January was full of events, some of them quite messy. It took a lot of work just to get through the month! But we're here, in February. And we've turned a page. We can even see a glimmer of the light at the end of the tunnel. 

But we've got this month and a few more to get through before we fully exit that tunnel. At our house, we're spending that time finally watching all of Schitt's Creek. Just in time for their Golden Globe nominations! The show provides a terrific bit of escapism. The writing is sharp, the directing is clever, and the acting is amazing. As a fan of Catherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy from their early days playing with other brilliant comedians on SCTV, it is a treat to see their talents so gloriously displayed.

It's comfort viewing, so I usually just give myself over to the world of Schitt's Creek. But last night (in Season 6), my communications coaching reality intruded. I don't think I'm giving anything away to disclose that by Season 6 Moira Rose finds herself in the spotlight once again. She is doing a remote interview from her room at the Rosebud Motel, while her daughter Alexis (now her publicist) desperately tries to keep Moira on message with giant cue cards. Moira's an actor, so you would think she'd know how important it is to stick to the script. But Moira has a very healthy ego. So she "riffs" a bit, expanding upon the agreed-upon text. It is very funny, and perfectly in character.

But you're not Moira Rose. So don't do this. It's tempting, when you have an audience hanging on your every word, to extemporize and go off on whatever tangents you fancy. And it's not just interviews. I advise clients to avoid this trap in every meeting by having talking points and staying on message. Sticking to the script isn't being "canned" or "stiff." It's being prepared. Sure, it takes a bit of time to think about what you want to say before you say it. But spending that time to prepare will help you help yourself. Think of all the time you'll save after the fact, when you don't have do a "clean-up in aisle five." Or anywhere else!