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This is Mentoring Moment #11 -- a series of "you need to know" stories (each told in under two minutes) from successful women of multiple generations. Stories for you to collect and share.
I see beauty. Last night, I squeeze into cab with my fabulous, new 82 years young friend after she dragged me out of my pajamas to play an impromptu song at the Friar's Club. My guitar dominated the back seat and I expressed my fear that it would crush her petite body. Her response: 'Lay it on me, darling. I'm uncrushable.' #beautyninja. -- Lourds Lane on Instagram
I stared at the word "uncrushable." That's how Lourds describes her friend, but reality is that Lourds is uncrushable, especially in her mission to help others find their inner superhero. Lourds is the book, music and lyrics writer of the Broadway-bound musical, “Chix6” – a story about a female comic book artist who learns how to love herself with the help of her own superheroine creations. She’s also the founder and creator of the SuperYou FUNdation, impacting tens of thousands of youth in schools globally by helping them realize "the Superhero is YOU."
I really got to know Lourds when I signed her up to open and close the inaugural Forbes Women’s Summit with empowering musical talks (she’s a classically-trained prodigy on violin and piano at age three). Lourds beats to the music of her own drummer, with a wonderful combination of smarts, confidence and curiosity. She makes me think differently and dream bigger. This is Lourds' Mentoring Moment in her words:
4:30 AM. I just got home from an amazing all-night music recording session.
4:31 AM. I immediately started to freak out. DEADLINE: Three hours… I was slated to be the opening presenter for the NYC Department of Education’s Social Emotional Conference and then I was asked to do a talk for the staff of four Special Needs schools. I’d been burning the candle at both ends for weeks. I always pride myself on being prepared. This time, I had no time. The pressure was on.
Suddenly, it occurred to me how dramatically different I felt earlier in the evening. I was writing and arranging new music for Chix 6. Despite time pressure and the expectation of millions of Broadway investment dollars, the whole process was effortless and fun. I stayed in the zone, bringing out the best from musicians with joy and ease. When I felt stuck, I took breaks until I felt balanced again. When it comes to music creation, I know the song is right there, waiting for me. I just need to stop. And listen. The music is in the silence.
Outside of my music world, I don’t always have the same flow. When I’m up against deadlines, my instincts are to work harder, longer, and drop everything to get the tasks done. But no matter how much is accomplished, there’s always more to do.
4:36 AM. I’m deliriously exhausted and panicked. Do I stay up and write an outline now? Music comes so naturally. Why can't I have that same ease with everything else?
With music, I know that overthinking limits the process. Working endless hours is inefficient. There’s a deep intelligence that goes beyond logical and strategic thought that holds all the answers. It’s that same place which allows us to act with quick precision to handle a crisis we’ve never dealt with before or gives us a spontaneous solution to a nagging problem. This place of boundless insight never fails us. All we need to do is know that this intelligence exists and choose to partner with it.
4:45 AM. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes until I felt connected to the endless space before thoughts... where I confidently know ideas are born, words flow, and understanding and communication happen effortlessly. This is where the music lives.
I felt calm and clear. In that silence, I understood that I had worked so hard for so long and that I was already prepared. From this place of confidence came two of the most engaging, interactive, and intelligent presentations I have ever given.
The secret to productivity, innovation, leadership, creativity, and communication is not to work oneself into the ground. It’s to stop. And listen. Everyone can find their own music. It’s in the silence.
Mentoring Moments Series
#1: What I Did When My Boss Threw A Stapler At My Head is here.
#2: How To Break The Rules, Spread A Little Mischief And Make A Mint is here.
#3: Do You Need A Shrink Or A Mentor? And What's The Difference is here.
#4: Best Way To Deal With A Mean Girl Boss? One Woman's Powerful Answer is here.
#5: Why Women Need To Stop Worrying About Being Liked is here.
#6: What's Better Than A 50% Pay Increase? One Woman's Expensive Lesson is here.
#7: A Millennial Stops Giving Excuses And Gets What She Wants is here.
#8: Millennial, Mother Of 50: She's Breaking The Rules And Saving Lives is here.
#9: Nice Women Finish First When They Ask The Right Questions is here.
#10: Millennials Beware: 'You Can't Let One Bad Guy Push You Out' is here.
#12: Five Words That Turned This Self-Made Woman Into A Multi-Millionaire is here.
#13: Two Things Great Leaders Do Every Day is here.
#14: How An Entrepreneur Made A Choice She'll Never Forget is here.
#15: How This Entrepreneur Turned Her Ignorance Into A Huge Success is here.
#16: Two Words That Made This Millennial's Network Explode is here.
#17: When This Woman Changed Her Name, Her Career Took Off is here.
#18: How A Taxi Ride Drove This Self-Made Woman's Career is here.
#19: 6 You-Need-To-Know Lessons That Will Make Your Career Explode is here.
#20: 3 Gritty Tips That Will Make You Way More Exciting And Successful is here.
#21: 5 Words That Made This Millennial A CEO is here.
#22: Can Success Be Dangerous? This Woman Found The Answer On A Starbucks Cup is here.
#23: 7 Simple Words That Will Make Your Career Soar is here.
#24: Why Women Need To Stop Being Afraid To Ask For Help is here.
#25: 7 Powerful Lessons That Will Ignite Your Inner Fire And Your Career is here.
#26: How a Homeless Woman Released From Prison Became 'My Greatest Mentor' is here.
#27: To Find A Mentor Stop Asking 'Can I Pick Your Brain?' Do This Instead is here.
#28: Her Boss Verbally Slapped Her - Now She Runs Her Own Show is here.
#29: Top Poker Player Wins $11.6 Million And Goes To Work Thinking She's A Loser is here.
#30: How A Sex Ed Class Prepared This Woman For The Biggest Pitch Of Her Career is here.
