Lindsay Rider shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Lindsay, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Recently, I took a cooking class! I LOVE food and feel pretty confident in the baking department because there are specific directions that are exact. But cooking is a different matter – one where “pinch” and “dash” are units of measure. I have felt reticent to put more time into learning how to cook because, honestly, the flexibility was daunting to me. This cooking class, however, was excellent and proved me wrong! While some elements are “to taste”, others are indeed very specific, and the feeling of accomplishment I got when preparing that dinner meal out of common ingredients was excellent! I found joy in letting myself play a little and be less rigid – 10 out of 10 recommend!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an opera singer turned Executive Coach and Fractional CEO. I work with people and organizations to help them meet and move through the moment they are in. Whether it’s personal growth or a complete overhaul of leadership and operations, I support the shifts from top to bottom. I specialize in Communication coaching and have developed my own curriculum/outlook, which incorporates the deep technical skills I have in using the voice with practical business application and a dash of coaching – because communication is personal and nuanced.
Like most paths, mine has been winding and at times surprising! What remains constant, though, is the energy and joy I get from working with people. My foundation in music has set me up to live life in a truly beautiful way and I feel so grateful to be able to access creativity as a thread throughout my work.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I have both a BM and MM in vocal performance from some of the most highly regarded music institutions in the world. After I graduated and was beginning my music career, I was asked by my alma mater if I wanted to audition for a singing competition tv show. I did, got on the show and began working more closely with producers to define my “character”. They had a vision for me that felt was wrong in my gut – they wanted to portray me as someone I was not. For the first time in my musical career, the focus of the musical effort had nothing to do with music at all. I couldn’t be a part of it and so I ended my time on the show.
That exposure would go on to shape me in two significant ways:
1. Practically speaking, I was contractually obligated to not work in my field for 18 months. Since I had to put my music career on hold, I got into other work which ended up being fascinating and exciting and laid a lot of the foundation for the skills I have and work I do now.
2. Emotionally, it was a huge blow. Being raised in and working in the arts up until then, I was naive to the harsh realities of the music business world. I didn’t see my creativity in the same way the industry did and that made me sad for a long time. I felt like I didn’t belong and didn’t know how to contribute. In the years since, however, I have been able to redefine and celebrate my voice. I can now contribute in ways I feel are meaningful and fulfilling – something I may have traded away for fame if I had not trusted my gut.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
Yesterday. HA! No, but seriously. While some core beliefs and values don’t shift over time, lots of other stuff does! I have found that being flexible and curious where I can be has paid off big time. Adopting a rigid approach in all matters ultimately doesn’t serve you. Being open to new ideas and solutions is a major strength. Whether it’s a shift in a marketing plan, a morning routine or a weight lifting plan – change is the only constant.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Myself. I have grown and learned so much that it’s almost exhausting – but I am endlessly committed to myself, my growth, curiosity, health and fostering my own creativity. I have a feeling that this project called Life is one that keeps going until we move on. Here’s what know – that learning and growing are constantly present in life and it takes deep courage and humility to evolve. It’s almost surprising to me how much I’ve been through, but as I look at it on the whole, it is clear that this pattern will keep going until the end – this is what being alive is about.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
There are two places I feel at peace and the thing they have it common is that they bring me immediately to my breath – to myself. By a body of water and by the piano – both vessels for vibration and sound and resonance. When we know how to access it, I do believe that the most peaceful place can be within ourselves. A crucial, foundational element of that access is your breath. So in a beautiful way, being near these things help to ground me in me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lindsayrider.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-rider
Image Credits
Photo credit: Eric Michael Pearson
https://ericmichaelpearson.com/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
