MotivationLine

The Movie "Invincible" is Irresistible

Some movies capture the heroic journey we all crave to believe is possible. Few do that as well as the new movie, Invincible, the inspiring sports movie starring Mark Wahlberg as Vince Papale. Vince, a lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan who has just lost his wife and his teaching job, decides to respond Coach Dick Vermeil's call for an open tryout for his favorite NFL team. His struggles with his doubts and his flagging confidence only to see his wildest dreams come true--he makes the team! The triumph not only impacts his life; it inspires a team and a city who wanted to believe.

OK, it helps my rating of this movie that Coach Vermeil was also a great coach at UCLA. Alumni don't forget! I loved the great inside look at football in the NFL, but there is more to this movie than football. It's a personal story of living your dream and achieving it against all odds. Even women who don't like football will find the emerging love between Vince and his future wife Janet touching enough to bring a few tears to their eyes. Yes, the men will cry, too. 

What's the movie reinforce about motivation? You can't win if you don't try; you miss a 100% of the shots you never take. Vince lived that truth to the fullest. With the support of a father and friends who cared enough to believe in Vince, he responded to the challenge and gave it all he had.

I loved the comment or reviewer Pete Hammond, "If this movie doesn't make you want to stand up and cheer, you probably don't have a pulse!" If you have some dreams you are waiting to live, go see this movie and then "try out" for your dream. Don't be the one who holds yourself back. Everyone has doubts and dreams; be one in your neighborhood to overcome your doubts long enough to give your dreams a chance. Know that like the people of Philly, there are plentyof people ready to applaud from the sidelines!

Why Does Fox's 24 Motivate So Many to Watch?

There are hundreds of channels and nothing to watch on TV. Do you feel that way? I certainly do. But there are some rare exceptions and one of them is a show I have loved watching for five seasons--Fox's unique and engaging "24," starring Jack Bauer! Yes, Kiefer Sutherland plays Jack Bauer, the all knowing, invincible warrior for justice and the American Way. He gets more done in 24 hours than any man alive, and he never gets tired or loses his focus. The rest of his life must be very boring in comparison.

What motivates so many to watch? Part of it is the community a serial show creates--a community of second-guessers and amateur antiterrorism citizens who like watching the intense and engaging show. The community suspends belief and joins the world the show creates. We hate to see our favorites die--President Palmer, Edgar, Tony, and Michelle. They have all died this year. Luckily, Jack and Chloe continue to live on. In fact, those two certainly have kept America, if not the world, safe for five years. Chloe has the humor, smarts and wicked honesty who keeps coming up with great lines. Jack has more lives than a cat.

But what motivates us? The show gives you enough information to keep you guessing and going back to past shows to pick up the setups to the plot shifts that occur almost every night. The loyal community talks about the show the next day. Nancy, Lorie and I always talk about plot lines and what to expect from key characters. We complain about how impossible the show is, but we are still hooked. In an age locked into the fast lane, 24 is the perfect show. It matches our lives and our fears. In a war against terrorism, we hope Jack remains on our side. He helps keep hope alive.

This also reminds me of the good old Zeigarnik Effect done in Germany by B. Zeigarnik in 1927. He found that we are bothered by things that are not done. We have a high need for closure. That is why we can't put down a novel until we have finished the chapter. That's why we are willing to go through those long commercials to see the end of the TV movie or the latest 24 episode! We are motivated by closure. Like a good novel, 24 doesn't let us put the show down.

Zeigarnik said it in 1927: "It was found that the uncompleted tasks were remembered about twice as frequently as completed ones. Tests of memory, given some time later, showed the same difference. When a task was finished, it was easy to forget, whereas, when it was not finished, it lingered in our memory and even tormented the subject. When permitted to finish the uncompleted tasks later, the subjects were greatly relieved and the memory difference disappeared." Now you know a little bit more about what closure does to motivation.

As a leader in a constantly changing world, we find that life is less like a TV show and more like a serial. There is no end. Leaders can trick the need for closure by treating strategic business goals like chapters of a never-ending novel. Let people experience some satisfaction at reaching a milestone, but use the celebration to raise the bar again. Good leaders and professionals don't settle for a good year; they want a dynasty....and another season of 24!

In fact, don't finish growing. Don't finish dreaming. Live every day until you die.

(Source: B. Zeigarnik, Psychol. Forsch., 1927, 9, 1-85)

Motivation to Make Diversity Work

Rosey Grier made a powerful observation worth repeating in a world where we are trying to make diversity work: "All too often, minority kids never hear about anyone other than athletes. They don't know the living you can make with your mind. When I hear the same thing in black schools as white, kids talking about becoming doctors and lawyers, I know the ghetto will disappear."

People seem to be so concerned about what will happen to "Affirmative Action" programs, but few have channeled that concern into providing "Affirmative Examples" of men and women of all races and backgrounds who are making change work. The media loves to focus on the victims. It's time for business leaders to help find optimistic and competent heroes that work in their organizations and to make them visible as a source of motivation.

Let's help positively drive our country's culture and sustain the American Dream for this generation. Instead of promoting images of crime, drugs, disaster, illegal immigration and depravity, we must challenge companies, advertisers, and the media to catch our country working. A strong dose of positive gossip about heroes and teams from all races and backgrounds could do wonders in letting those less fortunate to know that with strong effort, education, and a focused plan that meets the needs of a customer, anyone can be successful.

Unfortunately, white males do not make great heroes for all our citizens. Look for models with a variety of attributes, such as sex, age, and race. Let them share what they learned the hard way on their own journey to excellence. We need to be hope merchants in this age of cynicism. As Mark Twain once said, "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."

In your world of influence, what are you doing to make diverse heroes visible? What are you doing to support the belief that your people can and will be successful to meet the challenge of change? We need current success stories to rekindle the dream!

Models Make a Difference

Last night, my wife and I attended the Boy Scout Eagle Ceremony of John Francis Murphy IV on the night everyone else was watching the Academy Awards. I think we got the better end of the deal.

During the critical teen years, John's mother, Debbie, had raised John and his brother Scott alone. What do you do with two growing boys in your home with no father to help manage? You invest time, energy and money in getting your boys involved in a group where they will have plenty of men to relate to and fine young men to bond to. You get involved with the Boy Scouts of America.

You realize that motivation comes from the people young hang out with. Often it's the adults who work with young men who believe in them before they believe in themselves. We watched as scout leader after scout leader took to the lectern to talk about the character and strengths of this fine young man.  They talked about some stories that were better left unshared. There was forgiveness for the mistakes and a celebration of mastery earned on John's journey.

I'd never seen John smile so much as he listened to the tributes and the stories. This was his day. What's the motivation lesson for the day? Surround yourself with people who will celebrate your successes and encourage you in your down days. Give yourself to groups that will live the values they put on their walls because when you do, those values are more likely to be emblazoned on your heart and in your habits.

With your kids, you might want to disconnect them from their computer and television long enough to earn a few merit badges at your Boy Scout or Girl Scout troops.