Well I can say I'm interested in hearing people's experiences in creating meaningful work.

Offering interactive learning programs in schools is part of my work. One time I had a group of 60 12-15 year olds in an auxiliary gym of a remote community Middle School. During several points in my instructions we would experience giant waves of soccer balls being smashed against the paper thin foldy walls cutting off the main gym. It was hard to hear me and the kids were looking for a chance to go crazy. Well I accidentally gave it to them. I wanted everyone to move around the room and meet up with partners for an activity, and in my distracted state I asked every one to stand up before I gave the clear detailed instructions. The whole room bust into instant pandemonium. There were 60 12-15 year olds running jumping flipping each other and screaming. I saw horrified looks on teachers faces. No attempt from me to quiet the room was working. The Principal of the school had to jump in and turn the lights off. Then she asked me if I'd like her to talk to them. I shrugged my shoulders and said ok. I finished the next 40 minutes of the program, earnestly shook hands with the principal and accepted my $200 cheque. She never did invite me back.

Why I’m telling you this is 3 fold:

1) LEARNING EXPERIENCES…I want to share my work. I find when I talk about my challenging moments it’s generally met with interest, more than when I begin to tell people about my successes. There’s something for the listener to learn…(note: don’t do what Mike did in that situation- I want to make sure the space is appropriate for what I have planed with the group and give instructions before asking large groups to stand up) If we can handle the humility I think there is a power in sharing our mistakes/learning opportunities. Hey, why reinvent the wheel, right? (I’m asking to hear your learning moments.)

2) JUMP IN….(In most cases) if I’ve waited until I thought I was ready I would have missed out on great learning and many times of going out on a limb and experiencing success. The above experience is an example of going out on a limb and falling. Great. Now I know what it feels like to take a fall. Embarrassing, but not so bad. I want to succeed, and I imagine my self succeeding, and still sometimes I fail. I do notice an increased confidence in my reach because I know I can handle the risk. I have experience knowing I can get up, collect the lessons and try again, differently. (This is my advice-which I’m sure you all know.)

3) NETWORKING…Lastly, I was inspired by everyone in our entrepreneur workshop (thank you Michael for calling us together). I want you to know better what it is I do. It seems useful/synergetic to me to write to you here with the hope of fostering meaningful connections.


Thanks for reading me. When the tide comes in everyone’s boat rises.

Mike Sheehan

I have learned so much from the things that didn't work. I started as an actor, moved on to improvisation and then teaching improvisation, worked as an eductor with children, then in the spring of 2002 got laid off and decided to go into business for myself as a corporate facilitator. Quickly learned that I loved the work, and spent more than a year beating my head against a brick wall before learning that I hated the process of selling that kind of work. I just wasn't comfortable building relationships in that corporate-networking environment. Bleah. So I turned to acting coaching (which I was already doing on the side, but ignoring in favour of my 'real work'... duh), and I still run a coaching studio (www.bizstudio.ca) doing on-camera acting coaching (for actors 11-17 mostly). I love working with teens, and helping actors. In december I published a book "Confidence on Camera: A Practical Handbook for Young Actors" that I'm excited about (www.confidenceoncamera.com). But on top of everything else, acting is still my passion/profession/expensive hobby depending on how you look at it. I struggle with staying focused... since my business is ME I'm often tempted to (and do) take other opportunities that come up.

I've found that I generally know what I want and how to get there... it's just muddled up with everything else that I want and all my ideas get jumbled in together. Clarity and focus take time for me, and sharing (and hearing!) stories and experience and reflections on the whole messy process helps me get where I want to be.