When Dave Grohl looked out at the sea of people in Central Park last weekend for the Global Citizen Festival, he was moved to say he did not know if his band, the Foo Fighters, would ever play a concert together again. “We don't have any shows after this,” he said. “This is where we play as many songs as we can in a short period of time, because, honestly, I don't know when we're going to do it again.” Mr. Grohl took pains to say that the Foo Fighters were not breaking up, calling the band “my life” and saying he could never give it up. But he added that members needed a break from one another. “Sometimes it's good to just … put it back in the garage for a while,” he wrote. (Arts Beat, 10/2/12)
How amazing! A hiatus. If you are a fan of the Foo Fighters, you and I are brothers or sisters in arms. I've been a big fan of the Foos for a few years now, traveling to their shows with my partner, air guitaring their music when driving and using their music as the sole fuel for my extended runs. The fact that they are taking a hiatus is sad, but I get it. Sometimes we all just need a break.
The beauty of a hiatus is that you don't quit. Think about your marriage. If you could simply walk away from each other for a while and “behave properly,” the return could be amazing. It's my thought that most people who are married actually love each other and that what kills the relationship is the often-mundane daily existence, the fact that life truly does get in the way of love.
Taking a hiatus from your spouse or partner is a great idea when things get stale, old, or you simply need a break. There has to be much trust that neither will stray for physical attention, but connecting with other humans is not only healthy, but also exciting.
Think about your company. Would a hiatus be beneficial for you? I got a call the other day from a very successful client who asked me, “What are the insurance ramifications of us just closing our business?”
After I picked myself up off the floor, I asked, “Why would you do that?” The client told the story that as of late, it's not fun anymore. The business is going through a meritless lawsuit, the lawyer needs to be paid, and the owner is just tired. Financial independence was recognized years ago and thus this could be their reality.
I offered a little advice that I, too, have had times in the past when I just wanted to disappear. Sometimes things are not as fun as others and we just need a break. But if you can stick it out, great times are ahead. I'm now thinking that if these owners were to take a brief hiatus of 6 months or so while putting a pseudo-management team in place, it might be the best thing that ever happened to their company.
I believe David Grohl to be one of the smartest men on this planet. He's not even high school educated, but has been able to traverse one of the most difficult industries, the music business, with seemingly breathless ease, while maintaining his personal code to creating great music.
I applaud Dave's decision to take a break. Maybe you should think about doing the same. It could be time for you to take stock of what you have with your marriage, your business or your life.
Want to continue reading?
Become a Free PropertyCasualty360 Digital Reader
Your access to unlimited PropertyCasualty360 content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
- Breaking insurance news and analysis, on-site and via our newsletters and custom alerts
- Weekly Insurance Speak podcast featuring exclusive interviews with industry leaders
- Educational webcasts, white papers, and ebooks from industry thought leaders
- Critical converage of the employee benefits and financial advisory markets on our other ALM sites, BenefitsPRO and ThinkAdvisor
Already have an account? Sign In Now
© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
