6
May
Over Committed Superheroes
by Cassandra Sanders
1 Comment | Posted by thatgirl in 21st Century Bellist, Living Life
My rehearsal has finished on time. It’s 6:30 and my meeting is at 6:50. If I get a cab right out my front door, which is likely, I will make it on time.
Rule #1 of the overly committed: Always be on time. If you are not on time, your over commitments have taken control and you are no longer a superhero – just a bad planner. Today’s schedule is pretty packed, but I am feeling confident and organized.
7am – 4pm: Work at café
4pm – 5pm: Prepare for rehearsal and change clothes
5pm – 6:30pm: Rehearsal
6:50pm – 7:30pm: Interview a new designer
8pm – 10pm: Opening night at festival
Rule #2: Accept your lot in life. Most situations I find myself in are ones of my own construct. I never “have” to do anything; I choose to do things. Maybe I feel obligated or I know they will “pay off” or it’s fun. Wallowing in the misery of agreeing to do too much isn’t going to get any of it done faster and I said, “yes” so I better get going.
Inside the cab I lean back and rest. “It’s half over,” I think, “and working at opening night will be more fun than work, so this is the last tough thing.”
Rule # 3: Know the arc of your day. Each task within a day makes up a complete arc – moving from the moment I wake up to the moment I fall asleep. Even though working 9 hours at the café has its own beginning, middle and end—it’s not my entire day. If I thought of 4pm as my day’s “end” the rest of the day I would be tired, unproductive and worst of all, skipping steps toward the next task.
Rule #4: Never skip steps. Growing up my dad always said, “Any job worth doing is a job worth doing right.” It’s easy to skip over the details and it may feel like I am getting the same results with or without them but, if we are talking about something I truly value, then there’s no cutting corners. All that does is cut myself short.
I arrive at the theatre on time. Brian is already here. A fellow superhero of the overly committed, we chat and wait for the designer. By the end of the meeting, she is excited about the project. Brian and I walk away 98% sure she is going to say yes. Rock on!
I hop in a cab, feeling pumped and ready to have fun at the festival. Earlier I received an email about an opportunity to do research for a project. I am co-directing a show at the same time it is scheduled. Rule #5: Know when to say “No.” On paper I could do both projects. Agreeing to do something down the road that might conflict, will make my life difficult and throw the hard work I’m doing right now out the window. It’s difficult to pass up opportunities, but I have to keep moving forward and know that if I stick to the rules, more good jobs will come. I mean why wouldn’t they? I’m a superhero.
photo by eneas de troya