Author Michael Kushner On How to Go Beyond Your Comfort Zone to Grow Both Personally and Professionally
An Interview With Maria Angelova
Say Yes. I believe saying yes is pivotal to creativity. If someone offers you an experience or a job, let them determine if you’re right for it or not. Don’t deny yourself an opportunity to grow just because you feel you’re underqualified. I’m one of the founding members of Musical Theatre Factory, originally helmed by Shakina Nayfack, and I took on so many responsibilities in creating that theatre space. Some I was great at, some I wasn’t. But ultimately, I learned my first lessons on how to be a producer! I’m eternally grateful for that.
It feels most comfortable to stick with what we are familiar with. But anyone who has achieved great success will tell you that true growth comes from pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. What are some ways that influential people have pushed themselves out of their comfort zone to grow both personally and professionally? As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Michael Kushner.
Michael Kushner is one of New York’s leading multi-hyphenate artists. He has combined his varied passions and experiences into his first book, “How to Be A Multi-Hyphenate in the Theatre Business: Conversations, Advice, and Tips from Dear Multi-Hyphenate,” an extension of his popular Broadway Podcast Network show, “Dear Multi-Hyphenate.” Debuting at #1 on Amazon’s Business & Entrepreneurship list, the book guides and empowers theater professionals to take hold of their own careers and become successful multi-hyphenate artists themselves. Michael is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and some favorite performance credits include On the Town, Much Ado About Nothing, Sons of the Prophet, and Toxic if Swallowed. Michael graduated with distinction from Ithaca College with a BFA in Musical Theatre. He is also the creator of his one man show, Moo with Me directed by Max Crumm. As a photographer, Michael’s work has been featured in the New York Times, Vogue, The Tony Awards, and in publications in print and online nationally and across the pond. He is the creator of The Dressing Room Project, a photographic journal of iconic actors preparing for their roles on Broadway. As a producer, Michael is one of the founding members of Musical Theatre Factory, currently in residency with Playwrights Horizons. He is an Executive Producer on the award winning and Emmy Award nominated web series, “Indoor Boys” and the short film XaveMePlease. He served as Associate Producer on Bernie and Mikey’s Trip to the Moon with 59E59 and Strangemen and Co. Michael is proudly on the Advisory Boards of Out of the Box Theatrics and Wingspan Arts.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we start, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
I was born in Great Neck, NY, but raised in Ft. Lauderdale. My grandma was a community theatre actress in Douglaston, Queens, and used to do shows like Peddler on the Stoop (Fiddler on the Roof) and Forever Fanny (Funny Girl) to avoid paying for the rights. It was the 70’s! She introduced me to Mary Poppins and would teach me stage right from stage left in front of the television playing the VHS. That was the 90’s! Anyway, I was hooked and a local children’s theatre, now Next Stop Broadway, in Coral Springs, FL, was doing Mary Poppins as a part of their programming. I auditioned and got Michael Banks. I was immediately in love with creating theatre. What was so special about NSB was that you didn’t just act — you performed as well as wrote the script, made the costumes, etc. It was a full theatrical experience. Just a few years later, I started to work professionally in the South Florida regional theatre circuit, attend a performing arts high school on full scholarship, go to French Woods Festival for the Performing Arts during my summers, and graduate with distinction from Ithaca College with my BFA in Musical Theatre.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
I’m a multi-hyphenate, or an artist who has multiple proficiencies which cross pollinate to help flourish professional capabilities. Elena Maria Garcia, a four-time Carbonell Award Winner based in Miami, FL, introduced me to the concept that if you had a story to tell, you can tell it — and don’t wait for anyone to give you permission. I watched her turn my high school classroom into a fully functional Equity house. All because she had a play she wanted to direct and produce. She just did it and it was incredible to watch. Because of that early introduction, it affected so much of my work. If I have an idea, I have the skills and wherewithal to do it and not wait. Sometimes it’s a massive fail and sometimes it’s a massive success. Either way, I definitely take away a lesson from the work.
Is there a particular book, podcast, or film that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
Aside from Mary Poppins, I’d say Titanic. I have a deep connection to the Titanic and was on the ship in a past life — actually, my past life regression session with Myra from Soul Signs Hypnosis actually confirmed I was Molly Brown. It was so affirming because every time I watched the movie it was like watching a home video — with certain things that didn’t look familiar, and James Cameron later confirmed were inaccurate in a 2012 National Geographic documentary. I was so in love with the movie and so excited by my connection at 7 years old, my first-grade teacher made me go to the library and research a different shipwreck to basically shut me up! So, I took a book on the sinking of the Andrea Doria to my grandma and she sat me on her knee at her electronic typewriter (again, it was the 90’s!) and together we wrote my film version of The Andrea Doria. She wrote: Starring Michael Kushner, Written by Michael Kushner, Produced by Michael Kushner, and Directed by Michael Kushner. This was the first real moment where I was introduced to multi-hyphenating — I could do all these things if I wanted! Act, direct, produce, and write all in the same project. Also, the director of Titanic, James Cameron is a massive multi-hyphenate!
Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. Let’s start with a basic definition so that all of us are on the same page. What does “getting outside of your comfort zone” mean?
It means ultimately knowing there is a very good chance you are going to fail — and being okay with that. Failure is a massive paradox. We have to fail in order to not fail. Therefore, does that mean we always fail even when we succeed? And do we succeed when we fail? I think it gives a new meaning to nothing is perfect. When you understand that nothing is perfect, it brings you outside your comfort zone. At least for me.
Can you help articulate a few reasons why it is important to get out of your comfort zone?
If you don’t get out of bed, you develop bedsores, right? If you don’t step out of your comfort zone — you don’t challenge yourself. One gets stuck in their ways, using the same muscles, thinking the same things. Why not challenge yourself to think and act in new ways? Everyone’s art is better when we challenge ourselves — and the audience is thankful for it too.
Is it possible to grow without leaving your comfort zone? Can you explain what you mean?
I think it’s possible to grow uncomfortable. I think when we don’t challenge ourselves by stepping outside our comfort zone, I for one, grow itchy and sedentary. Who likes to feel like that? That’s when I get in my own head — why is everything the same? Why am I not seeing different results? Why has everyone moved on from me? It’s almost a sign of psychopathy, right? Being a “psychopath” is when you do the same thing over and over again expecting different results. I think that applies here, too. Maybe you’re not a psychopath, but you might drive yourself crazy!
Can you share some anecdotes from your personal experience? Can you share a story about a time when you stepped out of your comfort zone and how it helped you grow? How does it feel to take those first difficult steps?
I wrote a book. That was wild. I always wanted to write a book — or at least get to a level of expertise to be able to write one. So, when the concept of multi-hyphenating was becoming popular, I noticed a lot of people were talking about it in a very incorrect way. Multi-hyphenating is an art form, and a lucrative one at that, so I wanted to make sure that if people were identifying as multi-hyphenates… they at least had a guideline to approach that by. I was flirting with one publisher who gave me the guidelines of a proposal to right and I wrote a way too long 76-page proposal which they rejected. I was doing this without any former experience as a writer and without a literary agent. One day, a gentleman by the name of Rafael Jaen, the chair of the theatre department at the University of Massachusetts-Boston, contacted me about using one of my photos in his upcoming books. We got into conversation and he wound up introducing me to his publishers at Routledge, who eventually agreed to publish my book. I had two chapters written and they wanted the draft in a month… It was go time. It was uncomfortable but the press proved I knew what I was talking about and I had all the words all ready, just not on paper. So, I got to it — often questioning myself and judging myself, but ultimately producing a product I’m happy with.
Here is the central question of our discussion. What are your “five ways to push past your comfort zone, to grow both personally and professionally”?
1. Say Yes. I believe saying yes is pivotal to creativity. If someone offers you an experience or a job, let them determine if you’re right for it or not. Don’t deny yourself an opportunity to grow just because you feel you’re underqualified. I’m one of the founding members of Musical Theatre Factory, originally helmed by Shakina Nayfack, and I took on so many responsibilities in creating that theatre space. Some I was great at, some I wasn’t. But ultimately, I learned my first lessons on how to be a producer! I’m eternally grateful for that.
2. Say No. Saying no is also pivotal to creativity. I learned the concept of workflow from my friend and collaborator Ashley Kate Adams, who constantly shares the importance of workflow — not putting too much on your place and knowing when it’s best for you to work. Saying no protects yourself and your art, but it also protects the people you’re rejecting. If you’re not in a good headspace to deliver, ultimately you’re weighing down the forward motion of a product — and we should always try to be the most aware of when we can deliver or not. I invested in a Broadway show because of many reasons — it was not the experience I had anticipated and to protect myself from feeling that again, I have not invested in a show since. It doesn’t mean I won’t — but the lessons that I learned have informed me to say no and protect myself. And that is just fine.
3. Survive a Global Pandemic. I don’t know, this one you can’t seek out but just sorta happens to you. Chances are anyone reading this went through CoVid-19. That definitely threw us for a loop and someone who took us out of our comfort zones while most of us were in our comfort zones like our sweatpants, homes, etc. In March of 2020, I got really sick with CoVid and I am now an officially diagnosed Covid Long Hauler. Basically, that means I have long term side effects with how Covid affected my body. Because my body changed — and I mean really changed — that affected the stories I wanted to tell! The roles I wanted to audition for! The types of projects I say yes to or say no to! Take a second for myself! Go to the doctor! If you survived something, you stepped out of your comfort zone. It just comes with the territory.
4. Artist break ups. Friend break ups can be the worst. I don’t recommend it, but I also don’t recommend getting into relationships that cross boundaries. Sometimes we let in the wrong people into our lives and that’s okay, it’s just knowing when to reverse that or how to prevent it. For instance, I had a friend who was influencing me to make the wrong choices for myself. It wasn’t just affecting my personal life, but my art. I knew they were wrong but I kept doing it — why? Comfort? Codependency? Whatever it was, I had to change it. And I changed it by going to…
5. Therapy. Having a strong therapist in your corner helps. Resources help. Mentors help. You don’t have to do everything by yourself. It’s okay to ask for help and develop a team. In fact, multi-hyphenating isn’t a self-focused adventure! It’s lucrative and socially responsible because you’re creating jobs! You’re hiring people to create, therefore paying them to do their job. I couldn’t run Michael Kushner Photography, my photography business, by myself anymore. It got too big. I’m not good with Google Calendar, so I needed someone to help me with that. Legal stuff? I got an entertainment lawyer. Taxes? I hired a tax person. Make-up and hair is mandatory. I have a team of people. It helps make everything a little easier and manageable.
From your experience or perspective, what are some of the common barriers that keep someone from pushing out of their comfort zone?
I think many people are terrified of failing, but failing can be incredibly rewarding and necessary. How else do you learn what works and what doesn’t? You can’t just guess — you have to try. Sometimes failure can be heroic and sometimes it can be embarrassing. I think whatever we do has to be done with the best intention, the best heart, and with the best talent. That way if we take on the challenge again for the second time, we can intelligently deduce how to make it better. If good, set intention isn’t there, I don’t know how present one can be do it better a second time.
There is a well-known quote attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt that says, “Do something that scares you every day”. What exactly does this mean to you? Is there inherent value in doing something that pushes you out of your comfort zone, even if it does not relate to personal or professional growth? For example, if one is uncomfortable about walking alone at night should they purposely push themselves to do it often for the sake of going beyond their comfort zone? Can you please explain what you mean?
Multi-hyphenating, by nature, is not self-focused because it focuses on the other. How do I affect my audience? How to I build a team? How do I make the world a better place through story telling. Taking risks artistically is scary! Will people like it? Will it affect the right people? Will anyone even see it? But you have to be a little self-focused to function — you have to eat, go home, rest. While art is scary, it isn’t dangerous. Walking alone at night is dangerous. Sometimes creating art that reflects yourself in relation to the world is scary — but it doesn’t cause bodily harm on yourself or others — and if it does, that requires attention in other ways.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
It would definitely be multi-hyphenating. It’s a socially responsible, lucrative art from that promotes advocacy for the self and marginalized communities. Healing the world through art? What could be better!?
Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens!
I’ve always had a deep love and appreciation for Idina Menzel. A multi-hyphenate herself, everything she brings to the table is full of thought, muscular, and absolutely human.
How can our readers follow you online?
IG / TikTok: @themichaelkushner
www.michaelkushnerphotography.com
Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!
About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.
Author Michael Kushner On How to Go Beyond Your Comfort Zone to Grow Both Personally and… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.