Getting things done is perhaps the greatest context for leadership development.

A couple weeks ago we put up our new design. It’s the first time that most of my team has ever used LED panels. It was also the first time that many of them had hung a new plot using traditional paperwork and lighting design theory. I have a person on my team with a lot of potential as both a leader and a designer.

This individual had the chance to run point in project managing the turn. Many successes as well as some challenges and learning opportunities along the way. The now have been figuring out how to lead making the most of it with weekend designs. They have some experience in the programming chair, however this is a larger plot than they are used to.

It’s great to see what learning in the deep end does to people. It prompts great questions and yields some fantastic epiphanies. The growth and development is encouraging. Pretty cool to to see them not only develop as a leader and designer on their own, but also with their volunteer team!

Here’s a really lovely walk-in look from yesterday:

A friend of mine shared a thought about the lesson some of us learned in our study of chess. A wise instructor will sometimes use the strategy of making us play without the queen. How frustrating it is to play without such a powerful piece on the board.

However, without relying on the queen and her significant power, we gain appreciation for the capacity, capabilities, and strategic value of our other pieces. Once the queen is re-introduced, we realize that our game has risen to a new level.

May we as leaders make the most of the season as we learn to maximize other resources and strategies. If we can learn to thrive without in person gatherings, then when we finally reintroduce such, imagine our capacity!

Excellence is not to be confused with perfection. Excellence is beautifully imperfect; as it recognizes the continued pursuit of improvement. The iterations will always continue; so make the most of the time and resources we have. Recognize when it’s better to leave one project at good and refocus by encouraging each other and developing another project until it’s time to call that one great. (Even though we have such high standards that we know what we wish we could keep tinkering further...) Then celebrate! Especially after big projects, remember that "We get to be a part of this!" Then next week, begin working on v2.0!

I used to struggle with perfectionism. I remember in high school when I couldn’t understand my best friend who could just rip through homework and turn in something that was barely 80% effort. Instead I wouldn’t turn something in because it wasn’t worthy of what I knew it should be. I’ve come a long way since then. I now can present something if it’s the best I believe it can be with the recourses justifiably allocated. I can reconcile that. It has actually become a core value for me. A Maximizer shall get greatest value out of resources…. I still want for perfection, but I also find beauty in excellent. I can coach that now. I’ve come a long way.

I just read a Forbes article written by Victor Lipman that included five tips for taming perfectionism. I thought I’d share.

So I was taking a creative break while trying to work the diagram for Easter’s production design concept (I have a deadline to present this morning - I know, it’s not like I have a Troy Midweek to lead, or a Christmas Premier to have to get to late this evening, or Troy’s Christmas load in this Sunday to prepare for, or a big funeral to help provide coverage for, or our CT building project with a key meeting to prep for, or this weekend to think about making sure is covered while I have to be away on Saturday, or that fact that I’m still a position short and have the stress of ensuring coverage and praying through making a wise hire. No, not anything like that LOL - Anyway, sometimes the 1:1::input:output satisfaction of organizing helps me think creatively with the other side of my brain on the back burner…) and I came across this old half-written blog post I wrote over 5 years ago:

One week ago, we were finishing load in and initial programming for 2016’s edition of the FILO Conference. It was an honor and privilege to be the Production Designer (responsible for Scenic and Lighting Design) for the conference. It was a scurry of a few days so I never really had time to post anything. Here are a few of my favorite moments from the event:

Some of you took my Scenic Design Concepts breakout class. For the rest of you, here’s the story behind how I landed on the final version of the design. These are the notes from the slide where I talked about "Branding (and the iterative process of design) …and Metaphor"

Thank you to Ryan and ILC for providing the amazing lighting gear. Thanks Jeff and Brian CCC for being perhaps the most hospitable hosts an any venue I’ve ever had the chance to work with. Thanks Nate and Chelsea for the logistics, leadership, and vision. Thanks to Michael and Nic for helping us set it all up, troubleshoot issues, and Nic especially for that great catch with the B-EYEs' profile issue. Thanks Alex (whom I met as we were both on the LD panel discussion breakout) for guest designing Session 3 as I was putting finishing touches on the Keynote presentation for my breakout.

Special thanks to Patrick for being my partner in the project. Having a guy on the console who knows how to interpret the ideas of my mind almost even before I say them is the dream for an LD. A good friend with me for the journey to and from Chicago is a bonus.

Thanks most of all to Todd for inviting me to play a small role in your vision. It was a privilege and an honor.

VALUES (a sketch of my personal values that I realize is a filter for me in all I do)

A stream of thought listing things I consider with every design:

Look upon people with the eyes of potential and hope rather than cynicism and judgment.

• The end goal of the services that happens in the space.
  

• The vibe/feeling you want to help communicate.

• Who is the target demographic?

• Who in the audience will be reached regardless of the branding, environment, and artistry? These are not people to design for. Do not be influenced by them.

• Who might only be opened up to the communication by the environment you present? This is who you must go after.

• How might you use resources you already have available to support your vision?

• What alternative ideas might convey such themes with increased beauty/power/depth?

• What ideas might work well because of how clear the symbolism might be?

• What of those ideas would be so cliché that it would actually turn off the artist in the audience?

• What metaphors can you weave into the design to add depth of beauty (and meaning) ...even if only for you?

• How long do you want to live in the look? A series? A season? A weekend? Indefinitely?

• How will you light the set? How will you light the art and communication? Will the lighting on both feel unified?

• Make sure to design scenic elements that will be enhanced with the lighting tools available. Also, design scenic with consideration of who is designing/operating lights. Try to play to their strengths.

• It needs to look good in the room, to be certain. Are you broadcasting ever - stream, IMAG, record for later release?

• Lighting for video requires thinking beyond what looks good to the naked eye; and lighting for both video and still having everything look good in the room requires some real finesse…

• Think through positioning of each person who will be on stage. Where they stand/sit/dance should feel like it connects with the scenic elements and help visually connect the guests with the communication on stage. Break the 4th wall.

• What scenic and/or lighting might be considered in the room? In the lobby? Before and after the event with advertising, social media, etc. How does the branding transcend the stage experience?

• Think through everything that people might see. Certainly do not let anything be a distraction; also push into every opportunity to help enhance the story...