I know.
Jill Bernard’s Cute Little Book of Improv has a memorable idea: that we all walk around with imaginary placards that say ‘Perpetual self-doubt.’ This was true for me for a long time and cost me in quite a few opportunities not taken, relationships that didn’t grow and roads left untravelled. Doubt has it’s value of […]
Momentum matters most
Improv connects ideas and feelings to create momentum. Momentum is something we can choose to increase or decrease, and we have skills and tools for that. Yes helps to create momentum. It can take some effort to keep on connecting ideas and feelings with ‘Yes, and’ x 100 but the payoff is exponential. You get […]
Improvising in flow
Improvisation is about flow. What is all this about flow then? According to flow researcher and author Stephen Kotler: “Flow is a state of rapt attention where action and awareness merge. Time speeds up or slows down. You feel and perform your best. You are present in the moment without reference to a separate sense […]
What’s in your backpack?
George Schaller is an American conservationist and writer and is recognised as one of the world’s preeminent field biologists. In 1959 he travelled to Central Africa to study and live with the mountain gorillas and his groundbreaking research was continued by Dian Fossey who wrote Gorillas In The Mist. George was renowned for being able […]
Bring a brick
A few years ago in an improv class I was asked if there was a specific skill I wanted to work on. I said I wanted to get move involved, to be more committed as I had a lifelong habit of holding back and editing myself. The teacher was Jules Munns and he looked me […]
Go figure
Spot the connection… ‘Cause finally the tables are starting to turn,Talkin’ about a revolution.Tracey Chapman Do what you canwith what you have.Nothing more is needed.Rick Rubin Adaptability, not efficiency, must become our new central competency.Stanley McChrystal Eye-opening conversations on participatory, prosperous and peaceful societies that nurture rather than degrade the environment.Nafeez Ahmed The last one […]
How to do it
In the classic Monty Python sketch called ‘How To Do It’ three enthusiastic TV presenters sit on a sofa and dish out simplistic solutions to complex challenges. Here’s a bit: Alan: This week on ‘How to Do It.’ here’s Jackie to tell you how to rid the world of all known diseases. Jackie: Hello Alan. […]