Every job has its downside. For example, being in a band; the

The words of Dave Lombardo — “Every job has its downside. For example, being in a band; the travel part of it — getting picked up from your house in a car, going to the airport, getting on a plane, going from the airplane to a van, then going from the van to a hotel.” — echo with a timeless truth: that no path, no matter how glorious, is without its burdens. Even those who live in the realm of music, surrounded by lights, applause, and the power of art, must endure the weariness of routine and the weight of endless movement. His words unveil the reality that beneath every triumph lies toil, and within every dream lies sacrifice.

For many, the life of a band appears dazzling: the stage, the energy of the crowd, the creation of music that stirs the soul. Yet Lombardo reminds us that such a life is also chained to a cycle of travel, of constant uprooting, of long hours spent not in song but in transit — car to airport, plane to van, van to hotel. These are the hidden costs of a dream pursued, the shadows that accompany even the brightest flame. He teaches that glory must always be balanced by grit, and that no man should seek the crown without being willing to bear its weight.

The ancients themselves knew this truth. Consider the Roman legions who marched across the known world. To the outsider, they were conquerors, draped in valor, feared by nations. Yet behind the triumph lay endless hardship: the blisters of the march, the hunger of the campaign, the monotony of setting up camp day after day. Victory was the summit, but the road was carved in dust and exhaustion. So too with the musician’s life: the concert is the triumph, but the journey to that moment is paved with weariness.

History also gives us the example of explorers such as Magellan. His voyage to circumnavigate the globe was a tale of wonder, discovery, and eternal glory. But for his men, the journey was filled with scurvy, storms, and loss. They bore the downside so that the world might expand its horizon. Their suffering was hidden beneath the greatness of the achievement, just as Lombardo’s endless journeys remain unseen behind the brilliance of his music. The lesson is the same: greatness does not exist apart from hardship, but is entwined with it.

Yet there is nobility in this reality. For the true measure of a man’s devotion is revealed not in how he enjoys the pleasures of his calling, but in how he endures its burdens. To remain faithful to one’s art while bearing the constant fatigue of travel is to prove that one’s love for the work is greater than the cost. The downside of any calling becomes a crucible, testing the spirit, refining the will, and proving the worth of the dream.

The lesson for the generations is clear: do not be deceived by appearances. Every path you choose will bring both joy and burden. Do not abandon your calling when you encounter its downside, but embrace it as part of the whole. The farmer must till the soil before reaping the harvest; the warrior must march before tasting victory; the artist must endure the van, the airport, the hotel before standing beneath the lights. Such is the rhythm of life, and to accept it is to live with strength.

In practice, let each listener prepare their heart for both halves of their journey. When you dream, remember that the dream will demand of you long days, monotonous tasks, and sacrifices unseen. Do not despise them, but let them become stepping stones toward your triumph. Approach every job with humility, understanding that its greatness and its weariness are inseparable. For when you accept the burden, you are free to fully savor the joy.

Thus Dave Lombardo’s words rise as a reminder: every crown is set with thorns, every victory bears its toil, and every song is carried on the weary wings of travel. To embrace both is to live fully, to walk the path not of illusion, but of truth. And in that truth, the soul becomes steadfast, able to endure the downside so that it may rejoice in the light.