Unmasking What Matters: 10 Life Lessons From 10 Years on Broadway

by Sandra Joseph

#1 International Best Seller Living a meaningful, satisfying life is an enigma for most people today. We feel stuck, small, without the self-confidence to move in the direction of what we really want. Or, if we do muscle through our fear in pursuit of our dreams, we exhaust ourselves working and striving and achieving and yet somehow, no matter our level of outer-world success, are left dazed and disheartened, asking ourselves, “Is this all there is?” After ten years on Broadway, Sandra Joseph―the longest-running leading lady in Broadway’s longest-running show, The Phantom of the Opera ―knows one thing for the only way to have a truly fulfilling life and achieve success that satisfies is to recognize that the journey up is no substitute for the journey in. In Unmasking What Matters , Joseph uses lessons learned on the road to Broadway, during her decade as Christine, and through the challenges she faced after walking away from the business to show readers how to courageously bring their inner voice to the outer world, stop seeking success for achievement’s sake and start creating the life they truly desire. With her hard-won wisdom, poignant personal stories, and practical, experiential exercises to guide them, readers will learn to shed their limiting masks, mindfully work through their fears, stand in their authentic power, and build a life rich with satisfaction, meaning, and significance. Warm, humble, encouraging, and inspiring, Unmasking What Matters can help anyone move from stuck, fearful, and playing it safe to embracing their passions, gifts, and opportunities and living life “full-out” today.

192 pages, Paperback

Published January 23, 2018

Reviews

[Necalli Calavera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel really honored in writing the first review for this book.

Growing up, my mother and I bonded over Phantom of the Opera. I remember when the musical came to Detroit, we were frantic about tickets; someone always bought the last pair and my mother and I fought tooth and nail to grab at LEAST two tickets. We didn’t care that if they were far from the stage or in front of a pole, blocking our view. We wanted to experience this show together, just like we did when we watched it on DVD over and over. Then magically, there was one pair of tickets left because someone didn’t pay for them.
I remember the laughs, the tears, and sheer awe that was the Broadway. This was one of many strong feelings that budded and affirmed that I wanted to be a performer.

Now, here I am: a Bassoonist getting her Masters Degree in Music Performance.

For years, however, I have felt not good enough. All of the years I have spent waking up at 6am to practice until class started, all of the criticism, the constant teacher changes (which in the Music world is really a horrible thing), you name it and I’ve probably went through it.
I have had many Bassoonists tell me I should quit now and go into trade school. I have had many players say I wasn’t a real musician because I didn’t know basic Music Theory or how to make reeds.

I still struggle. I still even now, reaching for a Masters degree, I felt like I never earned it. I felt so behind in my studies, no matter how hard I tried, I felt behind fundamentally, I just didn’t think I was either cut out or earned my spot.

My current teacher now lent me this book in hopes it would help evaluate my feelings and it was really funny because I thought at first he was reading the POTO novel. My homework for lessons was to read Chapter 3-4 but because I was in love with POTO, I had to read all of the book.

Never in my life have I ever connected with a self help book. I connect with you, Sandra, and share all of these feelings you did with auditions and just practice in general.

Thank you.

I don’t know what else to say but thank you. Thank you for creating a wonderful book. Thank you for being authentic.
Thank you.