I was reading an interview conducted with Amy Poehler and the following two quotes really resonated with me. In life, in education, in parenting, in whatever situation you are in currently these two statements hold some powerful truths.
“It all goes back to improv. It’s all about flexibility, about not knowing what’s going to happen next. You have to listen and stay in the moment. You have to play with people who will support you. You have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
“I’ve failed a million times on stage, just not getting laughs. I’ve listened to notes that I knew weren’t right. I’ve pitched idea and let other people change them, knowing that it was the wrong choice. The question you have to ask yourself is: How do you want to fail? Do you want to fail in a way that feels like it respects your tastes and value system?”
You cannot predict your future. If there is something you want to achieve in life you have to go after it. You might not make it, you might miss the target, but the key is to stay in the moment and keep working. Find those people who will support you and challenge you. It is not always about hearing the positive, but the ones that call you out, make you think different, challenge your ideas, and also are there to let you know you are on the right track. You must not settle. As Amy states above you must stick to your own guns and believe passionately about what you are doing. If you are, then when things don’t go right you at least know you stood your ground with who you represent as a person.
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