The Power of Silence
Recently, when I was sick, I took some time to catch up on reading and audiobooks. But something happened during that time that made me look at silence differently.
Growing up, I always wanted to live in the big city. I wanted the high-rise, the energy, the movement, the people, the traffic, the restaurants, the lights, and the hustle. I thought that was the dream. But a few weeks ago, when I realized I was not feeling well, I was about 260 miles away from home. I could have flown back, but that would have been expensive, and honestly, it probably would not have been fair to the 255 people who may have been sitting on that plane with me.
So I drove.
On the way home, I did something I do not think I had ever done before. I drove in complete silence. No radio. No audiobook. No podcast. No phone call. Nothing.
The funny part is, I did not even realize I was doing it at first. About an hour and a half into the drive, I noticed that I had not turned on any sound at all. Keep in mind, I work in radio. I oversee stations, and on that drive, I could have listened to several of them. But I did not. My mind needed quiet more than it needed content.
That drive reminded me of something a limousine driver told my wife and me back in October of 2025. We had landed in Los Angeles for a business trip, and instead of renting a car, I wanted to give my wife a first-class experience. I ordered a limousine SUV. She was amazed, but she also noticed that the Los Angeles she saw on television was not exactly the Los Angeles she experienced.
The driver had transported celebrities, A-listers, and wealthy clients. I asked him what they were like when they got into the vehicle. His answer surprised me. He said many of them did not want music. They wanted complete silence. Especially the wealthy clients who were not celebrities. They wanted time to think.
That stuck with me.
I am currently doing interviews for a book I am writing, and I keep hearing a similar theme from successful people. They value quiet. They do not always need background noise. They do not need every moment filled with music, television, scrolling, or conversation. They need space to think.
There is real-world research that supports the importance of paying attention to noise. The CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that about 11% of all workers have hearing difficulty, and about 8% have tinnitus. NIOSH also recommends limiting workplace noise exposure to 85 decibels averaged over an eight-hour workday. Noise is not just a preference issue. It can affect health, focus, stress, and quality of life.
My wife is also a licensed Realtor, and through her work, I have noticed something about many high-end clients. They often do not want to live too close to anyone. They are not looking for noise. They are not trying to hear everything happening next door. They want peace, privacy, and quiet.
Recently, one of my neighbors had a party. My subdivision is usually very quiet, and as I write this at 10:00 at night, I realize how much more I get done when things are peaceful.
I see the same thing at work. In my Baton Rouge and Lafayette offices, it is extremely quiet between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. That is when I get a lot done. My New Orleans office is rarely quiet, but when I go in early at Delgado, around 5:00 in the morning, I can get an amazing amount accomplished in a short period of time.
I am not looking to move anytime soon, but when I do, I want at least half an acre of space between me and my neighbors. I no longer need the constant hustle and bustle of the city. I enjoy peace now.
In our house, we have a room we call the reading room. No televisions. Just comfortable chairs, plenty of light, and a smart speaker in case we want smooth jazz or relaxing music while we read. That room has become one of my favorite places.
So just for fun, try riding in your car with no sound. No music. No podcast. No audiobook. Just you and your thoughts. You may be surprised at what comes up when the world gets quiet.
And when you are ready for sound again, especially if you are rolling along I-10, any Cumulus station will do a lot to change your mood.
You know I had to get that plug in there, right?
Thanks