503: Norm Laviolette - Business Lessons from Improv

I suck at improv. I’ve dabbled in it here and there, but I love it because it challenges me in all the ways I need to grow. I’ve been known to “prescribe” improv to clients, but they often don’t end up taking a class. The fear of looking stupid holds a lot of people back from even trying it. Improv offers a huge number of lessons about life and business. It’s another tool to add to your toolkit to broaden who you are. After all, if you work out the same muscles day in and day out, there will be a plateau where you don’t see growth. We have to constantly push ourselves to try things that challenge us in new ways and knock us off our balance. To dive deeper into the lessons of improv, I’ve brought on improvisational comedy expert Norm Laviolette. As co-founder and CEO of Improv Asylum, IA innovation and A.G.E., Norm brings corporate as well as military experience toward the continued development and expansion of Improv Asylum’s theatrical and IA Innovation’s business divisions. Prior to a career in comedy and teaching, Norm worked in the marketing and PR industries in New York City.  He is a former member of the Massachusetts and Vermont Army National Guards and a graduate of the Vermont Military Academy’s Officer Candidate School. Norm continues to lead Improv Asylum’s strategic business and artistic vision locally, nationally and globally. To learn how to use lessons from improv in your life and business, download this episode now. THE COMPLETION WARRIOR   “Where can we go if we don’t constantly think in a linear way?” - Norm Laviolette Highlights - Improv is a gym for the mind. Get over the fear of looking dumb by taking an improv class. Your brain will start to rewire itself to realize that “looking dumb” not that bad. It’s about managing and taking appropriate risk. Improv teaches you to always make the other person look good, make a choice, and listen. It helps you build on other people’s ideas. People connect with energy and passion. Improv helps you be ok with being yourself. Heightening is adding on in nonlinear ways. Patiently Impatient: you have no idea where the scene is going to go, but you get used to that feeling while being impatient about jumping into the scene. Guest Contact - Norm's Website Norm's Twitter Norm's Book The Art of Making Sh!t Up Contact Jeffrey - Website Coaching support My book, LINGO: Discover Your Ideal Customer's Secret Language and Make Your Business Irresistible is now available! Watch my TEDx LincolnSquare video and please share!  Resources - Have Your Website Brand Message Reviewed! Is your website and are all your marketing materials speaking the right LINGO of your ideal customers? Often it's not which is why you're not converting traffic and leads to clients and attracting your most profitable customers. Fill out the simple LINGO Review application and I'll take a look at your website. If I have suggestions for you to improve your brand message (I almost always do), we'll set up a complimentary 30-minute call to discuss. A select number of websites are also chosen for my LINGO Review Video Series. Fill out the application today and let's get your business speaking the right LINGO! Music by Jawn