The Heart of the Channel

Things always get a little awkward during maturity, and anyone who has teenagers can likely relate. If not, just remember back to those days during your middle school years when everything was changing on you. You began to feel differently and likely a bit confused with all the emotions you were starting to feel.

Like those awkward teen years, our channel is also maturing. Things are changing. But what concerns me most is, will the channel still feel the way it does after we go through this process? 

In my recent experience with the tragic loss of my daughter, I saw the heart of the channel. It didn’t matter if we were friends, competitors, or co-workers, the amount of love, care, friendship, and concern that poured out from our community was breathtaking. I was overwhelmed and humbled with gratitude for the community. As I talk with others who have experienced similar tragedies, they will also echo a similar sentiment. This industry lifts people up and they are down. We rally when a fellow channel person goes through health issues. We take those who are new and bring them into the fold. We coach, train, and help the growth of those who we know. The people are what makes this industry a great place. 

So, just like teenagers full of emotions and ambition to get out into the world and do something great, how do we keep these core values? The values that we built this community on and that have banded us together for these several decades. How do we keep these values and the important community feel as big money begins to flood into our space? How do we stick together and build a sanctuary of love and kindness when the almighty dollar seems to be more important now than ever before?