Inspiration and Leadership Lessons from Joan Rivers

I had the opportunity to hear Joan Rivers talk yesterday.  She was at once both what I expected and far more.  First, I expected, brash, funny (very) mouthy and smart.  She was all of those things.  People are generally fascinated by people of celebrity and Joan delivered on that count, but what impressed me most, and will be my lasting lessons from Joan’s talk were far more personal, human and real.

Joan is the things we see on TV and on stage – and she is an educated, tough and wise woman.

Here are some lessons, shared by her, with  additional comments from me and action questions from me.

Successful people have mottos or mantras.  She gave examples from guests on her show How’d You Get So Rich, including “don’t look back”, “Yes is the only answer”, and from Mrs. Fields of cookie fame “Good is not enough.”  Mottos are mantas are ways to solidify and  make real your most important values, principles and areas of focus. 

•  What are your mottos and mantras?  
• Do you share those with others?

Nothing is beneath you.  Joan had friends that told her not to do different things in her career.  She said, “unless you are paying my bills, shut up!”  She did things that helped her move to where she wanted to go, and didn’t listen to critics, disguised as friends.  (Ok, read that one again and apply it – it is a piece of wisdom for the ages).  As a leader, I learned this from my Dad.  Always willing to delegate, he wasn’t afraid or didn’t shy away from any task – even if he had paid his dues and he was paying someone else to do it  (and on a farm there are some pretty unsavory – and smelly – tasks). 

• Are you willing to do what what it takes? 
• And are you willing to support your team by working side by side with them on the toughest, dirtiest most unsavory tasks?

Ignore your shortcomings.  More about the critics.  Don’t let people tell you you can’t do it.  Who cares if you do’t have a degree from Harvard, you are too young, you are too old, etc., etc., ETC.!   Leaders maybe don’t ignore them, but they don’t them get in their way either.  Use your naviety as an asset.  Focus more on your strengths than on your weaknesses.  Focus on what you CAN do, rather than what you can’t do. 

• When was the last time you let a shortcoming or a “I’m not that” get in your way?

These are just a few of the gems I got from an hour in a room with Joan Rivers.

I’m not as funny, I’m not as blond, and I’m not as loud as Joan – but hopefully this blog post brought you some of her wisdom, and a new understanding for her as a persona, and why she is so successful.

• What will you do with what you learnined from this post?