Ryan Millar

Ryan Millar is a Canadian-born Amsterdam-based coach, story trainer, and communications consultant. He leans heavily on the tools he gained as an improviser and actor to help people take control of the stage and light up a room. His latest book, on the art of public speaking, is called “The Confident Presenter”. It offers people encouragement, insights, and exercises to help them become more confident and more competent and comfortable when presenting. His first book, TAKE IT EASY, is full of observations, insights and tips to help improvisers get a different perspective on their craft.
Ryan works most often in Europe and North America, though he’s also worked in India and the Middle East, designing and delivering growth experiences on presentation skills, interpersonal communications and storytelling.

He holds an MA in Professional Writing from London Metropolitan University, and a BA in Communications from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada.

What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?

My days are all different, but the average week will see me having coaching sessions with clients, usually discussing some an upcoming presentation of theirs. I’ll also be designing educational sessions, either for online or in real life, working on my next book, and keeping up with the surprising amount of admin I have. It shouldn’t surprise me at this point, but it does. I make a lot of to do lists, and I like to get started on them first thing in the morning, so that by lunchtime there’s always a few things checked off, or some progress has been made on a big project.

How do you bring ideas to life?

My background is in improvisational theater. In improv, we have the adage of “Yes, And” which we use onstage to create comedy sketches in real time. I apply this same principle outside of the improv context and it helps me fly when I’m creating. If I need to do some writing or come up with an idea I just start and keep telling myself “Yes, And… What comes next?” It’s remarkably effective. And, unlike live performance, I can always go back and edit later.

What’s one trend that excites you?

It might be my circles, but I’m seeing people present themselves more authentically. Be it on LinkedIn, in a presentation, or at a networking event, I’m seeing more people bring a bigger piece of themselves to their work. It’s so much more rewarding to help someone give a business presentation that also incorporates their love of Star Wars or an insight that came to them during a daily walk with their dog. They seem more present and the audience is more engaged, so it’s a win-win.

What is one habit that helps you be productive?

I love the “Eat The Frog” method. Where you identify the biggest trickiest task you have ahead of you and do it first thing. So you get it out of the way. It’s named after this advice from Mark Twain: “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” I’m not always able to eat the big frog first thing, but when I remind myself of this advice, it helps me lean into the day’s nastiest task, and makes the rest of my day much better as a consequence.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Start now on doing things you think you’re too old to start. Because you’ll never be younger than you are right now. I didn’t pick up an instrument in high school because my musician friends seemed impossibly good. If I had started then, I’d have been playing the guitar for 30 years and expect I’d be able to hold my own by now. Instead, I play the ukelele a little bit. I started a few years ago. It’s not great, but at least I’ve gotten going.

Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.

It’s better to be naive and believe in the inherent goodness of people than to be cynical. I’ve been burned by this Pollyannaish attitude in the past, but I still prefer it to the alternative.

What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?

One practice I have is writing every morning. I use a website called 750words.com. This practice is great for getting the writing and creating muscles going in the morning. Often the result is immediately forgotten because what I’ve written is mostly nonsense. But I’m already in a flow and can get down to work. That’s the value of focusing on the process rather than the outcome.

Sometimes, though, if I know I have a session to design, a chapter to outline, or a difficult project to tackle, I’ll just use that writing session as a brain dump. In that case there will always be something useful that comes out of it.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?

I’ve started doing yoga a few times a week and this is really helpful. The other thing to do is when I’m wasting time, I really get into it: make a snack, watch some videos… whatever. If I’m going to be unfocused, might as well really make it worth it. It also makes it easier to get back to work after 10-15 minutes of that.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?

Something I picked up from Paul Jarvis’s book “Company of One” is to focus on the value you bring to your clients. It’s a, “What can I do for you, rather than what can you do for me” approach. This is a simple insight, but I find that since I’ve been applying it in a deliberate way… well, my clients are happier, my work is more rewarding, and overall it feels much more like a virtuous circle.

What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?

A few years ago I let an over-reliance on my improv skills allow me to show up to an online presentation session looking not casual and breezy but unprepared. It was disappointing for everyone. I used that lesson to galvanize me in the preparation stage and now I’m a regular overpreparer. It’s the prep that lets me lean on my improvisation in the moment.

What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Combine effective presentation skills with whatever other skills you have and you’ll instantly boost your professional standing.

What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

I’ve started using OBS and StreamDeck in my online presentations, and it really ups the production value.

What is the best $100 you recently spent?

I took the day off with my two little kids last week when there was no school and we went minigolfing and then watched Trolls Band Together. That time and money both feel enormously well spent.

Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?

Song Exploder is a great podcast that manages to take me deeper into some music I already enjoy, introduce me to new music and artists, and give me a field trip into other people’s creative process, so that’s a win for me.

What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?

I recently watched The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, and I think self-referentially tongue-in-cheek action comedy is my new favorite genre.

Key learnings:

• The improvisational adage of Yes, And is a great way to be generative when approaching any project
• Authenticity is IN. Bringing more of our true selves to our work helps us show up more completely and differentiate ourselves.
• Preparing will give you confidence and comfort, don’t overdo it, but definitely prepare!
• Take time off. As important as the grind and the hustle and the dedication to your calling may be, don’t forget to make time to chill.