Woody Allen is famously quoted as saying that “80% of success is showing up”. While I’m not sure I agree with his percentages, I agree completely with the sentiment. The percentage really isn’t the point here and while we all know that success doesn’t happen merely by showing up, we also know that success won’t happen if you don’t show up.
So what is showing up really all about? How can you “show-up” more?
1) Show Up Physically – While this may seem like a no-brainer, it’s surprising how often it doesn’t happen. Busy lives too often keep us from showing up to do the things we most want to do. Do you want to improve your vocal technique? Show up to your voice lessons and practice sessions. Want to finish that album you’ve been writing? Schedule time in your week for songwriting and show up! Want to improve your website, social media, marketing, etc.? Show up at your computer and get to it!
2) Show Up Mentally – Turn off all potential mental distractions. Put your phone on silent and turn off the e-mail notification on your computer. You may have other things on your mind and some of them may be reasonably important. However, unless it’s a fire that must be put out immediately, set it aside for whatever time you’ve allotted to the project at hand.
3) Show Up Emotionally – Attitude really is everything. Life stresses can make it difficult to feel creative, but when you show up to the gig, practice or writing session or whatever it happens to be, put all of that stuff aside. While you may not feel terribly enthusiastic and energetic, find a way to pull it out of yourself. Feeling down? Pour that emotion into your next song!
What successes have you experienced as a result of Showing Up?
One of the most powerful practices I have implemented in my life has been to commit myself to “show up”!
It is so easy to think we can be omnipresent simply because we can multi-task and connect on ten different cyber-platforms at once. In reality we end up being nowhere all at once. I became acutely aware of this a few years ago. Although there are still times when life gets really busy and I too fall back to my multi-tasking-omnipresent default behavior, I make a sincere effort to be where I am, prepared to be no place else. This is something that I also teach my clients. This one simple change has the power to improve the quality of every area of your life.
Showing up every Friday to write got me three finished novels, one that’s in the final stages of finishing and a fifth only just beginning. Showing up got me a business that I sincerely enjoy. Sometimes it’s hard getting body, mind and spirit to work in unison, they don’t always want to cooperate. But I’m realizing that when that happens, it’s time to take a step back and ask, what makes me happy? What’s causing all of this to go out of sync? It’s not enough anymore to say, “I’m tired” or “I don’t feel like it”.
Is showing up scary? You betcha. But like you said, what’s worse than not showing up is seeing how nothing ever happens if you don’t.
This is a post for everyone. Those vocally inclined and not. Showing up is becoming scarce in our society and we all need to be reminded of its importance. Thank you for this!
So true Patrice! I’ve really learned this as a mom – kids demand that we be present. When my son was a baby I got really good at letting the phone go to voice mail and ignoring other distractions when he needed me to be 100% present with him. Translating this to other areas of my life has been incredible!
As as coach, I get this! Not always perfectly of course. As an extrovert I am very stimulated (and distracted) by my environment. I have learned to put things away, turn off gadgets, close programs, and do what it takes to be present to my clients so they really have the experience of me showing up powerfully. Ironically, sometimes I am more powerful when I pace, or sit in the sunbeam of a window, but either way those are conscious ways of showing up. Now, I think there are ways I might do this more for ME!! You have me thinking 🙂
Yes! As a coach I really love being able to just focus on that one person, or that group of people. No other distractions. As a singer, being in the moment, totally present and giving to my audience, it’s magical!
I would say that Being present is the most important aspect of my work with clients and to show up fully with them, I feel that it’s essential that I show up for myself! Being present to my own life, my needs, what is going internally as well as taking care of myself and the business at hand (whatever that happens to be) helps me to show up more fully! Being an introvert in nature, I need quite a lot of quiet time and when I’ve got too much going on at once and not enough time to digest and take it in, I tend to get more scattered. Also makes me think of the fear I’ve sometimes felt of being seen! Yikes, it can be scary to show up rather than hiding out and yet so rewarding when you do!
I love Woody Allen’s quote about “80% of success is about showing up.”
One thing I’ve finally learned, Jennifer, as an entrepreneur is to turn off all mental distractions and quit fooling myself into thinking I can multi-task. Now, when I work, I am way more relaxed, rather than frazzled. And I laser focus on one thing at a time, always being present and aware.
Love your hint about pouring your emotion into a song. One thing that gets me energetic and gives me a good start to the day is listening to or singing some great music!
Comment…
Jennifer I love this post! I was chatting with a friend this morning about how the most simple ideas can be the most important and this is an example of that. We have to show up in our lives, in every area, to truly be happy and live our dreams, whether that’s singing or something else. Sometimes, we tell ourselves that we’re showing up, that we’re committed, yet we aren’t. This is a great nudge to look at where that may happening. Thanks!
I’m very big on commitments and recently just finished a job that required seven days a week for a month. Been recuperating ever since. Showing up is the mark of a professional. I recently talked with a Casting Director and learned that only 50% of actors actually show up for auditions.
Now I know that CDs have very looonnng memories. You won’t get a second chance with them.
I also know that showing up is the earmark of professionalism. We all have to honor our commitments.
Great post Jenn. As a musician I can honestly say, there are few things in life more rewarding than showing up for your art. The physical release is intense, the mental focus brings rare moments of absolute clarity and don’t even get me started on the emotional piece. In what area of life can you access and express yourself so fully that it feels like an out of body experience? If you don’t show up, you rob yourself of these priceless gifts.