Realist Idealist

This month at JWS, we’re exploring what it looks like to create a vision. I'm a big believer in developing the skill set that allows you to see, with crystal clarity, an idealistic version of the future.

Now before you mistake me for a Pollyanna who is living in a fantasy world with her head in the clouds, let me be very clear: Having a vision and having a fantasy are not the same thing.

My brand of idealism is very specific: I am a Realist Idealist. 

There's a framework I use in my own vision-crafting work. 

I call it RBI. (Sorry baseball fans, this does not stand for Runs Batted In.)

The R stands for Real. 

Before I can get started on crafting a vision, I need a major reality check. I put my realist goggles on and take a look at the world around me. I ask myself questions like:

What is unacceptable about the current reality?

What pisses me off? 

What makes me upset?

What is unfair?

What is unjust? 

What is out of alignment with my values?

I literally name all the things. This is the ultimate form of realism, and quite frankly. it's not very fun. 

But I know that in order to build towards an ideal future,  I have to ground myself in reality first. Vision crafting that is not grounded in reality is known by a very specific name: fantasy. I am all for fantasy in the form of a novel or a movie, but for my life? I'd rather be grounded in reality and possibility. 

The I stands for Ideal. 

Now it is time to put my idealist goggles on and ask myself:

When I look at my reality list, what does the opposite look like?

What is the ideal alternative?

What would the world look like if everything was different?

If everything was exactly right and fair and just? 

Let me give you an example. 

Realist goggles on: One of the things that really pisses me off is how frequently actors are taken advantage of, degraded, and underpaid for their highly trained skill set. It's unfair. It's unjust. It’s wrong. 

Now I shift to my Idealist goggles: What I see is a world where actors are paid abundantly for their highly trained skill set, valued for the contribution they're making to society, and treated with dignity. 

We’ve got the R. We’ve got the I. We are two thirds of the way to RBI.

Where does the B come in?

It comes in right where it belongs, between Real and Ideal. 

The B stands for Better.

If I want to help move us from Real to Ideal, I have to focus on what I can do to make it Better.

I have to ask myself:

What can I do to build the Better bridge?

How might I contribute to bringing us one small step closer to the ideal? 

There are so many possible ways to answer these question:

I can teach actors how to become better negotiators.

I can give keynote speeches about the value of artists in our modern society. 

I can serve on committees within my union.

I can devise a piece of theatre that exposes the hypocrisy in the industry.

I can write to my congress people. 

I can work with actors on mindset tools that allow themselves to see their inherent value. 

I can write a blog post about RBI and mention this topic so that people think about it. 

I could go on and on, but you get the point. 

A Realist Idealist is someone who acknowledges that her work lives in the space between Real and Ideal. Her work lives in the Better. 

Real — BETTER — Ideal

You see, I'm not living in a fantasy world. I'm an Idealist grounded firmly in the real world. I'm a Realist Idealist. My vision for the future is crystal clear, and I’m committed to building the Better bridge so that we can move just a little bit closer to making the vision a reality.

What’s your vision? I’d love to hear it. Please comment or share with me via DM.