Give thanks for white space too

The Daily Herald


A reader sent me an Albany (NY) Times Union article about Cablevision Systems Corp. CEO Jim Dolan. The article is not about Jim Dolan's day job. He heads up the communications conglomerate that owns Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks, Rangers and Radio City Music Hall.

Last year, according to the company's annual report, he earned $6.4 million in salary and stock. He has all the usual perks: limos, helicopter, jet, lavish expense account -- the works.

The article was about Jim and his blues band, JD & The Straight Shot. They were appearing at an Albany club. The writer of the article asked Jim why he was doing this. "You know what's great and what I really love? I'm 50 years old and I can do this. It's just me singing. If there are only 10 people out there, I'm still going to be singing, still be having a good time. I'm doing it because it's part of me. I've been playing guitar and singing since I was 17. In my life, I need more than just my job and my family. I need to be able to reflect another side of myself. There's an artistic side that I don't get to use much."

Asked if he's really the same guy when performing on stage, CEO Dolan said, "I'm happy. I leave everything else behind. I'm wrestling for balance in my life. What it really is is that I'm letting people in, and I'm letting myself out."