The Two Words That Turn Curveballs into Opportunities - Newsletter #40

Welcome to Maven Musings! I'm thrilled to connect with you. Biweekly, we’ll discuss Global inclusivity, technology, women’s empowerment, and healthy workplace culture through my unique and joyful lens. Join me on a journey of inspiration, positivity, and creativity.

I grew up in theater spaces, where creativity and chaos lived side-by-side. If you’ve ever been backstage during a show, you know there is no such thing as perfect control. A cue will be missed. A prop will break. Someone will forget a line. Sometimes your wig falls off (yep and I have it on tape, we captured THAT performance). And in those moments, the magic often comes from one simple principle: yes, and.

“Yes, and” is an improv rule, but it’s really a life skill. In improv, when your scene partner says something unexpected, you don’t shut it down. You agree with the reality they’ve created (“yes”) and then you build on it (“and”). That little two-word mantra keeps the scene alive. Without it, the momentum dies.

I’ve carried “yes, and” far beyond the stage lights. In fact, it might be one of the most powerful tools in my leadership and community work.

Why “Yes, And” Works Outside the Theater

In the workplace, especially in fast-moving industries like tech and events, we’re often handed curveballs. A product launch moves up by two weeks. A conference room gets double-booked. A team member’s brilliant idea isn’t in the plan. The computer that connected beautifully with the monitors the night before cannot seem to connect (until 3 minutes until doors open).

The easy response is “yes, but.” Yes, but that’s not possible. Yes, but we’ve never done it that way. Yes, but we don’t have time. The problem is, “yes, but” stops creativity cold.

“Yes, and” creates a path forward. It says, “I hear you, I value your idea, and here’s how we can make it work.” You might still have constraints. You might still need to pivot. But instead of focusing on the roadblock, you’re focusing on momentum.

The Mindset Shift

Using “yes, and” doesn’t mean saying yes to everything. It’s about starting from a place of openness before adding your perspective.

For example, when someone proposes an ambitious community event, my instinct might be to think about all the logistics that could go wrong. But if I start with “yes, and,” the conversation changes:

• “Yes, and let’s explore how we could test this on a smaller scale first.”
• “Yes, and here’s who we could bring in to help make it happen.”
• “Yes, and what if we add a digital component to include more people?”

This approach invites collaboration instead of shutting it down.

In Leadership and Life

Some of my favorite career moments have come from “yes, and” thinking. Opportunities to moderate panels at Comic-Con. Building unexpected partnerships in the tech world. Even stepping into DJing—something that was totally new for me—started with me saying, “Yes, and let’s see where this goes.”

As a voice actor, producer and playwright, I’ve learned that the best stories are built together, in real time. The same is true in teams. You might be the one holding the mic or you might be behind the scenes, but if you approach moments with curiosity instead of control, you leave room for something better than you imagined.

Try This This Week

If you want to practice “yes, and” in your own work, here are a few ways to start:

1. Pause before you respond. When someone presents an idea, take a breath before going into problem-solving mode.
2. Acknowledge their contribution. Even if the idea isn’t perfect, recognize the thought behind it.
3. Add something to build on it. After 1 & 2, then you can suggest a tweak, connect them with a resource, or share a next step.

It’s simple, but it takes practice—especially if you’re used to moving quickly or operating in a high-pressure environment.

The truth is, we don’t always get to choose the script. But we do get to choose how we respond. “Yes, and” keeps the scene alive, keeps the conversation moving, and keeps us connected.

It’s the same magic I learned under bright stage lights, but it works just as well in boardrooms, video calls, and community meet-ups. So the next time you feel the urge to say “yes, but,” try swapping it for “yes, and” instead. You might be surprised where the story goes.

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