🧠 The Hidden Cost of “Success”

This is a subject I’ve thought about for years.

Throughout history, we’ve idolized the tortured artist.

When we hear stories of music born out of sleepless nights, tortuous revisions, or personal tragedy, we’re primed to appreciate their work all the more.

We celebrate success born of blood, sweat, and tears.

But what we don’t consider is the effect of these sacrifices on the artist, their physical and mental health, and the ripple effect it has on their loved ones.

When I was a kid, I remember a famous baseball player visited our school to talk about his career.

He said something I’ll never forget:

“There’s no end to success. You’ll have to make a choice when enough is enough, and how much you’re willing to sacrifice to get there. I could have gone on to be a Major League baseball player, but I’d have to spend less time with my wife and my kids. So I decided that success for me was staying where I was at and keeping my relationships strong.”

Everyone has an upper limit for what they’re willing to sacrifice to meet their goals.

There’s no right or wrong answer for where that limit is.

But knowing where it is for you might mean the difference between staying in love OR falling out of love with your art.

I’m proud to say that if I never got a AAA film, game, or TV gig to score, I’d still be happy.

I love what I do, I love where I’m at, and I love the work/life balance I’ve preserved.

If you’re not there yet, that’s okay—you’re in good company.

But don’t sacrifice EVERYTHING to get there.