Creativity is the ability to see connections between things, and bring those to the fore.

The ability to convey connections through images, words, sound, and presence creates a very engaging way to develop relationships.

This is one of the reasons why people walk away energized and inspired after a talk.

Remember Ghostbusters? I was watching them again recently, and noticing again the professionalism and skill that went into making the movies.

Acting appropriately is hard work.

I was planning to talk about the importance of commitment, and serendipity had it that I would came across this Esquire interview where Bill Murray talks about the importance of freedom and commitment.

They go hand in hand, planning and serendipity.

With so much semi-processed content in the name of media consumption, Murray's choice of living an engaged life by saying "no" to certain superficial things — like unfiltered access — and saying yes to deeper ones — like commitment to his craft — is remarkable.

A good example of being present and showing respect with your work.

On choices:

"I think we're all sort of imprisoned by — or at least bound to — the choices we make, and I think everyone in the acting business wants to make the right choices. You want to say no at the right time and you want to say yes more sparingly."

On relationships:

"People confuse friendship and relaxation. It's incredibly important to be relaxed — you don't have a chance if you're not relaxed. So I try very hard to relax any kind of tension. But friendship is different."

On doing:

"Everything happens for a reason" is a kind of self-hypnosis.

[…] It's part of the plan, but if no one acts in the moment of possibility, then it devolves into "Well, then I got hit by a car. Because I was standing in the middle of the road. Well, everything happens for a reason."

Planning and serendipity. The commitment to being in the moment, in conversation, to cease opportunity with business and social increases leverage.

 

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Resources:

• The Value of Not Being Average (Danny DeVito)
• What Customer Service and Groundhog Day Have in Common

 

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Valeria is an experienced listener. She is also frequent speaker at conferences and companies on variety of topics. To book her for a speaking engagement click here.