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ROH News
ROH News: Former ROH booker Gabe Sapolsky writes about his biggest mistake in ROH Jan 13, 2009 - 11:34:04 AM
-Former ROH booker Gabe Sapolsky recently updated his Myspace blog and wrote about his biggest mistake while working in ROH. Sapolsky admits that he spent too much time thinking about ROH and not enough time devoted friends and family.
Key excerpts:
"So for the last seven years or so (6 1/2 years of shows and the time before our first show) I have lived that way. Despite the heartfelt advice and pleads from my wife, friends, family and even people in the office, I devoted my life to ROH without coming up for air. I lived and breathed the product. Everywhere I went I looked for new influences, whether it was the rally towels at the Undeniable PPV taken from the Phillies or thinking of several chapters of the CZW feud while watching High On Fire play at the First Unitarian Church. My identity was defined by ROH. All aspects of my life were immersed with red and black. It was always there."
"Now I see that it is no way to approach the job for mental health, longevity and even optimal performance. I am not saying that I will now be a slacker and never get excited to work on anything again. In fact, just the opposite. If anything, I have learned how to be more effective. Most importantly, I have discovered the difference between enthusiasm and obsession, which leads to being possessive. I now clearly see the importance of taking a real vacation once in a while, pacing myself and sometimes putting down the booking book to read a regular book. I would not hesitate to devote myself again to a future project the way that I did to ROH. I would approach another concept with the same commitment, love and loyalty, but I would balance it. Balance is the key. One thing I can say is that now I know how to handle it ALL better. Sometimes lessons are learned a little too late."
RADICAN'S ANALYSIS
It's nice to see Sapolsky realizes that there was some balance missing from his life while he was booking ROH. I think if he had taken time off, he might have lasted longer as booker of ROH. It's simply impossible to expect anyone to book a promotion for the length of time Sapolsky booked ROH and not get burned out, although I'm certain he will never admit he was burned out.
I've said it before, but I highly recommend ROH fans read Sapolsky's blog entries on his Myspace page. He is really opening up and letting people in on certain aspects of his philosophy of booking, which he didn't do publicly while working with ROH.
You can read Sapolsky's entire blog at Myspace.com/ROHGabe.
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