Originally Published February 14, 2022

From Moana, Hamilton, and now Oscar-nominated Encanto and tick, tick...BOOM!, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s talent proved to be unmatched. Although ♫ we don't talk about Bruno ♫ we'd love to talk about how this high school teacher cusped a fork in the road to reach stardom.

Lin shares that every musical is a leap of faith and the only thing that made him walk off the beaten path is this chasm that forced him to reckon what he was doing with his time and finally confront the life of meaning. If you choose to play it safe then your ideas will be stuck in your head until your deathbed. Out of all the answers that Lin gave whenever he was asked about the secret to his success, the best one would be “Lean into the things that scare you and do those things. That’s what’s worth doing because that’s what makes you grow.” This is the philosophy behind Hamilton’s ending, “Who lives? Who dies? Who tells your story?”

You have the liberty to choose the stories that you tell. However, you only have a finite amount of time to create something that will outlive you. Lin shares that there were days when he had to skip parties to write a song. Would you miss a wedding just to finish a painting? It is a matter of looking at the bigger picture especially when you know that your work will affect a social change. In the midst of the pandemic, we had more time to look at the social issues. Lin said that now more than ever, we see the importance of arts. So if you have something that you know would make an impact, don’t bite your tongue.

Lin’s works of art were once crazy ideas. If this is possible then yours is possible. When a project has been sitting in your head for a while now, don’t just throw it under the bus. Yes, self-doubt doesn't go away, it never does. But If you don't give us access to your craft, we'll never get to see it. No one else can see the story in your heart.

Despite Lin crediting his success on 80% luck and 20% hard work, he stresses that you have to work on your craft relentlessly so when luck arrives, it will take you somewhere where you belong. It will be hard for most of us, but nothing brings up creativity like setbacks. Being ardent despite any turmoil skews you to that glimmer of light.

While Lin is halfway to his EGOT if he wins the Oscars, the Miranda Family Fund is still out there providing opportunities for artists of color, giving relief efforts, and scholarships for artists who cannot sustain their financial needs. Play your role and have the chutzpah to change the world. One masterpiece at a time.

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