How to expand your capacity (my bizaversary)
There's a moment in the Broadway show Wicked that I've written about before - and has an enduring lesson for us.
Wicked recently celebrated its 20th anniversary on Broadway. The show has netted over a billion dollars, and it's been a cultural phenomenon that launched original Broadway cast members Idina Menzel (as Elphaba) and Kristin Chenoweth (as Glinda) into superstardom.
In the climax of the first act, Elphaba and Glinda travel to Oz to meet the Wizard, and Elphaba discovers that the Wizard cannot read the spell book and has called on Elphaba to do his evil bidding. He tricks Elphaba into casting a spell to make his monkeys into flying monkeys so they can spy on the citizens of Oz and ensure that all animals no longer speak. Elphaba steals the spell book; she and Glinda barricade themselves into an attic as they're chased by the Wizard's guards.
And so comes the iconic song, Defying Gravity. Glinda tries to convince Elphaba to apologize, but Elphaba draws her line in the sand. She's going rogue, she's on her own - it's the point of no return that must happen before intermission to keep the audience coming back for Act 2. Elphaba casts the same spell for herself as she did for the monkeys. Instead of her growing wings, a broom in the attic takes flight. She takes flight, rising above the stage, black capes surrounding her, broom in one hand and spell book in the other. The guards, Glinda, and citizens of Oz look on in horror as she makes her final proclamation: "And nobody in all of Oz, no wizard that there is or was is ever gonna bring me down!"
And in this, Elphaba expands her capacity.
She's the same person as she was before, but now she can take flight. She can do more. She can make more impact. In the opening of Act 2, we learn that she's been flying around on her broom, freeing animals and effectively scaring all the Ozians. Thanks to the spells she's able to cast, Elphaba has the tools in hand to create an exponentially greater impact than she had previously.
Expanding your capacity means defying gravity
Today is my eight year bizaversary. On May 16, 2016, my 30-and-a-half birthday, I woke up, newly unemployed, and began serving my first client. It's been a journey, and I've had astounding luck, success, and learnings over the last 8 years.
As business owners, we often think about growth as a one-to-one. We think about the next client, the next blog post, the next book. I have fallen into this mindset, as well: considering what my growth looks like a single contract at a time, or a single hire at a time.
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But what Elphaba gets right, and what is also available for us, is that sometimes a single change can produce a major impact for us. And it can be exponential.
I recently had an experience in my business that's expanded my capacity, and it's breathed new life into my entrepreneurial practice and my business. I'm finding myself with an expanded team with lots of experience, a new business line, and an entirely new revenue stream that's keeping me busy in the best way. And I'm excited to share it with you!
Introducing The Growth Speak Agency!
I've been doing this work quietly with continuing clients and I'm bringing it into the world. I've been working with speakers for 8 years, and am now doing keynote speaker placement at scale with a proveable, repeatable strategy and method.
We serve business owners who know that getting on stage and speaking is the fastest way to imbibe their business with a sustainable pipeline of potential clients.
With a collective four decades of experience, we've helped countless speakers wow crowds and make a real impact. From getting you on the right stages to crafting talks that resonate, we can help you get on the right stages.
Is this a good fit for you? Book a call with me and let's talk!
TV Producer/Writer and Comedic Performer/Speaker
7mothis is great! Thank you!
Dad | Content Marketing Expert | Leader | Composer | Lyricist | Teacher | Producer | Theater Evangelist | Author
7moCongrats!!
Congratulations, Marie!
TV Anchor | I'm leveraging my journalism to help 1 time pressed woman leader give a TEDxTalk in 2025 | Currently interviewing candidates for my 2025 Mastermind
7moSo great that you are expanding with this new business line. My business coach said a great line that is applicable here: Get unemotional about what you are going to *stop doing* as you grow. Identify the 20% that drives the 80%