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Kori Gouge

Core Connection Human Performance Coach

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improv comedy

Knees shaking? Heart racing? You’re on the right path!

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As I stood there on stage, the lights bearing down on me, I felt my knees start to shake, Breathe, I told myself. Even though I have performed on stage a number of times, I still get nervous.

 

I find it interesting that I enjoy performing and at the same time, it is outside my comfort zone. I was never the girl who wanted to be the center of attention. Yet, somehow I have found my way to love live performance.

 

It is at once terrifying and exhilarating, much like I imagine skydiving to be.

 

It’s an opportunity, each time, to walk up to my fear, acknowledge it, and keep moving.

 

I have performed with members of this improv group a handful of times. A few months ago, our performance was mediocre, to say the least. Yet, despite not performing well, not one of us decided to throw in the towel. We upped our commitment as we saw where we needed to improve.

 

Last night was our best performance yet. High energy, lots of laughter from the audience, quirky storyline, and creative dialogues. We all left the stage flying high, knowing we had done well.

 

We knew the difference between an average show and a great show.

 

The cool thing is when you tap into that high-vibe energy of having achieved something you desire, you can ride on that energy. You can let it continue to fuel you in other areas of your life. And, you can come back to that feeling to remind yourself of your power. You can use this to propel you forward as you continue to uplevel. Because in life, you are either growing or you’re dying. Those are the options. Growing, while at times scary, is a lot more fun.

 

I recorded a live video last night after my show sharing how to do this. Check it out.

 

To dreaming big,

 

Kori

 

P.S. If you are ready to show up in your business and life consistently, authentically, and powerfully, let’s talk!

Poor performances, crappy first drafts, and awful art – a shift in perspective

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Last Wednesday night, the group I perform improv comedy with, Authentic Juice, and I played a show at the Voodoo Comedy Lounge. (Some of them are in the pic.)

 

It was not a good show. The energy was low. The scenes were confusing and lacked development.

 

When we met afterward to talk about our performance, you could see on all of our faces that we were disappointed. We discussed what we could have done better so that we could learn from our poor performance.

 

Then we all said, almost simultaneously, sometimes it’s gonna suck. And you could feel a collective sigh being released as we let go of it having to have been great.

 

It’s like the idea of writing crappy first drafts – they make the way for better drafts to come. Our not-so-great performance will make the way for better performances because now we know what it feels like. We know we want to do better. We know what didn’t work. We know we need to continue to perfect our craft.

 

Sometimes you suck and that’s ok. You don’t die. You learn. You do it again.

 

Don’t let poor performances or crappy first drafts stop you. Creation doesn’t begin perfectly. Creation is the art of perfecting your craft – it takes persistence, patience, and dedication  (and, often, suspending your inner critic!).

 

Be willing to look like a fool, mess up, draw something awful, write something terrible, stumble when you dance, forget your lines, get tongue-tied, and most of all, be willing to laugh at yourself. It is all part of the process of becoming you – your most authentic you.

 

You are doing it. You are putting yourself out there. You are taking a chance on you and what matters to you. You are not waiting for perfection. You are risking failure, rejection, and embarrassment. Why? Because that’s how you learn. That’s how you grow. That’s how you eventually succeed. And, succeed, you most certainly will.

 


What can you do today to take a chance on you? (Without worrying how it goes or what anyone else will think?)

How the rules of improv comedy apply to running your business

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In improv comedy, especially as a novice, it can be scary. You want me to go on stage with nothing rehearsed or prepared and just make something up? That’s ridiculous.

Yes, that is exactly what I want you to do.

 

In business – You want me to start reaching out to people and attracting clients, even though I don’t feel ready? Yes, that is exactly what you need to do.

 

Granted, in improv, if you have taken classes, you have studied different aspects of improv acting: being present, supporting your fellow players by using “Yes, and”, staying curious and open to what unfolds, suspending judgment, and taking bold actions. Not to say that makes it any easier but it’s something.

 

The same is true in business: you’ve taken courses, attended workshops and seminars, read books, etc. Again, this helps but putting yourself out there can still be scary,

 

Many of the strategies taught in improv are also necessary for running a business: remaining curious with a desire to continue learning, staying present and not getting caught up in all the unknown variables, easing your judgment of yourself and your progress, and absolutely taking bold actions.

 

The other similarity between improv and running a business is that often, no matter how much you may have practiced and studied, it can still be nerve-wracking AND you still have to show up no matter what. On stage, someone has to make the first move, whether they have an idea or not. The same is true in business. You can keep yourself out of the game for an inordinate amount of time by believing you need to know this or that first or take this or that course.

 

Learning never stops but you need to still run your business WHILE you’re learning. You have to trust you will figure out exactly what you need to know as you go. That is exactly what happens on stage – you get out there, you have no idea what will happen, but you are open to figuring it out because, without a willingness to get out there, there is no show.

 

And, as you know, the show must go on. You get to decide if you want to be in it or not,

 

To recap, embrace the nature of improvisation in your business. Be willing to take bold moves and trust you will figure it out as you go. The important thing is ACTION. Keep showing up, even when you feel scared and unprepared. Above all, please suspend your judgment. Show up, discover something new, try it out. Step into the character you want to be, the role you want to play, and allow yourself to experience a new depth of feeling, a heightened level of awareness, and a touch of courage.

 

Tell me, friend, what is one thing you will do today to apply improv to your business or career (or life!)?

 

Life is your stage. You are the main character. You get to decide what role you want to play. Are you ready to get out there?

 

Want to clarify your role on the grand stage of your life? Book your strategy session with me. http://bit.ly/connectwithKori