now, writing this for you.
The moral: when the people around you don’t align with you anymore, change the people around you.
Love you lots
Jonny