The 4 key elements of highly effective learning
Read moreIn the last post, I wrote of how Yul Brynner’s attitude toward daily rehearsal caused me to reflect on my own acting experience of long ago. One of my observations was that the time spent with the French Theater in America had led to some more intense learning—and more lasting lessons—than I realized at the time. As I was reprocessing
Of Foxes and Snakes: My theater story
Read moreThe last post closed with the thought that hearing actor Yul Brynner’s attitude toward rehearsal provoked a reprocessing of one of my life experiences. As such, I decided to write a bit about my own time in the theater. When I was studying for my master’s degree in French literature at Middlebury College, I took a theater course from one
Why we improve more from practicing than from performing
Read moreThe tales from the life of Yul Brynner that I referenced last time feature some ingredients that resonate with me on a number of levels. First of all, given my well-established interest in personal storytelling, I simply enjoy hearing about unusual lives, particularly those with exotic and cross-cultural aspects. Second, learning of this remarkable actor’s approach to rehearsal brought back
The value of rigorous yet mindful practice
Read moreThe tale of actor Yul Brynner, which I began telling last time, really does warrant some further development. Much of what I know about Mr Brynner was communicated to me some years ago by another former New York client, a man whose boss had been a personal friend—and a huge fan—of the actor. Brynner’s uncommon life journey by itself is
The essential difference between practice and performance
Read moreOn a recent business trip to New York, I took some time to check in with a former client who has become a friend. For purposes of confidentiality, I will refer to him as “Michael”. These days, Michael is an accomplished entrepreneur who has started several businesses, and advised numerous others, during the past 10 years. Before venturing out on
Why mastering the tiny details matters
Read moreJudging by the messages I have received during the past few weeks, a fair number of readers are noticing that I have taken a bit of a break from writing this blog. Some even commented that they appreciated my writing and hoped that I would get back to doing it again soon. Of course, that is always nice to hear.