Here’s a rule from improvisational theater that I think applies to everything you do.

Always work at the top of your intelligence.

Don’t talk down to your audience. Don’t feign ignorance or actively ignore what you know. Don’t pretend that you’re saying something deep when you know it’s just repeating a casual observation you heard on NPR. Always use everything you know and every bit of your understanding when you’re working.

Bring your unique perspective to everything you do. Every experience. Every opinion. Everything that makes you who you are.

Also, admit to not knowing things. Sometimes exploring your own gaps in knowledge produces great revelations and interesting work.

Always working at the top of your intelligence is the key to producing things that you are proud of.