Defying gravity - a musical message for leading ourselves

Wicked is on my mind and the last song, Defying Gravity, is playing in my head in a loop.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a scientist after all and by no means do I have the chops to sit at my laptop and type about how gravity might not be real.

But here's the thing, I'm an creator and artist at heart. And there are things that defy logic:

• Music - how else do I explain my soul moving from my body to a place where my feet cannot thread?

• Laughter - how else to explain its magic, lifting heavy days and making burdens disappear?

• Imagination - how else do entire worlds that feel-as-real-as-the-things-I-touch exist?!

In the context of the professional world, is there space to defy gravity?

I vote yes.

The one common thread that binds us all at work are the assumptions that we live in. And often we find ourselves following rules and norms without questioning their validity or belonging. Do any of these sound familiar?

• "Meetings mean progress"

• "Leaders must be perfect"

• "Networking means schmoozing"

• "Feedback is criticism"

• "Revenue is the only measure of success"

Who comes up with this stuff anyway? What happens if we trust our instincts instead?

Cue the spotlight at the center of the stage.

There are 5 things that you can do to claim that space that awaits.

1. Remove the hope that you will have the freedom to do what you truly want to do "in the future". Do it - do it rough, unpolished, unclean - but do it now.

2. Become interested and interesting. You are the only person you will ever spend the most amount of time with, so why not hang out with the most interesting person you know?

3. Growth and comfort rarely coexist. You must pick one. Either you choose or the choice is made for you.

4. Failure teaches lessons that success never can. In a world that glorifies winning, choose to play a different game.

5. Motivation is a slippery friend - you can't count on her to stick around. Seek sticky environments that propel you forward regardless of your fickle friend.

You get it right? These things are of your choosing.

You choose the limits.

You choose the breakthrough.

Being in limbo is painful. And also a choice.

'try' and 'regret' are the 2 sides of this coin.

You are one choice away from defying the rules of someone else's game. If growth is what you seek, then try your hand at choice as your big leadership play. Think of what you could do, together, with your mindset and decisive action.

Cue the walk to the spotlight at center stage.

My best, always,

Shar