Billy Joel in Sag Harbor, N.Y., with his pug, Sabrina.
On Sunday, I read a New York Times interview with musician Billy Joel. It’s been a decade since he’s recorded an album. He’s continued to write music, as well as mentor young musicians and perform some high-profile concerts, just in a different way, for a different audience, and in a different genre than the music that made him famous. He redefined his music on his terms. He reinvented his work based upon his own evolving tastes and what makes him happy. He chose his path forward rather than feeling trapped by his past.
This interview couldn’t have arrived at a better time for me. I met up with my friend, Marita, on Friday and we had a long talk about the role of work in our lives and how our careers might take shape going forward. Wise, thoughtful, and kind friends like Marita are my rock in this process as I’ll be spending most of the summer re-thinking and re-working my career. Billy Joel’s example serves as inspiration and proof that if we allow our hearts to guide our career paths, we will find our way toward authentic work.
Christa Avampato 