We recently connected with Aaron “triple A” Adams and have shared our conversation below.
Aaron “Triple A”, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
More than most and more times that not, I am the only one in any given room that looks like me. I have a visible disability that to some extent can be hidden, until it can’t. While this disability may limit my physical capabilities to a certain point, I have found that if I allow, it could be much more harmful by prohibiting me from pursuing the joy of my work and the quality of my life, as a result of the messages it tends to send my brain on a daily basis: that I am not enough.
For much of my life, I believed this lie and allowed it to convince me to think and be small – almost invisible. What I learned over time by reviewing specific occurrences in my past, was that whenever I needed to show up and prove, I did. Every single time. Eventually, as the excellence and consistency of my work started to speak for me, I found myself in rooms that I had always dreamt of and being in those rooms helped me to learn that I could do and be whatever I decided.
So I started to decide on a regular basis that I was enough. Even beyond my work, my disability, my flaws, and even my own self-doubts, I kept showing up and in so doing, I learned that my value lies in the fact that I exist. I heard that on a podcast episode several years ago and it’s always stayed with me: “I EXIST, THEREFORE I AM VALUABLE.” This new understanding allowed me to start separating my own intrinsic value from my work, my clients and their stature, the amount of money I had or didn’t have at any moment in time and I started to see how me being exactly who I am was enough to lead me to the success I’d been after since my childhood. Eventually, I found that success and I am maintaining it now, not because of what I do or who I get to work with but because of what I believe about myself: I AM ENOUGH.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I started tour managing in 2013 after being laid off from my job on the corporate side of entertainment where I was working as an assistant at a television network in my hometown of New York City. On my very first tour as the manager, my group experienced several layers of difficulties that at one point in particular, compromised the safety of everyone traveling with us. It came very natural to me to troubleshoot, communicate, and navigate those difficulties as quickly and efficiently as possible. It didn’t make it any easier that this particular tour was overseas in a non-English speaking country.
Despite all of the obstacles, I learned that I profoundly enjoyed the thrill of working a problem, guaranteeing the deliverables for those who hired me, and caring for my team in the process. By the next tour, a 3-month run in Germany in the winter, I served as the tour manager AND the musical director simultaneously which made the job more than twice as hard. But one of my tour-mates took notice of my gift to be a servant leader against countless odds and she said to me, “this is what you’re supposed to be doing.” Her words resonated deeply within me so when I returned to the States, I started a business and began to pursue opportunities that aligned with the work I’d been doing and it’s been an intense ride since then but one that I’ve enjoyed thoroughly.
Now, when I’m not on tour, I have found thrilling work as a Talent Producer, working with celebrities and their teams; managing their experience on set and most recently as a Celebrity Talent Booker. It’s refreshed my love for the entertainment industry and those who sacrifice so much of their own personal lives for the joy, benefit, and entertainment of the general public. This year, I was fortunate to work on a project that was nominated for a Daytime Emmy which is a career highlight for me and I’m really looking forward to the new opportunities that will present themselves as I continue to develop the film and television aspect of my journey.
I’m also in the process of self-producing a master class for aspiring tour managers where I’ll be sharing my experiences with an online audience. This will be the precursor for the launching of a tour managers’ cohort where I plan to curate a more thorough learning environment with a small group of people who feel called to and passionate about this work. Exciting times ahead!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. LEARN YOURSELF. A thought leader whose wisdom I follow says, “When you know who you are, it is your responsibility to BE who you are.” If you don’t know who you are and as a result, are missing a foundation for how to function, life and industry will eat you alive and not think twice about it.
2. FIND A MENTOR. The value of having a mentor should never be underestimated. I am where I am in my career only because I have found trustworthy leaders with high morals who are doing the work I wanted to be doing and studying them, learning from them, and building with them. These key relationships or the lack thereof will make or break your career.
3. INVEST IN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. Life is hard. And the difficulties we experience take a toll on our mental health which directly affects our perceptions, our behaviors, and our relationships. Finding ways to protect and manage a healthy mental wherewithal is critical to your ability to thrive through difficulty without losing yourself.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I’m overwhelmed, I take a step away from the work and give myself time and space to regroup. I am currently in a space where, because I had not invested enough time earlier in my career prioritizing my own needs above the needs of my clients, I am learning to explore activities and practices that fill my tank. I had previously underestimated the value of serving from a full tank as opposed to serving from a tank that’s half empty or worse. To that point, I’ve created boundaries that allows me the space to recharge my batteries as needed.
For example, I’ve made a habit of taking one day per week where I do absolutely no work (I haven’t been able to engage this idea as consistently as I would like since I’m self-employed and as such, I have to work when there’s work), and just rest or do whatever else I want. I have recently rediscovered the joy of picking up a physical book and reading (currently, I’m reading “Persuader” A Jack Reacher Novel by Lee Child). Reading helps me turn off my brain from overthinking about the details of my work and allows for me to disappear into a world of fiction that I enjoy exploring.
Despite my historical hate of the gym, I have found that going is critical to my ability to emote and channel negative thoughts and feelings in a healthy way and for that reason I am finally enjoying going to the gym and working out with my personal trainer.
I have also been drawn to the sun as of late. My home gets a lot of natural sunlight and I’ve noticed over the summer just how much I enjoy the sun even when it’s hotter than my level of comfort.
In 2o23, I took my first true vacation in over 6 years and it was amazing. I went to Mexico by myself and did everything I wanted to do with no one else to consider. I’ve resolved to making sure to do everything I can to take more vacations as time and resources allow. Never underestimate a change of scenery, even if it’s a road trip to a nearby destination that’s not your home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://accessiblellc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alwaysaarona/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronaadams/
Image Credits
Brooks Brantly Photography (@brooksbrantlyphotography)
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