December 23, 2009

It's all about action



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On Monday night, I watched the documentary on pop singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and the process of composing and rehearsing his first classical opera, "Prima Donna."

I so admire his ability to forge ahead into the unknown, taking his outsider love and appreciation of opera and applying it to the creation of a piece with no actual training or background in opera.

Here's a quote I posted last year during the process:

"I’m in the midst of negotiating and writing an opera, and that has always been my life-long ambition. It is really something I thought I would do years down the line, when I was fat and bearded.

But I realized that you really have to start yesterday if you want to get your dreams accomplished. It’s all about action." ~ Rufus Wainwright

Reviews of the opera were mixed; I imagine this first-timer will only improve with experience. But to me, what's important is that he got out there and did it. He didn't let his lack of training in opera define him as a composer; he got on-the-job training (as I did when I started out as a speaker). And he had a lot of help, through which he grew and learned as he wouldn't have, had he not gone forward with the project.

So I'll ask again the questions I asked the first time I posted this quote (especially pertinent as we go into a new year):

What are you waiting for?

What's holding you back?

What are you afraid of?

What are you dwelling on?

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2 comments. Please add yours! :

Heather Stubbs said...

This article is great encouragement for anyone who wants to follow their dream. Having been a singer and actress all my life, I had spent many years learning the inner stability and the outer stage presence skills that make a good performer. For the last 20 years I had done more teaching than performing. Then, at the tender age of 60, I decided to become a public speaker and public speaking trainer. A friend gave me a card that said, "Go out on a limb. That's where the fruit is!" I'm glad I did!

Lisa Braithwaite said...

Thanks for sharing, Heather! It's never to late to get started!

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