You're Not Going to Be Good at Everything and That's Okay -- The Value of Emotional Intelligence

I once asked by an exasperated supervisor if I was “sent by the enemy,” when I failed to grasp the system in place at the homeless shelter he ran. Being moved by rousing political speeches and fascinated by foreign policy didn’t mean I was cut out for politics. And you can bet the cost of a ballpark beer I’ll never hit a baseball out Yankee Stadium. Today I’m okay with those realities, while just a few years ago any talk of limitations would have simply compelled me to work harder. 

Now, I choose to focus on my strengths, while learning the skills needed to grow both personally and professionally. As a result, my efforts have become more deliberate and focused. I've learned to leverage my strengths while becoming a shrewd judge of my shortcomings. Both have proved indispensable as I try to grow my speaking and writing practice. 

Build on Who You Are

Tony-nominated director Diane Paulus once said to our class: "The more you build who you are as a person - how you educate yourself, how you identify, what interests you in the world, the issues you care about - all of those things will make you a better performer."

To my 20-something year self it was difficult to fully grasp the scope of her message. But as the years went on, and I began living a life and not just a career, her words began to resonate.

The characters I wanted to portray on stage were living breathing beings who cared deeply about human rights, politics, education, children, and poverty. They were three-dimensional people who weren't actors but citizens representing an idea, a possibility, a unique voice.

I discovered the only way I could even begin to understand the complicated nuances of their humanity was to start exploring my own. This required me to get up and out into the world rather than bury myself in the pages of a play or rely solely on my technical training.