Mike Meyers — Unconsciously Competent
photo credit: Trevor Blake
One of my favorite “brain-candy” television shows is Bravo’s Actor’s Studio. Through the years, I have discovered that any preconceived ideas I may have about an actor will most likely become transformed if not changed entirely. James Lipton is a masterful interviewer – he is insatiably curious about human nature and tremendously respectful of whomever is sitting next to him.
Recently, I watched an interview of Mike Meyers. I enjoy his comedy and assumed it would be an entertaining and clever hour — which it was. However, after the interview concluded, when the acting students are invited to grill the actor, Meyers described the learning process in such an original and eye-opening way that I had to share it.
He outlined the following four stages of any learning curve:
- Unconsciously Incompetent
- Consciously Incompetent
- Consciously Competent
- Unconsciously Competent
He then suggested that the first group one tends to be the most judgemental of the second group, and that individuals in this second group can be particularly vulnerable. Boy, that observation brought to mind countless classrooms – and faculty lounges — where I had witnessed this. And I couldn’t help but think how knowing this bit of wisdom would’ve bolstered the beleagured spirit of so many students.
Then Myers suggested that tenacity and perseverance can lead us from a task or situation that seems impossible to one that is merely hard into a sense of ease and eventual beauty. Unfortunately, so many times we give up before we are able to accomplish that end goal!
Who knew a goofy comic who makes so many faces smile, could make spirits soar as well!
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