Comedy theatres host the most diverse classrooms I have ever seen. They cater to a broad audience and classes are typically once per week, for 8 weeks (8 classes). It is a fantastic crash course, but it doesn’t offer much time for deep learning.

I am lucky I had the chance to take an improv class in college. This meant class was 3x/week over a 3.5-month semester (40+ classes, with holidays).

Jesse Hinson, an accomplished actor and great improvisation teacher, was my professor. It was one of the best classes I took in college. One lesson he shared 5+ years ago comes to mind daily:

Go before you are ready.

Imagine a college improv class comprised of business and engineering students. We were not a particularly theatrical group and many of us would hesitate to jump in the mix. We were overthinking.

In improv, and in life, you must leap.

There is never a ‘right’ or ‘perfect’ time to:

• Edit an improv scene

• Take on a special project at work

• Move to a new city

• Write a book

• Try a new recipe

• Start a company

The list goes on. I tracked down a few quotes that exemplify this.

Homework: The next time you hear yourself saying ‘I will do [x] once I am ready;’ take a beat and seek action. What is first step you can do in that moment?

NOTE: I do not recommend this thought process for folks in the medical field. If I was getting surgery, and the doctor said they didn’t feel ready, I would not say ‘grab your scalpel and give it your best shot!’

I would instead thank them for their candor and ask for another doctor.

As always — reply with thoughts, questions, and feedback! I want to hear from you 😀 

Tyler