Neanderpäul

Sitting in with the boys at 9p Eastern

Under The Bus Network - EPISODE: 196 - [6/10/2026] Under The Bus Network airs Wednesdays @ 9pm ET / 6pm PT SUBS...

A piece I wrote for …

You’ve heard the phrase, “everything happens for a reason,” right?

I had a moment last Thursday that I felt necessitated scrapping this entire column, and beginning again. As I’m between jobs, and dealing with all of the stressors that come with it, my friend and colleague, Ken Anthony invited me out for a good meal. We headed to a local pizza place that Ken enjoys.

As we’re entering the restaurant, I was approached by a man, who clearly had something on his mind. He came up to us, and said, “I just wanna say, before you get seated, I’ve been a big fan for a long time…going back to when the Towers came down. You kept me and my family smiling during a really tough time, and I wanted to thank you.” Taken aback, I could only eek out a “Thank You…I really appreciate that.” It was one of those moments that the decision-makers rarely see. Something organic, that drives home a reminder of the real reason why we do this.

I’m going to get a little personal here. The past few months have taken a significant toll on my mental health, and this moment of gratitude was extremely emotional for me. To have a complete stranger express their heartfelt feelings - out of the blue, was both humbling, and healing. His memory of whatever it was that I did, *twenty five years ago,* resonated enough for him to share. It affects me as I type this. I’m thankful he chose to do so.

We put *so* much of ourselves into this business. Sometimes, without even knowing it. The hours are longer than we acknowledge. The workload, sneaky-heavy. The emotional toll, higher than we realize. The longer you’ve been in, the more of yourself becomes associated with this business. And when those gaps in employment come, the effects can be devastating. It’s beyond important to remind yourself that this business doesn’t define you. Although, easier said than done.

So much of the news around us is negative. Cutbacks, layoffs, restructuring. The tension within the industry is palpable. We feel it to one degree or another, every day. Give yourself a break. Take a moment to detach. Remind yourself that the work-life balance shouldn’t always be in that order.

That moment, provided by someone I’ll likely never see again, was a reminder; no matter how unappreciated you may feel at certain times, what we do, matters. To complete strangers. To our employers. To our clients. But mostly…to ourselves. This business becomes part of us. We do it for the passion. We do it for the love of the game. We do it, because we live it. Whether we know it, or not. It’s within us. And when it goes away, a little piece of ourselves goes with it. Never let that piece grow too large. When you’re between gigs, it’s a daily struggle.

There’s another phrase I’m very fond of; “Those who know how, will always work for those who know why.” Whatever your reason, never forget your why. Never let the minutiae obscure the mission. And never lose sight of yourself in the process. We love this business. Sometimes, it doesn’t love us back. During those times, maybe recall an interaction you had in your professional life that reminds you of your why. Embrace it. Use it as solace. Let it fuel your desire to get after it tomorrow.

Everything happens for a reason.

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Best,

Paul Marshall
Neanderpaul.com
[email protected]
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