The Secret to my Success

“What is success?”

I was at my weekly business group and it was time to answer the varied question that always closed the meeting. I knew exactly what I was going to say, but the exuberant Mary Kay woman bounced up before I could, and exclaimed, “I’ll go!”

So my answer began to morph the more I thought about it, which was just long enough to turn my train of thought into a total train-wreck.

What I said: “Success is many things – in business, it’s when a muscle releases (I’m a massage therapist), in friendship it’s about making time because everybody gets busy (I used air quotes on “busy”)…”

I might have strayed a bit, but was still somewhat on track until my voice began to waver with emotion as I added, “And I hate when people say that they don’t like hospitals or funerals, because guess what? Neither do I. But you go because you have to.”

I heard the incoherent words spew from my mouth as I gazed at my colleagues and saw their questioning stares, wondering how we had come to this point.

Success = hospitals and funerals?? What the hell was I talking about?!

What I should have said: "Success is about setting personal goals and making the effort to achieve them. Like last night, when my improv group, the Stage Monkeys, went and performed at the LA Improv Festival at the IO West.”

It was true. We had performed in Hollywood the night before (another check on the Bucket List), but the experience in its entirety ended up being one giant, cosmic game of improv. From a late night slot at 11:30pm on a Tuesday (meaning two of our six person group couldn’t make it) to a last minute absence by another member (leaving our director to perform with us), we just kept taking it as it came.

Going Green – I was nothing but green in the Green Room, not with envy (though I did covet a girl’s purse with two sunny side eggs and bacon making a happy face), but more because of my lack of experience while rubbing elbows with people I’d watched and admired at the IO West before – groups like DHT and Trophy Wife – it was pretty cool. My fellow female Monkey was also feeling green, but more because of the shot she received in her ass at the doctor’s office right before we left…like I said, our night turned to improv before we even hit the stage.

Lofty Ideals – We were performing upstairs in the Loft, where comfy couches housed an audience that was just about in our lap, so it made it all the more awkward if we messed up – the pressure! Trans Fat Orchestra went on before us, a co-ed foursome that really had their game tight. It was a little intimidating, but we didn’t have time to think about it because once the lights went down, we had to jump on stage.

Monkeys shines – What an adrenaline rush! A little crude at times, but we had consistent laughs. Because there were only four of us, I was thrown to the wolves and involved in most scenes, whether I liked it or not…and I liked it. I saw room for improvement and took personal notes on what I could have changed, but the fact was we had fun and the audience could sense that, which made them able to join in on the fun too. It’s like doing a wedding speech - people are there to have a good time, they want to laugh - you just have to give them an opportunity.

Paparazzi - As we were walking back to our car, a guy driving by stopped and called out, “What was that website again for you guys?“ We yelled back and my giddiness returned. I joked, “Can you believe the paparazzi are already stalking us?”

“If only it had been one block down,” my director nodded, “we would have been on Hollywood and Vine. Nobody gets famous at the corner of Hollywood and Ivar.”

Famous or not, the night was a success.

What is success?