Be Vulnerable

For the past 3 days I've been participating in a rigorous training program for a summer teaching position. We go from about 8:00 am - 5:00 pm and are required to watch several instructional videos before and after class.

This afternoon the organization's president paid us a surprise visit via an online webinar. He shared his background, his history with the company, and how he came to work for the organization. 

He also shared personal stories and aspects of his life, which I especially appreciated since he'd never met any of us in person. His candor humanized him and through his sense of vulnerability he build trust and cultivated a sense of community. 

There is great value in being vulnerable. It brings people together, while reminding each of us we aren't alone.

Community Versus Competition

Nothing gave me greater joy as a young acting student then being the first to sign my name on the check-in sheet. I'd tip toe past a sleeping guard and make my way down to the theater hours before class started. I was driven by the need to be the hardest working actor in my class. Unfortunately, it came at a great cost.

I pushed away people who cared about me and often sought competition over community. It wasn't until I grew older that I realized my time could have been used far more productively by supporting my classmates.

This industry is already so challenging we need to work on being less fragmented by focusing on our shared bond as storytellers and creators. Your success does not need to come at the expense of someone else's failure. There is enough of the pie for all of us. And when we lift one another up we ultimately do the same for our self.

Be good. Do good. Support one another.