There's an old saying in the theatre: "There is no acting, only reacting."
That means that the truest acting means reacting to what actually is occurring on stage at that moment -- not what you rehearsed, but what is happening. The audience can tell, even if they can't articulate, the difference between being in the moment and being removed. The actors we remember understand the importance of presence.
Are you present in your own life? How often do you just enjoy the present moment and react to it? It's difficult to do. If we're in a meeting at work we're thinking about going home and when we're at home we're thinking about a project at work. The stars are the people who can concentrate on the present moment just a little better than the rest of us.
Today, try to focus fully on one of your tasks for ten minutes. Whether it's a job at work or dusting the furniture at home, don't let anything distract you. If you concentrate fully, you will be amazed at how much you can accomplish in a short period of time.
Don't act: React!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Listen
How well do you listen? Do you wait until the other person finishes talking before you answer, or do you interrupt them in mid-sentence?
The greatest stars know the importance of listening. Cary Grant, for one, knew that he could be more noticed on screen listening and reacting than talkng. He was brilliant at letting other actors do the talking, while he stole the scene with his facial expressions and reactions. One of my favorites is the scene where he discovers the body in the film 'Arsenic and Old Lace.' His face says everything without the need for dialogue.
Resolve to spend the next two days giving your colleagues at work and your family members your full attention while they're talking. You'll be amazed how hard that will be at first, but try it. Just focus on what people are saying -- don't think about your next meeting, your other errands, or even the brilliant retort you're planning. Just listen. Then think before you respond. You'll find your conversations becoming deeper and more efficient almost immediately. Keep doing it and pretty soon more people at work will discuss their ideas with you because they know they'll get a fair hearing. You'll be invited to more meetings because they will value your opinion. Your children and spouse will share more with you, too, because they know you care.
Listen for a week. Then let me know how it worked out for you.
The greatest stars know the importance of listening. Cary Grant, for one, knew that he could be more noticed on screen listening and reacting than talkng. He was brilliant at letting other actors do the talking, while he stole the scene with his facial expressions and reactions. One of my favorites is the scene where he discovers the body in the film 'Arsenic and Old Lace.' His face says everything without the need for dialogue.
Resolve to spend the next two days giving your colleagues at work and your family members your full attention while they're talking. You'll be amazed how hard that will be at first, but try it. Just focus on what people are saying -- don't think about your next meeting, your other errands, or even the brilliant retort you're planning. Just listen. Then think before you respond. You'll find your conversations becoming deeper and more efficient almost immediately. Keep doing it and pretty soon more people at work will discuss their ideas with you because they know they'll get a fair hearing. You'll be invited to more meetings because they will value your opinion. Your children and spouse will share more with you, too, because they know you care.
Listen for a week. Then let me know how it worked out for you.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Making an Entrance
How do you enter a room filled with people? Do you slide the door open quiety and try to sneak in as quickly as possible? Or do you fling the door open boldly and announce to the crowd, "I'm here!"?
Which do you think stars do? That's right -- they make sure everyone knows they're in the room. They expect attention and they make sure they get it.
You can't blend in with the crowd if you want to star in your own life. Here are three techniques to help you be noticed in the room.
1. As you walk to the door, take a deep breath. Remind yourself that you've been invited to the party or meeting because people wanted you there. And they will want to know when you've arrived.
2. If you're greeted at the door, shake the person's hand. Introduce yourself in a loud, clear voice that will carry a few people away, so everyone will know you're there. If you know your greeter, say "Hi, Joe (or whatever his or her name is) in a clear voice. Ask to meet everyone.
3. Just before going through the door, adjust an article of your clothing, or shift your pad from your right hand to your left. If you're physically doing something when you're going through the door, you will be less nervous about shaking hands.
Remember, when you're watching a play or movie you know who the star is from their first entrance. How are you entering the room?
Which do you think stars do? That's right -- they make sure everyone knows they're in the room. They expect attention and they make sure they get it.
You can't blend in with the crowd if you want to star in your own life. Here are three techniques to help you be noticed in the room.
1. As you walk to the door, take a deep breath. Remind yourself that you've been invited to the party or meeting because people wanted you there. And they will want to know when you've arrived.
2. If you're greeted at the door, shake the person's hand. Introduce yourself in a loud, clear voice that will carry a few people away, so everyone will know you're there. If you know your greeter, say "Hi, Joe (or whatever his or her name is) in a clear voice. Ask to meet everyone.
3. Just before going through the door, adjust an article of your clothing, or shift your pad from your right hand to your left. If you're physically doing something when you're going through the door, you will be less nervous about shaking hands.
Remember, when you're watching a play or movie you know who the star is from their first entrance. How are you entering the room?
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Money
We start 2010 discussing the third constraint -- money.
If you have unlimited money, you can do practically anything. A group in Dubai just completed the world's largest building in just under six years. They spent lavishly to get it done on time. Movie companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars on special effects to make things like space travel and alien worlds realistic.
On a personal level, if you feel you're not being noticed at work and have enough money you can give yourself a complete makeover: New clothes, hairstyle, even plastic surgery. You can take classes to improve your skills, or just to learn a new hobby. If you have enough money to buy whatever you want you probably don't need to become the star of your own life: you probably are already.
But most of us don't have unlimited money to promote ourselves and our ideas. Fortunately, the online world provides us with tools that enable us to do this at very low cost. For example, you can start your own blog, as I have, for free. You can connect with friends and colleagues through Facebook, Linked In, and a plethora of other social networking sites. You can send news releases about your activities to just about every news organization in the world for free. You can create your own website, marketing yourself to the world. The tools are there for you to use them.
Make 2010 the year you decided to star in your own life!
If you have unlimited money, you can do practically anything. A group in Dubai just completed the world's largest building in just under six years. They spent lavishly to get it done on time. Movie companies spend hundreds of millions of dollars on special effects to make things like space travel and alien worlds realistic.
On a personal level, if you feel you're not being noticed at work and have enough money you can give yourself a complete makeover: New clothes, hairstyle, even plastic surgery. You can take classes to improve your skills, or just to learn a new hobby. If you have enough money to buy whatever you want you probably don't need to become the star of your own life: you probably are already.
But most of us don't have unlimited money to promote ourselves and our ideas. Fortunately, the online world provides us with tools that enable us to do this at very low cost. For example, you can start your own blog, as I have, for free. You can connect with friends and colleagues through Facebook, Linked In, and a plethora of other social networking sites. You can send news releases about your activities to just about every news organization in the world for free. You can create your own website, marketing yourself to the world. The tools are there for you to use them.
Make 2010 the year you decided to star in your own life!
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