We had the good fortune of connecting with Austin Sepulveda and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Austin, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?

Well, that is a very layered and complex question. I feel like I don’t really keep traditional hours and even the definition of what is work can sometimes be a bit vague. Like watching a film or TV show is I guess work, but I would never consider it that. I think “balance” is something unique to every person and their individual situation and you can’t really model yours after other people. For me, especially if I am really into a project, the term work goes away. I know that sounds cliché, but if I am up until 1 AM talking about a project with a writer, I don’t leave that phone call or meeting saying to myself – “Wow I really need to cut back on these hours and find more balance.” I enjoy burning the candle at both ends. And at times there is a runner’s high that takes effect and I feel like I run out of hours in the day well before I run out of energy.

I am trying to get better about taking short breaks to play with my dog or to have a conversation with my fiancée or to call my parents. The 20-30 minute respites allow me to work late into the night. I feel like my favorite time to work is between 1:30 – 2:30 in the morning. I’m normally just waking up from a 2 hour nap and have a lot of energy. In this hour I catch up on emails or try to get through what’s left of a script.

Golf has become a renewed hobby and a place to recharge my batteries. A good week is one with at least two days of golf. That and travel which I am looking forward to doing now that the world is slowly returning to normal. So yea, to me balance is ever evolving and really changes day to day. If I’m worn down, the project is the problem not the work or the balance.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I feel like my absolutely favorite thing to bring people to is Lost Spirits. If you haven’t been you are missing out greatly. It is the closest thing to visiting Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory except it is rum and whiskey….so like way better. I really hope they survived the pandemic. But yea – this is a must do.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to dedicate this shoutout to the dozens of volunteers and donors who last year during the most uncertain of times gave their money and more importantly their time to help us in our efforts to create face shields for frontline workers. All in all we managed to get 20,000 face shields into the hands of people that desperately needed them.

Website: www.watchmakers-ent.com

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