Drawing Inspiration: How Jim Lee’s Approach To Improving His Art Skills Can Benefit Your Leadership Style

Jim Lee is a celebrated comic book artist. His run on the 1990s X-Men is considered legendary. He worked on the title from the beginning of the relaunch in 1991.

While not his first work, this is the work I most think of when I think of Jim Lee. His beautiful characters and purposeful lines drew my attention to the X-Men #1 on the comic book shelves. His attention to detail and skill still blows me away to this day.

His artwork drew in millions of readers. That X-Men #1 sold over eight million copies. Over 30 years later, X-Men #1 holds the distinction of being the single bestselling issue of all time, in no small part due to Lee’s artwork.

Person pulling out an issue of X-Men (1991) #1 out of a box of comics. Cover featuring Beast, Storm, Rogue and other X-Men

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Recently, Jim Lee shared on his Facebook a photo of an image he drew as a 12 or 13-year-old kid.

Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

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.

I’ve never been a big Dungeons & Dragons nerd. I knew little of the backstory going into the movie except that the kids in Stranger Things played D&D a lot. While watching, I was surprised to hear the names Neverwinter and Baulder’s Gate dropped. I didn’t know they were D&D related, but I had heard of or played games revolving around them.

I also knew that D&D had a bad rep in communities because people linked it to bad behavior, anti-Christian behavior, and more. Most of these have been debunked.

The new movie, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, only helps to break that stereotype more. As I watched the film, I saw so many connections to positive behaviors, repentance, and more. Don’t shy away from this new movie because of things you may have heard about D&D. You’ll miss out on a lot.

Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Avengers: Endgame

A Reel Leadership Article

Last year’s Avengers: Infinity War was the beginning of the end for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This weekend’s Avengers: Endgame movie has forever changed the face of the universe we’ve grown to love over 10 years and 22 movies.

Cast of Avengers: Endgame on poster

Caution: Major Avengers: Endgame spoilers will follow in this article.

Endgame picks up shortly after the end of Avengers: Infinity War. You see Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) teaching his young daughter how to shoot a bow and arrow. As she goes to collect the arrow, Clint begins to notice something isn’t right…

His wife, other child, and then his daughter have all disappeared. He’s left there all alone.

This is how Endgame begins. The ruthless pace doesn’t let up. It also doesn’t disappoint.

There were plenty of high and low points throughout Endgame. Many emotions were felt. And many Reel Leadership lessons were found in Endgame.

Why Great Leaders Extend Grace

I have never met a leader who didn’t need grace extended to them at one point or another. Every leader has failed at some point in their journey. Some harder than others.

I’ve, sadly, seen leaders who have committed some pretty heinous acts. They’ve verbally abused customers, cheated on their spouse, or misappropriated company funds. These leaders needed grace to overcome their past sins.

Woman on rock extending hand for help towards another hand

Photo by Noah Buscher

I’m not sure if you have ever committed any of these leadership faux pauxs. However, I know you’ve had missteps in your leadership. We all have. We’ve all made bad decisions. Because of this, we have needed someone to extend grace to us.

But what about those you lead? Have you been willing to extend grace to those on your team?

We All Mess Up

That’s right. We all mess up. I’ve messed up. You’ve messed up. We’ve all messed up.

Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Bohemian Rhapsody

A Reel Leadership Article

There are classic stadium rock anthems everybody knows. Songs such as We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, or Another One Bites The Dust. These songs are played in sports arenas across the country.

The members of Queen were masters at crafting songs that have lasted through generations. Members Farrokh Bulsara, stage named Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek), Brian May (Gwilym Lee), Roger Taylor (Ben Hardy), and John Deacon (Joseph Mazzello) have given millions of fans something to sing along to.

Rami Malek as Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury

They also left a great story. There’s fame and fortune. Tragedy and death. Love and hate. Queen and the Freddie Mercury movie Bohemian Rhapsody, share a story unlike any other.

Whether or not you know the music of Queen (and you’ll know at least a few of their tunes), you will enjoy the two-plus hour movie detailing the rise and fall of a rock legend. You’ll also walk away from Bohemian Rhapsody with a wealth of leadership lessons.