Unleash Your Cadenza
Grace Ueng
Leadership Coach and Strategy Consultant | “Corporate Therapist” & “Secret Weapon” | Creator of HappinessWorks™
Welcome back to Happiness & Leadership@Work!
In this edition, we explore a new word I learned: cadenza - a moment of individual brilliance & expression in music. Turning this into a metaphor for your most defining challenges, let's walk through how to conquer yours.
Where Time Stands Still: A Moment in Time
In last week’s piano lesson, Teddy continued to work with me on my journey to play Liszt’s Liebestraum No. 3 in A-flat Major—one of the most recognized piano pieces of the Romantic era. Its title translates from German into “Dreams of Love,” reflecting its sweeping lyricism and emotional depth.
I have been working for a long time on a run about one-third into the piece that has been particularly difficult for me. Teddy asked if I was ready to attempt it, this time a bit more quickly.
Always ready for a challenge, I attempted, though nowhere as well as I had hoped.
He then asked if I knew the meaning of the word “cadenza.” I said no and asked him to please explain. He said that a cadenza is a run, or “flourish,” in a measure of music when time stands still.
Individualized Expression, a Delight!
For audiences, cadenzas often stand out as highlights of a performance. While they are frequently placed near the end of concertos, Liszt shows us that they can just as easily appear at the beginning or middle of a piece, catching listeners by surprise.
I liken this to challenges that pop up throughout our lives, often at times we least expect. Such as a major system failure on the eve of a product launch or your boss quitting suddenly. And some we would expect, such as during the integration of an acquisition or when recovering from surgery at an advanced age.
A cadenza is more than just a flashy passage. It’s an opportunity for a performer to showcase their individuality and artistry, to improvise and be creative. It is one that usually requires many years of experience to learn to do well and takes both technical and interpretive, expressive skills to perform effectively.
Teddy then went on to provide tips on how to break apart sections of the cadenza passage, piece by piece. I realized it is like solving a puzzle where every fragment contributes to the larger picture. When I am able to successfully put them back together technically, I will be able to play the run quickly and then add the emotion that Liszt intended.
Metaphor for Life’s Challenges
Teddy has come to realize that when I start scribbling an extra lot in my notebook, his teaching may just end up in a column. Such is the case here. As I practiced this cadenza back at home, I thought that this word is a fitting metaphor for any worthwhile, difficult challenge in life that we set out to accomplish.
Even though it may only take a few seconds to perform, mastering a cadenza can take a lifetime of dedication, experience, and refinement.
Each of these represents a fleeting moment born from years of preparation, perseverance, and passion:
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Announcing, New Offering…
And speaking of bold leaps, I’m working on something called Cadenza…keys to a good life, a broader offering inspired by the very themes I’ve been writing about for the last three years: leadership, happiness, sports psychology, and optimizing human performance.
As part of this, I’m thrilled to collaborate with Noa Kageyama, a performance psychologist on faculty at The Juilliard School, whose expertise has helped elite musicians and executives alike overcome challenges, manage stress, and perform at their best.
Cadenza Cohort: Crescendo Studio
I had coffee this week with Jim Geikie, a long time friend in the Triangle business community, who in recent years has served as CEO of Gaia Herbs and President of Burt’s Bees. He’s been following my piano journey online.
We brainstormed that one offering that Cadenza will provide business leaders, who have been heads down for so many years with little time for hobbies, a place to immerse into a creative pursuit and set a big goal that they will achieve within a year. Such as creating a piece of art or performing in a theatre production, a challenge that will broaden their thinking and make them that much more effective back in the workplace.
This is akin to Google’s “20% time” policy, which encourages personal growth and innovation by allowing individuals to pursue interests that could lead to unexpected opportunities and skill development.
We’ll be launching our first Cadenza Cohort in the New Year. This group of leaders will enter the Crescendo Studio space to blend creativity and professional development in 2025. Whether it’s performing on stage, making critical decisions in the boardroom, or navigating life’s uncertainties, Cadenza will offer tools and insights to thrive under pressure.
Your Feedback, please! Be first to know when Cadenza goes live…
As we curate Cadenza, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Your input will help shape something I hope will inspire and help leaders in all walks of life. Share your thoughts and stay in the loop! Take a quick survey to provide feedback and be the first to know when Cadenza goes live: short survey
Thank you for your feedback—I can’t wait to welcome you to the Cadenza Community! As Teddy helped me realize, a cadenza is where the magic happens—and together, we’ll create something extraordinary.
Wishing you happiness for success in your leadership journey!
Grace
I am the founder of Savvy Growth, a consultancy and leadership coaching firm that equips leaders and their companies to realize their highest potential.
Reach out to schedule an introductory call - I look forward to connecting!
Hear Google Labs’ take on Cadenza