I’m still busy catching up after over a month on the road, but find public performance for genuine expression so valuable I can’t help using the open-mic opportunity to practice. It’s still gut-wrenching to perform in front of an audience, but that’s a reason to practice, not to avoid it. I said after my sixth performance I wouldn’t keep posting, but the accountability of knowing I’ll post publicly motivates me.[…] Keep reading →

At this past weekend’s performance a couple developments. The first is that I no longer feel like a beginner. I’m far from mastery, but I’m not sweating just to go on stage, nor struggling to work up the nerve to write, nor wondering what to work on. You learn fast when everything is new, though it’s hardest then. I’m still at the stage of learning fast since I have so[…] Keep reading →

Several people from the audience said they liked the second part of this performance, saying it spoke to them, or something like that. I should be writing my next book, with the deadline for my first draft approaching, but I had the idea for these bits and couldn’t resist trying them. It’s funny that my first attempt, only a few months ago, took me months to prepare. This one I[…] Keep reading →

I’m happy with my latest performance despite the flub in the last seconds. My stage delivery didn’t get as many laughs as the times I practiced the routine with friends, which I attribute to inexperience and needing to practice more, but I’m forgiving about the result. Of the million things to learn to master it I can only learn a few at a time. I’m discovering value from developing the[…] Keep reading →

I lost my place for a few seconds, but otherwise, I think, improving. While I hope to improve my skills at making people laugh, my long-term goal is to develop more social and emotional skills of leadership, as I teach and coach my students and clients. I live and practice what I teach and coach. I’m doing this to Face and overcome anxiety Empathize with people Find and express universal[…] Keep reading →

Following My first public open mike stand-up comedy performance, I went back for a second try, this time trying for more than one long joke. I have a long way to go to get good at it, but I’m starting to see what goes into a performance. It doesn’t come naturally, but expect practice will help. I’m not sure I want to put the resources into it, but the appeal[…] Keep reading →

I didn’t always love performing. Before writing a sketch and performing in the sketch comedy class play in business school, called Follies, I avoided the stage. That performance experience became one of the most amazing, transformative experiences of my life. It opened me up to emotional awareness and expression beyond any expectations. I knew I would perform more, despite the anxiety the mere thought of it created. Taking Meisner technique[…] Keep reading →

I finished this week: Carmaggeddon, by Daniel Knowles: I bought a cheap used car after getting my first license at 15 years old. The experience led me to never own a car again. I knew that choice would force many later life decisions The summer after high school, when I was 16, a friend and I rode our bikes from Philadelphia to Bar Harbor, Maine and back. A couple years[…] Keep reading →

I was invited to speak on sustainability leadership on Matt Matern’s radio show A Climate Change. I think he was surprised at some of my approaches or found them not like other guests, in that I focus less on technology and legislation in favor of culture and people. Click to listen to the episode Each week we talk about the environment and what we can do to make a difference[…] Keep reading →