If you’ve ever been in a drama production, you know there comes a time, a few weeks before the performance, when everyone has doubts about whether you can pull this off. People forget lines. Tech doesn’t work properly. The choreography is clunky. You think that the show will never come together in time.
And then, something magical falls into place, and the curtain rises. Everyone comments on how well things went.
Often, we focus on that ultimate applause and forget the messy middle that got us there. It happens with artistic performances, but also in organizations. You may admire others’ fundraising success, industry awards, or project outcomes — but I guarantee there was a point in the process where there was more pain than glory.
The path from the optimistic beginning to the ultimate completion never follows a linear process. There are pits, missteps, do-overs, frustration, and even despair along the way. Stick with it, and your curtain can rise, too.
Thanks, Mike!
