AV Fat Shot: Diet for Success
By Joe Way, PhD, CTS
There’s a clarity and calm that comes when your limits are well-defined. Over the past five months, I’ve lost more than 50 pounds thanks to the fat shot (aka, Zepbound). Let me tell ya, that thing works. It’s not that the weight just magically melts away, but because it forces moderation. You have no choice, because you just can’t eat, and you don’t get hungry. But the thing is, when you can’t over-indulge, every choice matters. Suddenly, empty calories stop satisfying. Every bite needs to count for something. Priorites have to be front-and-center.
Those who have known me for more than six years will know that I previously lost 135 pounds during the pandemic lockdown. When you can’t do anything, and the busyness of life can’t get in the way, it’s easy. But when the world reopened and travel restarted, I slowly gained back 50 of it. After returning from ISE, seeing the pictures and knowing I started to have to buy bigger clothes again, I knew I needed to do something. I was at least self-aware enough to know that moderation and self-control are not my virtues. I needed outside help. Thus, the TV commericals got me. Let’s get that prescription!
As I reflect back on this journey over the past few months, I realized this principle applies equally to the AV world, and that I was also making different choices in my job and career job. We, as AV professionals, are constantly bombarded by a buffet of distractions that keep us from focusing on moving forward and make us burnout… from back-to-back meetings, technical problems, vendor relations, break fixes, project deadlines, and so on. Like kids in a candy store, it’s easy to overload our plates, hoping that somewhere in the pile we’ll find success. But much like my old eating habits, that “more is better” mentality often left me bloated, overwhelmed, and still hungry for something meaningful. Being busy doesn’t translate to being effective or successful.
Just as I needed to take the fat shot to get my weight under control, I equally needed an “AV Fat Shot” to get my professional life composed. While it’s not a literal shot, of course, but rather a mindset, an intentional recalibration of what I chose to consume. For me, it was the late nights, social drinking at events, and double and triple-dipping meetings on top of meetings. Just as I had to decide which foods provided the most nourishment, I had to determine which professional choices truly add value and satisfy me. (You may have even noticed my early Irish goodbyes at InfoComm, NWMET, and other events!) Likewise, this also applies to daily work tasks and choices… With limited budgets, staff, and time, every choice must count.
In AV, we often mistake quantity for quality. (I know I do!) We think success comes from building systems with every feature imaginable, deploying more projects, or saying “yes” to everything put in front of us. But that approach rarely delivers sustainable results. Just as you can’t out-engineer a poor user experience, you can’t out-exercise a bad diet. What works is being deliberate and purposeful, choosing the lean solutions that fit your workflow, solve real user problems, and align with your long-term strategy and goals.
As I’ve lost the weight, people would continually ask me for my secret. (And I ain’t gonna lie, it feels great to be asked!) The truth is, there wasn’t one. I didn’t have a “choice” because I couldn’t physically eat without feeling sick. I was forced to be in a better physical and mental place. Thus, my “choices” revolved around choosing better and smarter, not more. AV works the same way. You can’t just throw more tech or more gear at a problem and hope for transformation. You have to be strategic. So ask yourself: What will actually nourish this project? What will deliver long-term value? What is just “empty calories” disguised as innovation? What will actually make my career path “healthy?”
The best systems (technical and business), like the healthiest bodies, are built with balance and discipline. They are not defined by the number of components but by how well each part supports the whole. AV professionals should treat their work like I now treat my meals: thoughtfully, intentionally, and with an eye toward what truly matters.
The fat shot didn’t just help me lose weight, it gave me focus. It forced me to think carefully about every decision. That’s the lesson I want to continue to carry into my professional life. People know I am a “bleeding edge” innovator, and to be sucessful in that, I must be intentional and wise in every choice. There’s less room for error, and my people depend upon me being on my game. This comes from being in both phyical and professional shape.
When we choose wisely, when we prioritize purpose over abundance, we create solutions that aren’t just leaner but stronger. We build careers that feel effortless and sustainable for our teams… and our families who rely on us. And just like shedding those extra pounds, that shift can be transformative, not just for ourselves and our organizations, but for the industry as a whole. The fat shot helps to say no to the noise, focus on the solutions that fill you with real value, and bring true peace.
If we want to build smarter, more sustainable AV systems (and careers), we need to be more intentional with what we consume and implement. Just as I had to reevaluate my relationship with food, AV professionals and leaders need to reassess how to make decisions in an environment of overwhelming options. So, in conclusion, here are a few principles to keep your AV strategy “lean” and effective:
1. Curate your technology menu: Not every new product deserves a place on your plate. Just because something is shiny or trending doesn’t mean it fits your ecosystem. Evaluate technology based on impact, usability, and integration, not hype. More features often mean more complexity for users and support teams. Don’t overload systems with unnecessary options. Streamline interfaces and experiences so users can engage with confidence and ease.
2. Cut the mental fat: From a longevity point of view, there is no bigger killer than the feeling of being overwhelmed. That’s when burnout happens. So learn to say “no.” To be honest, that’s a hard one for me. I love new things, but success in leadership means keeping the first things first, the things that generate success for both me and my organization. Whole foods, rest, and relaxation create the positive engery to be effective when the time comes as opposed to the empty calories of pushing through and over-endulging when calendars get packed.
3. Measure what matters: Shift from measuring success by how much you deploy to how well it performs. Focus on uptime, user satisfaction, training efficiency, and long-term ROI. Good tech supports good outcomes, it shouldn’t be the outcome itself. Think beyond day-one functionality, and toward sustainability. Ask: Will this solution still serve us well a year from now? Three years? Can it scale without overburdening our team or budget? Avoid short-term fixes that turn into long-term liabilities.
4. Prioritize purpose over preference: Let go of personal preferences and focus on institutional goals. Just because a particular brand or workflow is familiar doesn’t mean it’s the best fit for you. For me, late nights, drinking it up, and going hard were easy, and in a way were the “secret to success,” but they took a toll. It made me lose focus on the actual purpose, especially as my role grew. My focus changed from being about myself to making sure my team and organization could be successful. Choosing what serves the greater mission had to take priority.
In the end, professionally, the fat shot is a commitment to better, smarter, healthier growth. One intentional decision at a time. Let’s stop feeding the bloat and start building with purpose. Our bodies and our teams will thank us for it.
Connect with Joe Way:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/josiahway
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/josiahway
