6 Inspirational Business Quotes from Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda may have just one hyphen in his name, but he has several in his job title. A former keynote speaker of Business Class Live, the Pulitzer Prize-Grammy-Emmy-Tony-Award-winning composer-lyricist-actor-director is known as the creator and original star of "Hamilton" and "In the Heights" on Broadway. What you may not know, however, is that he also co-owns a small business in NYC.

During his exclusive interview with Departures at his Drama Book Shop in New York City, he dropped some seriously inspirational quotes that work for small-business owners and international superstars alike. So instead of throwing away your shot, take a look at the advice that can help you be more Lin-Manuel Miranda in your working life. Notepads at the ready.

1. Keep People Guessing

“Even as “Hamilton” was happening, people were already asking what my follow-up was going to be. I spent the past few years confusing them as to what it was by just doing so much different s*** that nobody knew what to think. You can’t give them a sophomore slump if no one knows what the sophomore project actually is. There was advice I got from the book by Robert Rodriguez, “Rebel Without a Crew,” when I was 17.”

Try it at work… by refusing to pigeonhole yourself. Make a list of what you’re known for in your industry, then see where the gaps are. Even if you’re happy with your current positioning, you can still daydream about ways to diversify.

2. Life Is for Learning

“If I think of every project as a class and I’m just back in school, it’s all much less daunting. It’s 'What can I learn from this experience?' as opposed to 'Oh god, I have to get this done!'”

Try it at work… by keeping a list of new skills that you’re developing on your desktop and updating it regularly. It will come in handy when you decide to re-do your CV.

3. Make Space for You

“What I’m really grateful for is that I’m looking at an empty desk for the first time in six years. I had so much going on this year that I’ve been pretty good at saying no to anything else.”

Try it at work… by celebrating and taking time out when you finally tick something off that to-do list. Sure, an empty desk might be unlikely (much less an empty inbox) but it’s important to enjoy the small wins—and pause before you accept another task.

4. Have a Two-Track Mind

“As a first-time director, when you start out in a new lane, [it’s] just like, all I want is the chance to get to make a second one. I don’t know what that next one is, but those are kind of two lanes that I’m excited about looking into—what the next thing I write is going to be and what the next thing I direct is going to be. Who knows?”

Try it at work… by focusing on the here and now. Instead of thinking about where you want to be in the next five years, try bringing your focus right down to your next project, your next task, your next meeting. Are you doing what you want to do? If not, try a course correction.

5. Make More of Your Commute

“To be in humanity every time you go underground is what I love the most. And masks have only made that easier for me. I take the train more now than I have in the past five years. It’s an endless well of inspiration.”

Try it at work… masks may be on their way out, but you can still enjoy the anonymity of public transport to observe those around you. Who looks like your target customer? What are they reading? What are they wearing? It’s also a great opportunity to check out your competitor’s advertising campaigns, or think up some of your own.

6. Spark Joy From Deadlines

“When you [work on a creative project at a set time each week], you set up space for inspiration to arrive. Stephen King writes about that in his book “On Writing.” It’s not that you’re going to write a masterpiece every day, but if you set the conditions for the muse to appear, you’re inviting them in. And so for me, deadlines are a really important way to do that.”

Try it at work… by rethinking your relationship with regular meetings or deadlines. Rather than zoning out in that daily stand-up or sending yet another email to chase timesheets, think about how these regular moments create a frame for your day. Or don’t—even with the very best advice, nobody’s perfect.

Want more ideas for your working life? Discover Business Class Live, our new free conference taking place on July 20th. 

Photo credit: Mark Hartman