I never actually fell out of love with entertaining, only the travel part. I was curious what it felt like to live a structured lifestyle. There were some great things about it.

What did you find to be the best and worst aspect in having a regular 9-5 job instead of working the hours that you do when you are performing?

I think the best word to describe it would be "consistency." I loved the feeling of my time being balanced and structured. The hard part was working with people who didn't understand (after it was all said and done), why their son or daughter was denied admission to B.Y.U.

Structure, time and financial management, diet and exercise, accountability, security, responsibility just to throw you a few ideas...what is the one thing you learned from working in the 9-5 world that you've carried over into your performing world?

Control of your time. It made me very aware of planning and working on objectives to accomplish goals.

What types of 9-5 jobs did you do when you left performing?

Only the school relations/admissions counselor position at B.Y.U. 

You have mentioned before that your mother helped you a lot through a period of "unfulfilled expectations." Did your decision to stop performing for awhile have anything to do with your unfulfilled expectations?

Very much so! She has always encouraged me to get my degree. However, she loved the fact that I was working at B.Y.U. and attending school at the same time.

Do you feel that the time you took away from doing what you do BEST gave you a deeper understanding of your gifts and talents?

Thank you.  I did develop a sense of appreciation for the things I took for granted.

Did your training on stage give you an edge on always having to smile at the customers?

It really helped in the school relations side of the job. However, the counseling part was a real stretch! But, I learned some really cool things about listening to, and helping others.

Oh yeah, in fact they already have!

Was it difficult waking up and doing the same job everyday?

I loved the lifestyle, but the job itself started getting to me after a couple of years.

I am also so glad you returned to performing, I think you were truly blessed with such a gift, was your decision a spiritual one?

Thanks for that!  Yes, it was. I will never forget when Jimmy called to tell me about Branson. That was my back-in, in show-biz, and I knew it was right!

It must have been a very difficult decision for you, so how did you get your answers to make that decision, and does it still affect your life in a way right now, with Kandilyn and your boys? Don't they ever wish or ask if you would get a 9/5 job, or do they just want you to be happy with anything you do?

I think we all have difficult decisions to make, however, we believe that you can be happy anywhere, as long as you have a good purpose or reason, for being there.

How did it feel not being surrounded with your brothers and traveling on the road, and all the things that came with it?  Did it seem strange to be out there doing something else on your own?

It really did at first. I think I developed a group identity growing up (that was part of the reason I tried to do it alone).  As time went on I felt more confident, and assured that I could do it without the bros, but I really missed being with them after awhile on me own and soloing. ( Notice "me own"? I love the British accent!) 

Could you please share with us what factors made you leave performing, and then what brought you back?

I think I felt a need to experience a little self reliance, and check out my curiosity to see if I could do it. 

Did you enjoy your job at BYU?

Some of it was great! Some of it was aggravating.

What did you miss the most about not been on the road anymore?

I missed (believe it or not) the fans, and performing with my (me) family. Plus, I was comfortable traveling and being in that environment.

How long were you out of performing? What did you do, and did you find if fulfilling?

I was out for about four years. I like to call it a sabbatical. It was like taking four years to go to college, but I was working full-time, and going to school part-time. By the way, I only have a few classes left, then finally----my goal. School by homestudy is harder than it sounds!

Just wondered if you did any unofficial performing when you quit to do your 9 - 5 job?

Twice! Once when the bros. came to the Utah State Fair, and then again, to do a barbershop song for the national convention in Salt Lake.

How did you find having a regular pay check coming in on a monthly basis and having to negotiate your salary increases subject to annual monitoring reviews?

Tough! Ha!  But, I learned some interesting things. It was from those experiences that I developed my motto: "plan your life with vision, budget your money with prudence, and structure your time with balance."

While you were out of the public eye during that time, do you recall wondering if your fans would forget about you, especially after all the craziness of the 70s? Did you look back on the 70s and all you experienced and view it all in a different light since you were away from it all? And then - did you ever imagine coming back to performing and having things turn out the way they have?

I have always been thankful to the fans for making the 70s an amazing experience for me, and yes, I did view it all in a different light. I think I developed a much greater appreciation for that time, and all those who made it happen.

When you left performing for awhile, what were some of your happiest memories from that period of time in your life? Did you learn anything new about yourself during this time? What made you decide to return back to performing?

I had many happy memories both with my family and in performing. Even the hard times became good. In fact, because of those memories, I returned to the entertainment world.

Did you approach BYU for a position at the university or did they approach you with a job opportunity?

I was on a date, and I felt this great big squeeze on my arm. I turned around, wondering who in the heck did that. It was my old friend, Robert Spencer (he had been the Dean of the university in admissions and records for many years). He looked at me (and my date), and without a smile or a hello said, "I  have been looking for your for two months (that was just about the amount of time I had off from show-biz). Where have you been?" I told him that I was going to try something different for a little while. Then he said, I have the perfect job for you! The next day, he told me. I laughed at first, but there wasn't a smirk on his face. I gave it a few days, then I accepted the challenge. He then had me sit in front of all his staff, and wanted them to ask questions.  They started to grill me, asking things like: why do you think the dean wanted me for the job (which by the way, had 120 applicants), and why would I take a position that called for at least a masters degree, and 10 years experience? I told them that I wasn't completely sure, but it might be possible I could bring something new and different to the organization. I don't think I came off too well, but they all accepted me.  To this day, some of the best friends I have are those who were most skeptical of me then.