What's Your Agenda, Frosty?

Last year I had the privilege of meeting Peter Guber, box office genius and bestselling author of Tell to Win.   Whenever I find myself wanting to hit the "delete" button on past musings about my life, I think of him. His advice reminds me that the best way to connect with people is through personal storytelling.

This is not one of the most emotional stories I have told here, but it illustrates the benefits of being goal-oriented at any age.

Some of you know my "three-quarter" sister, Angela.  We're "three quarter" sisters because we have the same dad and different mothers but our mothers are sisters.  Go ahead and read that again if you need to.  I'll wait.  Hello Jerry Springer!  I know.

Ange was a great companion for creative pursuits. Make that co-conspirator. We didn't just write and draw and play and sing together the way most siblings might do.   We almost always had an angle.   Sometimes it was altruistic.  Sometimes entrepreneurial.  Sometimes just plain ol' ego; a deep desire to be on stage.    

One day when I was maybe nine years old, Ange and I set out to accomplish our entire agenda in one full scale theatrical production. 

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The "stage" was a long walk-in closet in Angela's bedroom.  The space wasn't that deep but the width scaled the room and it had bright green bi-fold doors on each side that functioned perfectly as "curtains." 

We created a script which I remember as a slightly twisted version of Frosty the Snowman.  Mind you, it was the middle of summer.  (That's me with the bright pink scarf.)

To us, it also made perfect sense that if you're going to go through the trouble of creating a play, designing costumes and converting a closet into a theatre, you need to sell tickets.  Of course.

This part of the memory is actually more fun when Angela's mom (my step-mom and aunt) tells the story. She clearly remembers the doorbell ringing and a line of people at the front door. 

They told her simply, "We're here for the play." 

Then after seeing the confused look on her face, they clarified, "We have tickets." 

I don't remember how many people she actually let in the house, but I know from the pictures we had an audience.   They enjoyed it and we enjoyed it.  We made some money and got to be stahs.  (That's "stars" for those of you not from the greater Boston area.)

Goals accomplished. 

Next time you find yourself sitting in a long, painful meeting or wearing a giant pink scarf in the middle of summer, ask "What are our goals here?" 

I guarantee it will make the experience much more rewarding for everyone involved.

Enjoy,

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