4 lessons: James Acaster
copyright Steve Oakes and Martin Griffin info@vespa.academy
James Acaster,
Writer, Podcaster, Stand-up Comedian
copyright Steve Oakes and Martin Griffin info@vespa.academy
1. Active seeking
copyright Steve Oakes and Martin Griffin info@vespa.academy
As a student, Acaster didn’t sit around wondering what to do. He experimented, actively seeking out things to explore. He tried…
2. Getting Obsessed
copyright Steve Oakes and Martin Griffin info@vespa.academy
Having experimented so much, Acaster knew what was beginning to obsess him, and surrounded himself with other people who were obsessed in the same way.
He allowed his obsession – stand-up comedy – to develop, without worrying about why, or how he was going to make a living.
He fed the flames by studying and practising as much as possible…
3. Deliberate Practice
copyright Steve Oakes and Martin Griffin info@vespa.academy
One day, Acaster watched another band – a band he really admired – practising for a studio session.
And he realised he’d never practised music like that. He’d been much more casual and hadn’t pushed himself.
From then on, he began practising stand-up deliberately, pushing himself to get better each time.
4. Importance of Effort
copyright Steve Oakes and Martin Griffin info@vespa.academy
Acaster sees other comedians complaining that they’re not famous enough, or they deserve to be better known.
But he’s pretty clear that these people aren’t successful because they’re not working hard enough.
He sees effort as ‘a secret weapon’. It leads to improvement, which means you don’t have to rely on luck…
Acaster’s 4 lessons:
Experiment. Try new things all the time – have lots of projects on the go. Don’t wait around for something to happen, or for inspiration to strike.
2. Getting obsessed
Find other people into the things you are, and work together to improve.
3. Deliberate practice
Focus on the things you can’t yet do well. Practice them over and over until you begin to get better.
4. Importance of effort
Effort is a secret weapon. Outwork the others, and you don’t need to rely on luck.
copyright Steve Oakes and Martin Griffin info@vespa.academy