19 Aug The Pull of Applause: Managing Old Spaces While Building New Ones

This year’s Stellar Awards felt different for me.
Not because of the lights, the cameras, or the applause.
But because of the role I played.

I wasn’t there in my usual business and executive capacity.
I was there on the production side—focused on creative execution.

But here’s the thing: that didn’t stop people from recognizing me for the deals I’ve done and the influence I’ve had in the industry.
Even in a different role, my history in this space was just as prevalent. The same nods, the same respect, the same acknowledgments found me backstage as if I were still in the boardroom.

And honestly? It felt good.

There’s a rush that comes with recognition.
There’s a deep satisfaction in being among people you’ve worked beside for 20+ years.
And there’s a respect that only comes when your work has made an imprint that doesn’t fade.

That’s the tension I want to talk about.

When you’ve been “removed” (and I use that word loosely) from an industry or environment to grow in another, there’s always the temptation to run back. The lights, the claps, the accolades—they can pull you toward what you once were.

But my current assignment is in business.
My focus is building something different.
And yet, I had to remind myself: it’s possible to enjoy the energy of where you were without losing sight of where you’re going.

Here are three ways to manage that pull:

1. Acknowledge the Rush Without Chasing It

The applause, recognition, and familiar faces feel good—don’t deny that. But don’t confuse temporary validation with long-term assignment. Recognize it for what it is: fuel, not direction.

2. Consolidate Energy Into Your Present

Instead of letting nostalgia distract you, gather that energy and push it into your current focus. Take the creativity, the momentum, the sense of respect, and let it feed what you’re building today.

3. Let the Past Push You Into the Future

Your history is not your finish line. It’s your launch pad. The pull of who you were should never outweigh the momentum of who you’re becoming. Let the applause remind you that you’ve done it before—and that you can do it again, at a bigger level.

Enjoy the lights, but don’t mistake them for your destination.
Celebrate the applause, but don’t live for it.
Let the pull of who you were push you toward the momentum of who you will be.