An Artist Sketches a Federal Career: How Painting and Performing Set the Stage for Success in Government

This speaker is an artist and storytelling performer, who struggled in his career as a right-brained person among left-brained, analytical people at a government agency. But then he learned that everything he needed to be an effective, successful government employee was already in his artist’s tool kit. Though he usually doesn’t find himself bursting into poetry, song and dance at work, Jay’s experiences in these areas have boosted his ability to be valuable at his agency.

This presentation summarizes several of the lessons that Jay has learned as an artist, and applied to his job at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency:
1) Communicate using powerful imagery.
The better you become at mixing powerful, vivid imagery in your verbal and email communications, the more effective a communicator. I teach these words as a storytelling instructor, and use them at work too.
2) Prepare in advance
Legendary humorist Mark Twain famously noted: “I never give a good impromptu speech without several hours to prepare it.” If Twain didn’t talk off-the-cuff, you shouldn’t either. Always prepare in advance.
3) Try a different technique to complete your project
If you’re facing writer’s block, or your strategy isn’t working, change your approach, it often leads to a break-through.
4) Sketch out your plan, then socialize it
Even the best artists brainstorm before creating their masterpiece. Put some thought into your creation before building it. Share your early versions with peers you trust, then build from their advice.
5) Experiment.
Great artists are versatile. Try your hand at an area you are unfamiliar with and learn to excel at it.