4 larger-than-life lessons from soap operas

'I picked up a pen, I wrote my own deliverance.' Alexander Hamilton scripted his own soap opera—from second-class to superlative, top of the world to bottom of the heap—and Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton captures the spirit of the man and the many battles he waged. But Lin-Manuel Miranda crystallizes the experience of finding yourself stripped of everything except skill and nerve and then claiming the power of what could be. We all have that power to write our own stories rather than wait for someone to dictate our futures to us.

As a parent, I hear the words 'I can’t' far more than I’d like. But I’ve also said them to myself far too many times. Reading Carol Dweck’s book helped me better recognize those moments when I place limits on myself based purely on assumption rather than any empirical evidence of impossibility. Check out her research if you’ve ever doubted your ability to tackle challenges successfully; chances are you’re capable of a lot more than you thought.

Never one to back down from a fight, out-of-work actor Michael Dorsey refuses to accept his agent’s declaration that he’s unemployable. If his reputation is the problem, Michael sees an opportunity to escape it, all while tackling the acting challenge of a lifetime: impersonating a woman. His masquerade launches a much deeper evolution than the one wrapped in heavy makeup, flattering dresses, and a precisely curled wig. It’s a meaningful, emotional journey, supported by the on- and off-screen hijinks at the fictional soap opera "Southwest General."

With social media and 24-hour news, one slip can become wall-to-wall coverage, and you can’t just close your eyes, cover your ears, and hope the problem goes away. If you don’t acknowledge the issue, your detractors will fill the vacuum. Not just for business leaders, this book shows everyone just how far transparent, humble, and proactive communications can help you build relationships and goodwill. Allowing room for vulnerability makes you stronger.

A few years ago, the keynote speaker at a marketing conference referenced this talk, encouraging us to introduce more humanity and authenticity to our work. When I watched it in my hotel room later that night, I felt thoroughly seen. After feeling like an impostor in my corporate job, struggling to quash any feeling of doubt that I belonged or was capable, suddenly I shook hands with the belief that not only is perseverance more important than perfection, but sharing my imperfections is key to connecting with others.