Once I had the pleasure of spending some time on an active movie set. One of the actors (who everyone knows and has seen in something) and I hit it off and we’re hanging out between takes. One day we were lounging around video village and I asked him, “So what do you do for fun? Like, I mean isn’t it hard to live a life in the public eye? How do you relax?” He answered me: “Honestly I just stay at home and play Xbox. It’s easier that way.” I felt the pain and loneliness in his voice. Being in the public eye has both its advantages as well as many disadvantages most will never understand. Some of the most sad and lonely people I have ever met in life are those who have been incredibly successful. It can be absolutely draining. Everyone wanting a piece of you. To advance themselves or their profile in some way. To ride your coat tails. To extract what they can by being in your sphere. People will both love and hate you. Or at least who they believe you to be. Without ever taking the time to get to know you as a person. Or worse, remembering that you are a person. I find the entitlement is the worst part. The demand for your personal, individual attention just because they are a fan or because they have bought a product you made or supported a cause you support. And everyone wants something from you while the vast majority never even take pause to think about what they can contribute to you. A world of takers. Void of givers. So as you sit here in your fantasy world dreaming about being an “influencer” or “successful” just remember: there exists a deep cost to your soul no one ever warns you about ahead of time. Is it worth it? No - not really. But once you open Pandora’s Box there really is never any way to get back to “normal” again. 🫡 From the depths — The White Whale 🐋