Lessons from the Oscars

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No, I’m not talking about learning from Billy Crystal‘s opening monologue, rich as it may be. I’m talking about some lessons we can learn from some of the films.

Whether its My Week with Marilyn, The Help, Moneyball or The Descendants, we can learn lessons from the stories and the storytellers. For example, from Brad Pitt‘s Moneyball, we can learn how to commit to something we believe in and stay the course. From The Help, we are reminded of the struggle many African-Americans went through and our overwhelming challenge to love our neighbor as ourself, even when our life and reputation is on the line. In Hugo, we can see how important it is to remember the past sometimes and to celebrate the beauty in life and art. The Descendants shows us the power of forgiveness, even in the midst the darkest of situations. Even My Week with Marilyn reminds us to embrace the now and not take it for granted.

Amidst the flashing lights of the red carpet, the couture dresses and the million dollar Henry Winston necklaces, we can find lessons and challenges to live the life we dream of living. I’ll try to remember that while secretly voting on who I think is going to win Best Picture. What are some great movies you’ve seen recently and learned from? Oh yeah, and who are your picks for the Oscars this year (just curious)?

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A Conversation with Brad Pitt’s Mother

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One day I was having lunch with the mother of Brad Pitt, who’s talent has brought us such great films as, Fight Club, Ocean’s 11, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. She told me about the early days when he wanted to be an architect, or in someway help change people’s lives. As he got older he realized he wanted to act, so he drove to Hollywood and gave it all he had. What he had was obviously enough. According to his mom, the early stages were not easy at all. Trying to find jobs, and often getting rejected she said one thing that was true of him is that he always took responsibility of following his dreams.

It seems that over the years I continue to have great conversations with parents of celebrities. Whether sitting for lunch with Charlize Theron and her mother, or talking after one of my speaking events with the mother of MC Hammer… you know… “you can’t touch this”. I have found that if you ask the right questions, you can learn a lot about people who went after their finest life. You can learn about their drive, motivation, and reasons for not giving up.

In the conversation with Brad Pitt’s mother, I learned once again that all of us get tempted to just settle with being mediocre, regular, and just common. The temptation is always there no matter who, or where you are. When he first went to Hollywood more doors closed than opened. He could have just settled with the fact that he didn’t make it, or been okay with just a few TV roles, but then we would have never seen him as “Benjamin Button”.

You see it’s important to “do you”. Another way of saying it is, you’ve been born an original– so don’t die a copy. You have to take responsibility of your life and go for it.

All of us have the sight, the right, and the fight in front of us. The sight or view of a better life, we can imagine it, envision it, and believe it. We have the right for that life. We can make the correct choices, and get better results because it is our right as people to live our finest life. But in order for the sight, and the right to bring success– in most cases, there is a fight. You have to get through obstacles, and work through difficulties.

I have found that in my own life, and I am certain that you have found it in yours… that most great things do not come easy.

We are now in the second part of this year, and some of you need to have a better second half than the first half. And like Brad Pitt had to do, you’re going to have to do a little bit of fighting to get through some obstacles. But before you start all that, I want to ask you two questions: #1- What decisions have brought you to where you are today? #2- What different decisions can you make to create a different outcome?

What I’m saying to you is that today’s decisions will bring tomorrow’s realities. If you don’t like where you are right now, let’s make different choices and have a greater outcome.

Brad Pitt’s mother made sense that fine afternoon, she even built my faith. Even if you’re from Missouri you can have dreams of Hollywood, work through your difficulties, and see your dreams come true. Yes… it’s true, we can live our finest life.

“I believe you make your day. You make your life.” –Brad Pitt

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Make Time to Sail

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Bernie Brillstein was a famous film and TV producer in the entertainment industry. He helped with the success of many hit shows like The Muppet Show and Saturday Night Live. He managed careers like John Belushi and Brad Pitt. As a result of his success he even received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in April 2001. Several years ago I was invited by the late Bernie Brillstein to go sailing with him throughout Europe on his luxurious yacht. It was a privilege to be asked to go sailing with Bernie and some of his very well-known friends. The only challenge with this invitation was there were a set of rules, and one of them included: you can’t bring your cell phone, or use the fax machine that was on board. On this excursion was a well-known singer and even a man who owned a network that I’m sure you’ve heard of. None of the others seemed phased by this.

As we talked about the journey, all of them were excited about being “free” from incoming calls. For a guy who’s a supposed to be a life coach… I actually felt panicked. You see, sometimes I get ninety calls a day and every time I feel that buzz – it means somebody’s looking for me. What was I going to do without that “feeling”? I shared my thoughts with some of the others who were all in their 60’s and 70’s and they had a good laugh. Bernie told me that he runs a successful company and he doesn’t even carry a cell phone. It’s because he likes to stay in the moment. I found this extreme but I was always willing to listen and learn.

If we all want to be honest, we’re just far too busy. From our jobs to our relationships to trying to meet other people’s needs. If we’re not careful we’ll become “human-doings”… rather than human-beings. To “do” means: to perform, to execute, to accomplish. To “be” means: to exist, to live, to happen. I think one of the problems with the younger generation is that we always think we have to accomplish but sometimes we just need to happen. In other words, we just need to be there. It’s a funny thing when somebody says, “What’s happening?” or “How have you been doing?” We usually don’t talk about our feelings, or our “quiet moments”… we talk about our accomplishments and our performances.

It’s an amazing thing that we have less than half a year of 2011. Soon, you’ll be venturing into 2012. Whoever thought this would have happened when you were a kid?

You can choose to run through December and see how fast you can get there or you can choose to get in the moment, be fully present, fully feeling, fully alive, and simply enjoy every minute that this year still has to offer.

I’d be the first to admit that life is a balancing act. I believe in working hard… and I mean very hard! But I also believe in taking naps… taking walks… spending time with great people.

When you slow down to the speed of life, it will be amazing how good it feels because this world truly has rhythm. So find its tempo and go with the flow, set sail and live your finest life.

“That’s one of my big rules: when you have a great story, you tell it – no matter what.” - Brillstein

Luke 12:22: Steep Yourself in God-Reality
22-24 He continued this subject with his disciples. “Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.”

 

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