Career Musings from Singing Puppets

Cacostello via Flickr

I'm excited to say that I'm taking my daughter to The Big Apple in a few weeks to see the Broadway musical, Annie.  While it's a far cry from the experimental, avant garde theatre of my grad school days, I am really looking forward to this mainstay of every community theatre in America.  I'd assert that even the most erudite, black turtleneck-wearing, bi-speckled intellectual might find himself humming along to one of my favorite songs in the show, "NYC:"

"N... 

Y... 

C!!!

Just got here this morning!

Three Bucks!

Two Bags!

One Me!"

Guilty pleasure, I tell you.  And I am just counting the days until I can see an orphan belting her little heart out in a ridiculous red wig. Call me nostalgic, call me philistine, but whatever you do, don't call me during the show.

While searching for Annie tickets- not cheap, mind you- I was reminded of another Broadway show I love, but would never take my eight year-old within 500 ft of: Avenue Q. I went to see the musical several years ago-it first opened on Broadway in 2003- and was smitten by the show and the brilliant performance of my friend who played the lead at the time, Howie Michael Smith.

(Side note: Howie is probably one of the funniest guys I know.  When we did shows together several years ago he never ceased to make me laugh- even when I was sicker than a dog from my first trimester of pregnancy.  Performing on stage with round-the-clock morning sickness is not an easy job, in case you were considering it.  But thankfully I had Howie to humor me and make me forget about the roller coaster constantly running full throttle in my stomach.)

Avenue Q incorporates endearing yet potty-mouthed puppets (what's not to love?!) who sing hysterically funny but oftentimes poignant songs about growing up and the difficult task of making ones way in the world.  Any show that has soul-searching, coming-of-age songs with titles such as "Purpose," "Why Can't I Go Back to College?" and, one of my favorites,  "What Do You Do with a B.A. in English?"  is right up my existential, career coaching alley.

Here's a snippet (read: printable portion) of the latter song:

What do you do with a B.A. in English,

What is my life going to be?

Four years of college and plenty of knowledge,

Have earned me this useless degree.

I can't pay the bills yet,

'Cause I have no skills yet,

The world is a big scary place.

But somehow I can't shake,

The feeling I might make,

A difference,

To the human race.

-Avenue Q
music and lyrics by Jeff Marks and Robert Lopez

So, if you're in New York and are looking to have a good laugh (or ten,) check out the Tony Award-winning show, now performing Off-Broadway. 

If you aren't easily offended that is. 

'Cause those puppets don't hail from anywhere close to Sesame Street.

Where O Where has My Productivity Gone?

Similar to the dog days of summer, I can't seem to get anything accomplished right now.  I feel as if I have 50 pound weights on my legs. I have contacts I need to make, projects I need to undertake, but my momentum is gone at the moment. I feel deflated and unable to bounce back to a more productive state. I'm at a loss over how I can fit in everything I need to do.

Do you ever feel like that?

When I get in this state of mind I know I need to coach myself. Therefore, I invite you to an open door coaching session. With me. For me. Which is inherently self-centered and a tad neurotic, but perhaps you can relate.

Self- Coaching Session

Me: So, I'm frustrated because I can't get off the ground on several projects.  I fantasize about going away for a night or two, just to immerse myself in work for long chunks of time, but I know that's not realistic.

Coach Me: You sound pretty discouraged and immobilized right now.

Me: Yup.

Coach Me: Well, I'm betting that these projects of which you speak are quite large in nature.

Me: How'd you know?!

Coach Me: Because we're one in the same.

Me: Oh, right.

Coach Me: So, these large projects are going to be overwhelming and very daunting until you break them down incrementally, something you don't automatically think to do as a big picture type person.

Me: True.

Coach Me: Instead of focusing on something you can't control, such as erratic schedules, disruptions, and a lack of large, uninterrupted windows of time, focus on what you can do.  Concentrate on breaking down reasonable projects into small, five to 10 minute pieces.  Consider postponing the big projects that can't be broken down easily. Focus on the ones that are doable given your working-from-home circumstances.

After all, you wouldn't ask your four year-old to eat a big old hunk of meat without first cutting it into bite-size pieces would you?

Me: No Ma'am.

Coach Me: Exactly.  So cut up your projects into manageable portions, and you'll see how doable the work becomes. You just need a couple of small, incremental victories each day to make you feel like you are making headway.

Me: True.

Coach Me: But in order to make these victories happen, you'll have to carve out those bite-size portions in your day. They should be compatible with your schedule and become a regular fixture on your calendar. Ensure these chunks of time are a priority, with very few exceptions! If they're not carved out and protected as dedicated work time, they'll disappear.

Me: Hmmm... good idea.  Why didn't I think of that?  It's so simple!

Coach Me: You kind of did.

Me: Oh, right.

Coach Me: Lastly, if you expect yourself to accomplish a two to three hour project in 15 minutes- -while simultaneously making dinner, walking the dog and doing laundry- you're setting yourself up for major disappointment and a sense of failure.

Me: Yes managing expectations, that's a big one isn't it?  But it's much easier said than done.

Coach Me: Well, My Dear, that's why you have me to help you.

Me:  Okay, now you're getting kind of cocky, aren't you?

Coach Me: I think this session is over.