Art

Those familiar with Strunk and White will recognize this post's title. If you don't know Elements of Style, I'm not going to explain it, but I recommend it. I started compiling phrases with needless words. I'm sharing it here. I hope to make it longer. Worst case scenario: Just "worst case." "Scenario" is just a big word that adds no meaning. Draw a line in the sand: Just "draw a line." Where you draw it doesn't matter. The truth is that and It's a fact that: In years of looking, I have yet to find a sentence with these phrases where removing them changed the meaning. "The truth is that the sky is blue" means "The sky is blue." Variations include "The fact that it's…

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. Here's the latest: https://youtu.be/jihlcGsH4JI

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 skill of identifying thoughts and feelings that I protect but that others feel too and to express them. I have a long way to go, but it's coming and see it as a core skill in the public speaking I plan. I categorize these performances under "Art" because I consider stand-up a performance art in…

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 sentiments that we know but don't express Allow myself to be vulnerable with an audience Learn to read a room And so on Comedians find ways to say what others can't, which I consider important. I intend to develop that skill too. I think many people dream of at least trying an open-mic performance once…

Longtime friends and close readers of my bio know that before focusing on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the environment, I created art, including Big public pieces in Manhattan on display for years Solo gallery shows nationwide Museum pieces Teaching courses at top schools for art and design Awards Coverage in major media Working with celebrities VIP treatment at New York's top clubs and more. Here's my art resume. That list tempts me to say they were good times, but it took a lot of work---as much emotional as physical---as well as time, money, and relationships. Still, I loved the results. Besides the material things I listed above, I learned a lot about beauty, truth, vulnerability, the art world, fame, resilience, judgment, criticism, and other aspects of…