Keep Your Eyes on the Goal: Every Journey Starts Somewhere
We all have goals in life—or at least, we should. Whether your dream is to become president, build a business, or master a technical skill, the key is to never lose sight of that goal. Stay focused. The path might not always be clear, and progress may be slow at times, but if you keep your eyes on the goal, you’ll find a way to move forward.
One of the best ways to accelerate your journey is to find a mentor—someone who’s already been where you’re trying to go. Learn from them. Serve them if you must. Bring them a coffee, carry a case, ask questions. The point isn’t about what you do—it’s about staying close, watching, and absorbing. One of my favorite images that illustrates this principle is a 2005 photo of Barack Obama holding the jacket of former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Just a few years later, Obama became president himself. Regardless of your political views, the takeaway is simple: he kept his eyes on the goal, stayed in the right spaces, and eventually reached it.
Keep Your Eyes on the Goal: Curiosity and Humility Open Doors
When I was a teenager, my father—who was a preacher—would often take me along to the churches and conferences where he was invited to speak. I wasn’t interested in preaching, though. Instead, I found myself gravitating toward the sound booth. Every time we went somewhere new, I would quietly make my way behind the sound engineer. I would observe, ask questions when appropriate, and soak in whatever knowledge I could get.
Back then, I didn’t have access to online courses or tutorials—just real people doing real work. Most of the time, the engineers were kind enough to explain things to me. They’d answer my questions, show me what different knobs and cables did, and occasionally let me help. That experience laid the foundation for everything I would later do.
Eventually, my father started working with an organization called Christ For All Nations, and we lived on their property. One day, I asked for a job in their sound department. I started with the most basic tasks—cleaning cables, fixing broken ones, organizing gear. Soon I found myself learning how to build amplifiers, all thanks to the guidance of a man named Roger West. He didn’t just hand me the answers—he gave me the tools and space to learn.
Then came the pivotal moment. During a stadium event, Roger turned to me and said, “You want to be a sound guy? Mix!” I was terrified—but I did it. I stepped up to the challenge, and I never looked back.
Mentorship and Consistency: Keep Your Eyes on the Goal
Around the same time, I met George Hattingh, a man who would become my mentor and shape much of who I am as a professional today. George wasn’t just a technician—he was a teacher. He taught with excellence, precision, and intention. Many of the installation and technical principles I follow today come from what I learned during those years under his mentorship.
It took nearly 20 years from my “starting point” before I found myself behind the sound desk at a massive event, mixing for a crowd of over 250,000 people. That didn’t happen overnight. It happened through a series of small steps, a lot of learning, and the consistent decision to keep my eyes on the goal.
Your Dream Is Yours to Chase
If your goal is to become a sound engineer—or anything else, for that matter—surround yourself with people who are doing it. Offer to help. Clean up after events. Roll cables. Do the things no one else wants to do. It’s in those small acts of service that doors often begin to open. Ask questions, watch closely, and never stop learning.
Not everyone will believe in your dream. Some may even criticize you when you reach your goal. But remember this: no one can stop your dream but you. Keep going. Stay humble, stay curious, and most of all—keep your eyes on the goal.