Author Archives

    Joseph Lalonde

    Joseph Lalonde is the owner of JMLalonde.com. He shares leadership insights from movies, extreme sports, and life experiences.

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    Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Godzilla Minus One

    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.

    Godzilla has been terrorizing audiences since 1954 when he debuted in Godzilla. Now, in 2023, it feels like he’s returned to his roots in Godzilla Minus One.

    Godzilla Minus One is a complicated movie with lots of themes. Guilt, shame, love, loss, triumph, forgiveness, and more are packed into the two-hour, five-minute runtime.

    The film is set in the 1940s during and after World War Two. Kamikazee pilot, Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), returns his plane to a Japanese military repair outpost. The problem? Shikishima’s plane wasn’t damaged. He was fleeing from the battle and didn’t want to die. He wanted to survive.

    Giant monster with spikes on back attacking a city and scowling

    Shortly upon landing, the irradiated monster Godzilla appears, killing most of the other soldiers on the island. This leaves Shikishima with more shame.  Read more...

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    5 Ways Praying For Wisdom And Guidance In Leadership Helps

    There’s power in prayer. The best leaders know this. They know that there’s a Heavenly Father who loves, cares for, and listens to them.

    You won’t always know what to do when a leadership challenge rears its ugly head. There are questions that race through your mind. You might even think there’s no way through this challenge.

    You’d be wrong. There’s always someone there for you. 

    That person? God.

    African American man praying. Photo is black and white

    Photo by Jack Sharp on Unsplash

    You can talk to the creator of the universe. He will listen. He will also answer. 

    I’ve found solace in my prayers to God, even the prayers I feel went unanswered. I believe God hears me and creates pathways for me. 

    He can do the same for you.

    5 Ways Praying For Wisdom And Guidance In Leadership Helps

    But how does praying actually help you? Can it make you a better leader? Can it give you peace? Can it make a way when things are dark?  Read more...

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    Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

    Christmas At The Movies

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

    I’ve partnered with my church, The Gateway Church, for a mini-series called Christmas At The Movies. In my blog posts, I will examine the leadership and personal development lessons movies can teach. The Gateway Church will examine the spiritual and life lessons you can take away from them.

    Red movie theater curtains

    It’s a great partnership and one that works well for this blog. 

    Today’s Reel Leadership Christmas At The Movies movie is the 1966 classic Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! It’s the story of the Grinch (voiced by Boris Karloff), a mean green creature, who hates Christmas and will stop at nothing to destroy the joy, hope, and love of the people of Whoville.   Read more...

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    5 Leadership Books To Read In December 2023

    It’s hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner. We’re mere weeks away from that wonderful time of the year when we remember the birth of Jesus Christ (we know it’s not the ACTUAL date of Christ).

    In all the holiday hubbub, we can forget to continue developing ourselves. From the Christmas parties to the buying of presents to the trips we all take, our personal development can be left behind.

    Let’s not let that happen this year.

    As is customary, my last post for the month will be a list of great leadership books to consider reading. These books will not only help you become a better leader, they will make you think differently.

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    Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Disney’s Wish

    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.

    Thanksgiving weekend saw the release of the latest Walt Disney Animation Studios. That movie? The heartwarming Wish.

    Written by Jennifer Lee, Allison Moore, and Chris Book and directed by Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, Wish tells the story of the young Asha (Ariana DeBose). Asha is a precocious young woman who desires to be an apprentice to King Magnifico (Chris Pine). Little did she know how evil the king was.

    Asha, a young girl from the movie Wish, looking up with a blue background with circles

    Upon finding out, she’s disgraced. Kicked out of the palace. Sent on a new journey. 

    As she’s bemoaning the fact that the king is evil and stealing the dreams of his citizens, Asha wishes upon a star. This wish changes everything.

    This story lends itself well to leadership principles, especially since you can see the negative path King Magnifico took. Let’s take a look at the leadership lessons in Wish!  Read more...