At Inbound this year, I had the opportunity to hear from Amy Poehler. (Yes, *that* Amy Poehler.) She talked a lot about her podcast, “Good Hang”, life and work philosophy, and she left us with some solid take-home advice.
⛵️ “The doing of the thing is the thing.”
I really admire how Poehler talks about her creative process, and it resonates with me, as a songwriter. In addition to the final work of art, I think she’d say that the process of making the art is also art. Creation.
🐠 “People and process over the idea.”
Every time I record a new song in the studio, the final product is a little bit different than what I had envisioned at the start. If I allow it to, the song transforms as it becomes a recording. Preamp and mic selection, the recording environment, and personnel all influence the creative result. Let it happen. Because the doing of the thing is the thing.
🎣 “Be a good person to work with.”
This one hits me in just the right spot and echoes of a deeper truth, and I feel called to live this out. I think, ultimately, what Poehler is getting at is: what does it mean to love my neighbor? No gossip. No grumbling. No wasted time. Be quick to apologize. Listen well.
🎯 As Amy concluded, she offered her audience a practical piece of advice: Figure out just one thing you’re going to do when you get back to the office, applying what you’ve learned at Inbound.
