Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Creed III

A Reel Leadership Article

My latest book, Reel Leadership, is now available on Amazon. If you love movies and leadership, you will love this book.

The latest installment in the Rocky/Creed film series has hit the theaters, and it’s a wild ride through Adonis Creed’s (Michael B. Jordan) past and future. In Creed 3, Adonis has retired from boxing when his friend from childhood returns. However, when Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors) returns, he has a big chip on his shoulder. Adonis has to step up to the challenge of boxing his former friend and bringing him back from the brink of ruin.

A young Damian (Spence Moore II) had taken the fall when a young Adonis (Thaddeus J. Mixson) attacked Leon (Aaron D. Alexander), a person who had terrorized Adonis at the juvenile detention center he was in. Adonis attacked Leon at a convenience store. When Leon’s friends (Brian Neal and Corey Hibbert) jumped in, Adonis was in trouble. That’s when Damian pulled a gun to protect his friend. The police showed up, saw Damian’s gun, and arrested him while Adonis ran and escaped.

Quotes And Leadership Lessons From X-Men: Dark Phoenix

A Reel Leadership Article

While Marvel Studios has been crushing superhero films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, 20th Century Fox has been building the X-Men universe through their X-Men films. X-Men: Dark Phoenix marks the 12th film set in their series.

X-Men: The Dark Phoenix is also the last X-Men film to be produced by 20th Century Fox (there is an upcoming New Mutants film that may be a part of this universe). It’s the swan song to what started many great adventures of the X-Men.

Professor X, Magneto, and Jean Grey in promotional image for X-Men Dark Phoenix

As we begin to enter the final films of the 20th Century Fox film universe, X-Men: Dark Phoenix is a fitting end to the series. You get an out of this world movie with a well-done ending.

Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Free Solo

A Reel Leadership Article

On June 3rd, 2017, Alex Honnold did the impossible. Alex free-soloed the 3,000 foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Free-soloing is the climbing of a rock-face without the use of any safety equipment. Alex had no harness, no safety net, nothing to catch him if he were to fall.

Such a feat seems nigh-impossible. To climb 3,000 feet into the air without safety equipment makes my mind hurt. It may make yours as well.

Alex Honnold free solo El Capitan

Photo: Free Solo

Having a passion for ice climbing, Free Solo caught my attention because of the high-risk behavior and the excitement of someone doing the impossible. Knowing there are people out there who are willing to risk life and limb to do what no other person is willing to do fascinates me.

If Only People Came With Warning Labels

Life could be so much easier… If only people came with warning labels.

You may be thinking “Yes! That’d be awesome. I could easily see the toxic people in my life.” or “I could recognize the people who will cause me trouble.”

Hurting people hurt people - People with warning labels

Photo by Lucas Clarysse

But those aren’t the warning labels I’m talking about. I wish people came with warning labels like:

If Only People Came With Warning Labels

I need help.

This warning label would let me know this person is struggling with a problem and needs help. He’s open to receiving help and won’t get mad if I step up to offer a few wise words like Yoda.

This would also let me know they’re looking for help and may strike out because of the pain their problem is causing them. Their warning label crying out for help allows me to brace myself for any attack I may face when I’m interacting with them.

The Power Of Vulnerability

No one likes to be seen as weak. Or even vulnerable.

We try to hide any sign that we might not be where we need to be.

Yet we’re consistently discovering the best way to lead is through our vulnerability.

Being vulnerable is powerful

What Is Vulnerability?

A lot of us don’t want to show any vulnerabilities. We want people to see us as strong.

So, we hide. We retreat to a safe place where no one can hurt us.

That, in itself, tells us what vulnerability is.

Vulnerability is being willing to lay yourself out there, bare and naked, so others can see who you truly are.

Your weakness is out there. Pain that you’ve felt is shared. People are able to look at you and see you. The REAL you.

This is what vulnerability is.