My friend, Mary Lengle, says, if you sit in the middle of the road you’ll get run over.
You need a manifesto. A mission statement. A raison d’etre. You need to believe.
When I was a kid people talked about having “the courage of their convictions.” You need that. And you must commit. As they say on Top Chef, you have to “own your dish” – even if it doesn’t come out exactly how you wanted it to. Stand by…you.
It’s one of the cornerstones of improv comedy.
The New York Rangers will win The Stanley Cup. I believe. There are people in Los Angeles who believe the Kings will win The Stanley Cup. They’re wrong but I fully respect their passion.
It’s wishy washy that doesn’t cut it.
From Rachel Maddow to Fashion Police to all sports commentary, the media landscape is dominated by people and programming driven by opinions powered by beliefs.
I’m reading an excellent book, The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane. She says there are three charismatic behaviors: Presence, Power and Warmth and points out the human mind can read facial expressions in as little as 17 milliseconds. If you hedge or hesitate we pick it up.
What your mind believes, your body manifests.
It struck me yesterday during an especially productive Level 2 Hosting Class in my office (plug) that Kevin Costner delivered one of the best training exercises ever in his I Believe speech in Bull Durham.
When you come up with your I Believe statement and can deliver it with the conviction of Crash Davis I will believe you.
2 Responses
Great Points…
“What your mind believes, your body manifests.” Very powerful. Thanks.