Creating Something from Something
Featured Post #40
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Today’s Featured Post is by
, author of Life, Improvised, and was selected by community member . Lindsey writes:I'm nominating Life, Improvised because it brilliantly captures the art of adapting, problem-solving, and finding creativity in the unexpected. Mary’s post, Creating Something from Something, is a perfect example of how improvisation isn’t just for the stage—it’s a mindset for life. With humor, insight, and a refreshingly honest take on navigating uncertainty, she reminds us that even when we don’t have all the answers, we can always make something meaningful out of what we do have. It’s the kind of piece that leaves you feeling inspired to embrace the mess and magic of figuring it out as you go.
A SmallStack Featured Post
Creating Something from Something
What improvisation teaches us about creating something from something, adaptability, and the messy (and occasionally ridiculous) magic of figuring it out as we go.
By
Improvising involves creating something from nothing and figuring it out as we go. In an improv scene there we are, just people on a stage, sans props or fancy sets, moving the scene along, word by word, moment by moment. Though it might appear that we’re starting from nothing, we’re always really starting from something. Whether it’s a suggestion from the audience in an improv show or it’s an inkling of an idea or an experience that inspires the creation, we’re always starting from somewhere. An improvisation practice just helps us figure out and improve creating from that something, moving the scene forward onstage and off.
Lately I’ve been reflecting about why I was initially so drawn to improv and why I continue to find it such a potent practice, and though there seems to be hundreds of reasons, many of which I’ve written and shared about over the 10+ years I’ve been improvising, and will continue to write and share about, I want to share about a particular aspect…
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When improvising we’re creating something from seemingly nothing, but actually something and figuring it out as we go.
So, by improvising we improve our ability to create something from something and figure it out as we go.
My work as an entrepreneur, starting at age 14, is a type of improvisational work. I’ve long said and continue to believe – entrepreneurs are improvisers. We’re creating something from something - an idea, an experience, a problem we’ve observed and just can’t not try and solve - and figuring it out as we go. And also we need to adapt to change, build trust among teams, communicate clearly, and make decisions with limited information (all things good entrepreneurs and improvisers must excel at).
For me, as a teenage entrepreneur, the something I started from was a kernel of an idea and a desire to have an Italian treat in my home state where it wasn’t readily available. So, I started from a sugar craving? a creative idea? There was something there to start from and by improvising, saying “yes” to that idea “and” building from there, accepting the gifts like support from my parents, playing the scene I was in, and making new and weird choices along the way, learning from the moments that came up, figuring it out along the way. Starting and building a business is an improvisation.
Entrepreneurs aren’t the only professional improvisers. Anyone who makes something or wants to make something, anything – writing a book, starting a business, launching a new product, searching for a new job, making a movie, writing and sending out holiday cards, cooking dinner, raising kids – you are creating something from something. Whether you have a recipe, a book or class with ‘simple’ steps to do what you set out to do, or a thoughtful plan or not, you’re still tasked with starting from scratch, taking action, and figuring it out as you go.
When it comes to getting better at creating something from something and building a better ability to figure it out as you go, there’s no better practice than improvisation. Where else can you get so many repetitions creating something from seemingly nothing, just something small or slight, figuring it out as you go?!
If you want to get stronger, you go to the gym, regularly. You need to get in multiple reps, multiple sets, over multiple days.
Or, if you’re like me and want to build core strength and use social media less, you do a plank pose almost every day, whilst looking at instagram, because it works to improve both those intentions.
If you want to improve your adaptability, creativity, collaboration, ability to adapt and navigate uncertain and changing situations that are outside of your control, and do so with a sense of humor, you’ve got to get in the reps, and sets, over multiple days. So far, an improvisation practice is the best one I’ve found to get in those reps, and get in the reps for so many skills and abilities all at once.
Here are some ways you can start or continue your improvisation practice:
Take an improv class at a local improv theatre (keep in mind that a typical improv comedy class likely won’t draw the connection applying improv principles to life and work. Some theatres offer specific classes addressing improvising offstage)
Apply to take the 6-week virtual How to Handle Anything virtual improv course
Join me any Monday, at 11 am PT for an improv + writing session
Today actually marked the first day of the Monday Making Improv+Writing Sessions (work in progress name :), during which we spent some time practicing improv to get our brain in creating mode, and then spent time writing (or making, which could mean drawing, crafting, etc). For the time being I’ll be hosting these on Mondays at 11 am PT, for a space to create something you’re working on creating from something, an idea or intention you have, or to write in response to some writing prompts.
During today’s “Improv + Writing” session I shared these reflection inspiring writing prompts:
What have you created from nothing?
How did you figure it out as you went? What helped you?
How might you improvise in what you’re creating this year?
I leave these questions with you in case you’d like to reflect on your journey creating from nothing.
Here’s to a year filled with creating something from something and figuring it out as we go,
☺ Mary
About the author
is a multidisciplinary storyteller whose work spans writing, film, illustration, and entrepreneurship. She’s the author of the forthcoming book How to Handle Anything and host of the podcast by the same name. A University of Michigan graduate and Second City trained improviser, she uses humor and creativity to explore life’s curveballs and help leaders and teams create possibilities. She wrote and directed an award-winning short film, creates whimsical food pun illustrations, and once founded a gelato company. Through her Substack, Life, Improvised, she shares stories and techniques for navigating uncertainty, because life rarely goes as planned.Life, Improvised shares stories, reflections, lessons and techniques about improvising, creativity, and adapting to unforeseen circumstances, because life is an improvisation and we're all writing the script along the way.
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 | A guest post by
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I was a dance teacher for 40 years. One of my favorite classes to teach was Improv. It was the purest way to help dancers discover their art beyond the steps and technique. It was about dancing from the soul rather than the instruction. To me, improv is the essence of creativity. Improv plus inspiration is a beautiful thing.
I like to see writing about improvising... I believe it is so important to know how to do it; it makes it much easier to change direction, change plans when things don't go as planned. I improvise every day, in almost everything I do. I cook and bake without recipes (my kids used to tell me every time I make the same cookie, it turns out differently - but usually good regardless); I knit and crochet, improvising patterns as I go; when we travel, we often turn onto roads we notice at the moment, just to see where they lead, basically improvising the trip... it is a way of life for me.