𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨 𝐏𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐔𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝

There’s a consistent theme running through the podcasts I record: we don’t follow a script.

I always come in with a general direction and a loose plan, but aside from the five signature questions I ask every guest, the rest of the conversation is wide open. That unscripted nature has led to some of the most unexpected, honest, and thought-provoking moments.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how this mirrors life itself.

Sure, there are some hard and fast rules to follow—but most of life doesn’t come with a script. The ability to zig when the path zags, to adjust and pivot, might be one of the most valuable skills we can have. One guest recently shared how they evaluate job offers by trusting their gut. That’s not something you can teach; it’s something you learn through experience.

Flexibility works the same way. You can’t hand someone a manual on how to bend without breaking. You expose them to life, to wind and weather, to change and challenge. Even the tallest oak in the forest must bend in the wind or risk snapping in the storm.

So how do we help others learn to bend, to adapt, to parry when life’s foil tries to skewer them?

Maybe we start by embracing the unscripted moments in our own lives—and letting others see how we handle them.