“I wish the stage were as narrow as the wire of a tightrope dancer so that no incompetent would dare step upon it.” Goethe.

I heard that quote years ago from one of my greatest acting teachers, Richard Pinter at the Neighborhood Playhouse. After I’d left the law to become an actor – scratch that after my law firm went out of business and I decided to leap off the cliff to pursue my dreams – I attended an intensive acting program. It meant moving away from my husband, diving into full-time classes and not coming up for air until it was over.  Somehow, I knew that before I took that huge leap I needed to stop, take a breath, and LEARN.

I couldn’t help but think about that quote and the times when I’ve stepped back to immerse myself in learning as my son and daughter made their way back to campus – for the start of his MBA and for her senior year of college.

Each time I dedicated myself to education – not only did I grow my skill-set, but my leadership.

Right after college I attended law school and for years after I left the law I thought I’d picked the wrong path.  Now with hindsight, I realize the gifts from that three-year immersion in legal thought and analysis actually made me who I am today. My ability to analyze, write, and persuade were all developed in those hallowed (actually post-industrial looking) hallways. And to this day I am able to draw upon that learning to advise my clients – not as a lawyer but as their coach and trusted advisor.

That leap to being an actor required learning and yes, unlearning, years of bad habits and misconceptions about what it meant to be an actor.  I had to study voice, movement, and most important, acting technique.  The skills I learned during my time at the Playhouse were all about how to be a more truthful actor – listening and responding, being fully present and stripping away all artifice to get to real human connection.  Each one of those skills allows me to better coach my clients to grow their leadership - to be more human as leader.

Today as we traverse this new world order it’s imperative that no matter what level or stage we are at to take the time to step back, sharpen skills and most important grow our leadership by stopping to take a breath, take a leap, and LEARN.

Outlaw Leaders™ take the time to sharpen their EDGE: Explore, Dream, Grow & Excite™ and LEARN.

I’m an Outlaw Leader™ are you?