A performer describes getting a standing ovation then feeling completely empty. He talks about the hidden exhaustion behind success and how high-visibility people rarely ask for help. He asks listeners to look past the applause and actually ask successful people how they're doing.
I've been on stage and walked off with a standing ovation, and an hour later felt completely empty, drained, and wondering what was going on. It's really interesting. You run for week after week, being on stage, doing these things, supporting people, doing everything you can to make them feel amazing. And what they see on the outside is this incredible person, uber successful, everything's good in their lives, and everything else is going great. But yet when you're off stage, sometimes you just need someone to say to you, is everything okay? How are you doing? Because at the end of the day, you're so busy out there helping other people. Sometimes you're the one that needs help, and so many people don't ask for it. So next time you see somebody that's on stage, maybe you want to ask them. Maybe they need a little bit of help. Maybe you can ask them how they feeling, what's working for them, and maybe how they need to be supported.
