80 percent of success

Business has spent months reflecting on how to move quickly. A few books like "Our Iceberg Is Melting" have started thousands of executives thinking about doing something unique.

So I took a perverse interest in taking a break from such business reading for "Improv Wisdom: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up." Maybe I'm not so clever after all. Why not look for advice on transformative change from an improv coach?

Stanford drama prof Patricia Ryan Madson in fact shares some ideas with the "Getting Things Done" brand of productivity advisers. For instance, begin with what seems obvious and once it is under way any task seems smaller.

By "don't prepare," Madson actually is saying to pay attention to the issue at hand rather than plotting your response. Which, if reports on global warming are correct, is what the penguins would do.

1 comment:

Patricia Ryan Madson said...

It was very kind of you to mention my book, Improv Wisdom. I am pleased when applications to business life are found. Thanks for citing the book and for noting its usefulness. As a writer it tells me I've hit the mark. Warm thanks,
Patricia Ryan Madson