45: Yes, And: What Improv Teaches Us About Life and Leadership

Send us a text

This episode is a chance to get to know keynote speaker Jon Colby, recognized by MSN as one of the top 10 speakers to follow. In a Q&A format, Jon shares his journey from teaching to the stage and how improv became the framework for his work and life. You’ll hear his perspective on presence, patience, grief, and why “Yes, And” can change the way we collaborate at work and connect at home.


Audience Takeaways
Improv is a framework for life, not just comedy.

• The rule of “Yes, And” shows how to build on ideas instead of shutting them down — whether in meetings, parenting, or relationships.
  
  

Value drives everything.

• When people feel valued, they stay, thrive, and contribute more. When they don’t, they pull away — from jobs, teams, even families.
  
  

Presence is a practice.

• Parenting, grief, and improv all point to the same skill: listening in the moment rather than rushing ahead or trying to fix.
  
  

Letting go of control creates growth.

• Jon waited 12 years before fully stepping into his speaking career. His story shows how holding back costs us time, while trusting the leap opens new chapters.
  
  

Grief clarifies priorities.

• Loss can sharpen our sense of what matters most: saying no to what drains us and yes to moments that become memories.