1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: Think about this. How many times have you been told 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:09,319 Speaker 1: to just be happy in the midst of chaos, or 3 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,479 Speaker 1: to give yourself a break when everything seems to be 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 1: falling apart. The idea sounds simple, but living it can 5 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: be a whole different story. In this Quick Win episode, 6 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 1: I sit down with musical theater star Lucy Jurak, who 7 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: shares how a simple piece of advice changed her life 8 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:37,560 Speaker 1: and how she pays it forward to others. My name 9 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: is doctor Amantha Imber. I'm an organizational psychologist and the 10 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: founder of behavioral science consultancy Inventium. And this is how 11 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 1: I work a show about how to help you do 12 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:52,239 Speaker 1: your best work. On today's quick Win episode, we go 13 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: back to an interview from the past and I pick 14 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: out a quick win that you can apply today. And 15 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: in today's show, I speak with Lucy Iraq about one 16 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 1: of the best pieces of advice she has ever received. Now, 17 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: what's a piece of advice that you've received and applied 18 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 1: that has immeasurably improved your life. 19 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 2: I think the piece of advice that I have, as 20 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 2: I've aged, I've understood it more is just the idea 21 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 2: of this too shell pass and that feelings are normal, 22 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,399 Speaker 2: and there's nothing wrong with feeling negative feelings, but that 23 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,959 Speaker 2: they that feeling won't last. You're not going to feel 24 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 2: like that for ever. It will pass, and it will 25 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,839 Speaker 2: often pass quicker than you even realize. But I remember 26 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 2: when I was in Mama Mia, which was my first 27 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 2: job as a twenty year old, in my first musical 28 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,400 Speaker 2: theater job, and I was so excited and I ended 29 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 2: up actually having a really hard time on Mamma Mia. 30 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 2: But for lots of reasons, I was an understudy, and 31 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 2: I wasn't. I'm not a very good understudy, it turns out. 32 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 2: Actually it's the only time I ever understudied in my 33 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 2: life because I don't have a strong enough dad's background. Anyway, 34 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 2: that's a different that's a story for a different day. 35 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 2: But I remember the lead, the leading lady, one of 36 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 2: the two leading ladies was Anne Wood, who is a beautiful, 37 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 2: amazing musical theater act at. I remember. I'm not sure 38 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 2: if I've even spoken to her about this, but she 39 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 2: was so kind to me, like i'd often just go in. 40 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 2: And now having been a leading lady in musicals, I 41 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 2: realize how patient she was with me that I sort 42 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 2: of wander in her dressing room and have a chat, 43 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 2: and she had on her mirror this too shell pass. 44 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 2: And at the time I thought she must be in 45 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 2: a bad place in her life, that's really negative or 46 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 2: not like she must have been about. But I just 47 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,119 Speaker 2: did think that must be she must be going through 48 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 2: something hard, you know, for that to be what she's 49 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 2: she's wanting something to pass. But then as I've gotten older, 50 00:02:37,120 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 2: I've realized that's such a good thing to come back 51 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,639 Speaker 2: to positive in positive and negative times or in difficult times, 52 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 2: because it makes you be more present in the positive times. 53 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 2: And of course every single moment will pass, and so 54 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 2: the best bits will pass, so you've got to be 55 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 2: really present in those best bits, whether it's you know, 56 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 2: looking at my little kid's face, who's just so full 57 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 2: of delight for a second, and he'll probably throw a 58 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 2: tantrum within a few few more seconds. And the other 59 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 2: piece of advice, again, it wasn't given to me as such, 60 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 2: but it was I had just happened upunt it on 61 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 2: a clip of this woman, Jane my Chef's ki. She 62 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 2: was a contest. She was a beautiful singer, and she 63 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 2: was on one of the Got talents, and she had 64 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 2: had a really hard battle with cancer and she'd had 65 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 2: a hard life, and she said something to the effect 66 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 2: of she got the golden buzzer. So she did this 67 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 2: amazing performance and it was so beautiful and everybody loved it, 68 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:31,640 Speaker 2: and then she said her piece of advice is you 69 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,640 Speaker 2: can't wait for life not to be hard, to decide 70 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 2: to be happy. And that has really been really impactful 71 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 2: on me in the last of years, I think because 72 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 2: we have been going through harder times and my husband 73 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 2: I both in the entertainment industry, and we've had to 74 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 2: really pivot to try and support our family through COVID 75 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 2: times when everything shut down and we don't have family 76 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 2: support here. We've got supportive families, but they're in other states, 77 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 2: states that we were locked out of, and we just 78 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: you know, it's been tough, but we've really I feel 79 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 2: proud of us that we've kind of and my husband's 80 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 2: curious is he's actually really good at finding the fun. 81 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 2: I feel like I often get really serious and get 82 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 2: all right, this is what we're going to do, and 83 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 2: he will find the fun and things, and often sometimes 84 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 2: I'll be like, Oh, I haven't got time to have fun, 85 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 2: and then I think, oh, that's not. 86 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: A very good that's not a very good way to 87 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:18,840 Speaker 1: be here. 88 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 2: I don't think that's how I want to live my life. 89 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 2: So he's an excellent foil for me. But yeah, but 90 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:28,279 Speaker 2: that is important, I think because again, it's just bringing 91 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 2: you into the present moment and being like, you know, 92 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,039 Speaker 2: in this moment, I'm sitting here with this really amazing, 93 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 2: intelligent woman who I really look up to, and I'm 94 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 2: getting to have this great conversation and that's awesome in 95 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,159 Speaker 2: this minute. And I don't know what's going to happen 96 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 2: in the next minute, but probably maybe something awesome and 97 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 2: maybe not. But it's it just means I think it 98 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: means that you appreciate things as they happen better. 99 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 1: Now, what piece of advice do you find yourself giving 100 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:56,560 Speaker 1: to people most frequently? 101 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 2: I think generally just to up, to give yourself a 102 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 2: break and it's okay, like because I feel like I 103 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: have really high achieving people around me who are usually 104 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 2: then feeling bad if they're not like perfect every second 105 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 2: of the day, and just reminding them of all the 106 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 2: amazing things that they've done, like literally in the day 107 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 2: that we're normally talking about, let alone their entire lives 108 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 2: and just reminding people that you've done heaps and you're 109 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:27,039 Speaker 2: a human and there's that's a wonderful thing. And I 110 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 2: think as well that sometimes those times when you're feeling 111 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,240 Speaker 2: like you're failing, or you know you've done the wrong thing, 112 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:34,799 Speaker 2: or you've made a mistake, you know, they're those moments 113 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 2: that actually will help you to be more compassionate to 114 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 2: other people down the track, because you'll have, you know, 115 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 2: as so long as you do remember those moments, then 116 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,479 Speaker 2: you do think, yeah, you know, we are all trying 117 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 2: our hardest, and we're all making mistakes, and we're all 118 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 2: just just doing the best that we can with what 119 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 2: we've got, and some people have a harder time, you know, 120 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 2: do it like some people have more things at their 121 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 2: disposal and some people have less, and so it's imbalanced. 122 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 2: So we're all going to have different things that were 123 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 2: better and worse at And I think that just give 124 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 2: yourself a break, which is advice I don't take very often, 125 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 2: but I think that, you know, often the advice you 126 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 2: give to others a device, you probably should be giving 127 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:15,480 Speaker 2: to yourself a bit. 128 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: But if you're looking for more tips to improve the 129 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: way that you work, I write a short, fortnightly newsletter 130 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 1: that contains three cool things that I've discovered that helped 131 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:30,120 Speaker 1: me work better, ranging from software and gadgets that I'm 132 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: loving truly interesting research findings. You can sign up for 133 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: that at Howiwork dot code That's how I Work dot co. 134 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 1: Thank you for sharing part of your day with me 135 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: by listening to How I Work. If you're keen for 136 00:06:43,720 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: more tips on how to work better, connect with me 137 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: via LinkedIn or Instagram. I'm very easy to find. Just 138 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: search for Amantha Imba. How I Work was recorded on 139 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 1: the traditional land of the Warrangery people, part of the 140 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,800 Speaker 1: Cool And Nation. I'm grateful for being able to work 141 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 1: and live on this beautiful land, and I want to 142 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:08,920 Speaker 1: pay my respects to elders, past, present and emerging. How 143 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 1: I Work is produced by Inventium with production support from 144 00:07:11,880 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: Dead Set Studios. And thank you to Martin Nimba who 145 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: did the audio mix and makes everything sound better than 146 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: it would have otherwise.