How do we arrive at synergy when we are pulled in so many directions?
In this short, brilliant, hilarious conversation with Conan O’Brien, Louis C.K. shows us the depth of his philosophy, the sharpness of his wisdom, the love for his children, and his ability to startle us with the truth about ourselves. We glimpse the apparently effortless synergy between his different roles as Businessman, Citizen, Artist, and Father.
EXploding our roles helps us elevate our consciousness, shift our balance, and deepen our expertise, but how do we get them all to work together like he seems to do so easily?
Let’s show how easy it is for Louis C.K. by inventing his Week’s Plan as a masterful design to integrate all of his roles around a short bit about kids and cell phones.
Businessman: Book Conan to promote my new video.
Citizen: Write a convincing public service bit about the dangers of compulsive cell phone use.
Artist: Shock and amuse people with the dirty truth we are lonely and afraid. (Use self as prime example.) Tune up the jokes.
Father: Tell ‘m they can’t have ‘m.
Seamless.
It’s true I’ve had moments where I shapeshift among my vastly different roles fluidly, uninhibitedly, synergistically as though I am one cohesive human, unambivalent, even in my ambivalence. It feels like magic.
There was that time I was putting together a video with and for a client who was also a student. I asked my burgeoning filmmaker daughter to give me advice on a rough edit, which was shockingly concise and helpful. For 5 minutes I was Film Student, Father, Creative Director, and Teacher all rolled up in one. Time disappeared. The clouds parted. I was in Flow. I was perfect.
Is it magic?
Nope. It’s the result of preparation. Sure, there are multipotentialites who seem to slip into multikinetics more easily than others, but I guarantee you, most of them got there through rigorous practice.
The Physicist who is also a Diligent Mother juggles her roles with skills developed over many years. When asked to give a lecture at Carnegie Hall, she also arranges to bring her teenage daughter and cello to open with a little Bach. The girl gets to play Carnegie Hall! Okay, not the Carnegie Hall.
The Scientist and Husband and Father brings his toddler son along on a tour of orchards. He’s giving a break to the Mother at home busy with a new baby. At their first stop he leaves the boy on a blanket under an apple tree to play with the worms while he and his colleagues review the effects of a breakthrough remedy to crop crippling fungi. He returns for a picnic and a nap before they move on to the next orchard.
The Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher, and Marketing Genius steps on to stage to introduce the opening night of the annual holiday production. She’s there to remind another sold out crowd of children and parents that dance would die without their support, and as the curtain rises, the gasps from the audience indicate it won’t die soon.
Practice plus opportunity
These are true stories of moments of synergy. They feel magical, but they were born of practice and opportunity. What are you doing this week to give yourself both?
