"Getting back to the point, a guy like Jerry, he deals with the business, and he doesn't see it as being evil or ugly, it's what you have to do, and I mean I know there's some really ugly parts to it and parts which drive me nuts, but not in the same way as music business"

Trevor Rabin’s reflection explores the nature of working within the business side of the music industry and how individuals develop different attitudes towards the realities of that world. When he refers to “a guy like Jerry,” Rabin is describing someone pragmatic, perhaps a manager or industry insider, who accepts the functions and necessities of business dealings as simply part of the job, without attaching strong negative judgments to them. For Jerry, negotiating, making deals, and handling the sometimes harsh practicalities are not “evil or ugly.” Rather, business is approached as a set of rules and obligations that are necessary for success. This detachment allows him to make decisions efficiently, without the burden of moral conflict that others may feel.

Rabin, however, acknowledges his own discomfort and frustration with certain aspects of the business. Despite accepting that some unsavory elements are unavoidable, he hints at a distinction in the intensity or nature of those frustrations: it’s not the business itself that troubles him most deeply, but rather the specific traits of the music business. He admits, “I know there’s some really ugly parts to it and parts which drive me nuts, but not in the same way as music business", suggesting that the music industry introduces unique complications, a blend of art, personality, commerce, and emotion, that can lead to even greater distress than other business environments.

He recognizes the dichotomy between the functional necessity of the business side and the emotional, sometimes idealistic, world of music. For Rabin, navigating these spaces means accepting unpleasant aspects without growing cynical or disillusioned, yet still acknowledging that personal values and emotional responses play a significant role. He respects those who can remain unsentimental and practical, but his own reaction is more complex, shaped by the unique pressures of an industry where creativity and commerce are constantly in tension.