Get-R-Done is being performance driven

Nikon D5, Sigma 35mm ƒ/1.4 DG Art, ISO 360, ƒ/1.4, 1/100

Comedian Larry, the Cable guy, is attributed with the American phrase Get-R-Done. I will let Larry explain its origin and what it means.

For the last five weeks, I have watched my daughter and her friends Get-R-Done with Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night.

My daughter is right in the first photo with her friend Jessica. They are also president and vice-president of the high school theatre club.

The highest levels of performance come to people who are centered, intuitive, creative, and reflective – people who know to see a problem as an opportunity.

–– Deepak Chopra
Fujifilm X-E2, FUJINON XF 55-200mm, ISO 2000, ƒ/3.9, 1/60

I watched my daughter as she designed the costumes for the play. Some from scratch, buying clothes at the local thrift store and then modifying them for the period. Her shopping all happened just five weeks ago.

By the way, the rest of the cast also was just as busy. They made this quite an elaborate set. There was much more work in this project than the musical production they did last year for ten weeks.

Fujifilm X-E2, FUJINON XF 55-200mm, ISO 800, ƒ/4.4, 1/60

Now at the same time, they are memorizing their lines. If you haven’t listed and read any Shakespeare, let me say this is like learning a foreign language. It takes time not just to say the words but understand what you are saying.

I did a quick recording of the play last night for my parents, who couldn’t come to the performance. Listen to some of it and see all the set and costumes for yourself.

Fujifilm X-E2, FUJINON XF 55-200mm, ISO 2500, ƒ/4.5, 1/60

I watched the students’ passion rise so much that tears would pour down their faces. They were frustrated when the lines just were complicated and did not come as quickly as other material had in the past taken to memorize.

I watched the cast struggle with the old English of Shakespeare.

Then I watched as the students would calm down and then take the time to work with each other and help them understand a scene and how they worked to improve it.

Learning their roles in the play is also helping them to figure out their societal roles. First, they knew how blocking and purpose were necessary for their part and how they act even when they have no lines but are on stage.

How about you?

You have a lot on your plate for your work. Do you Get-R-Done? As Larry, the Cable Guy says, this is when you give it your all and give 110%.

Like all these high school students realize, they repeatedly practiced, so the audience understood. They wanted to perform at the level where the storyline moved the audience to laugh and cry.

Is all the stuff you are working on today behind those closed doors going to WOW the audience? Are you passionate as these students about their play?

Don’t lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations.

Ralph Marston