STRETCHING IS GROWING

Inspired by Lindsey Adler’s ​recent Note​, I’m trying something new for our Escape Pod Zoom call this week.

Last night, my friend Zito Madu hosted a party at his apartment that came with one non-negotiable rule: Every person in attendance had to stand up in front of the crowd and read something aloud.

Everyone in the room knew the host, but none of us knew each other. He had us wear name tags and bought a lot of fancy cheese.

There were no further parameters on the “read something “ edict. Some people read book excerpts, some read original poetry or fiction, two people (myself included) read portions of revolutionary manifestos. Someone read a magazine story about the decline of men reading fiction.

Our work grows when we stretch ourselves, which leads to even more growth. Showing up on a Zoom call with a bunch of strangers is stretching ourselves, approaching someone who books shows, reaching out to our heroes. There is tension, there is doubt.

As Seth Godin says:

Along the way, we’ve been pushed to load our decisions with a need for certainty. It’s easier, it seems, to not try than it is to fail. But the question, “is it worth trying?” unlocks possibility.

I’m not certain that asking people who show up on a Zoom call to read something aloud for one minute will work, which is exactly why we’re going to try it.