Quotes And Leadership Lessons From The House With A Clock In Its Walls

A Reel Leadership Article

Based on John Bellairs’ 1973 novel (You can buy the book here), The House With A Clock In Its Walls stars Jack Black as the eccentric Uncle Jonathan Barnavelt, Owen Vaccaro as Jonathan’s nephew Lewis Barnavelt, and Cate Blanchett as Jonathan’s love interest Florence Zimmerman. Directed by horror-movie expert Eli Roth, The House With A Clock In Its Walls brings these three characters together to tell an engaging and entertaining story.

Leadership Lessons From The Moive The House With A Clock In Its Walls

Lewis is an awkward 10-year old boy. Even worse than the steampunk style glasses he wears throughout most of the movie, he’s orphaned through a tragic car accident which kills both of his parents. He’s sent to live with his Uncle Jonathan. There, he discovers the truth about his kimono wearing uncle. His uncle is a warlock! There’s also something weird about the house he’s about to live in.

Quotes And Leadership Lessons From The Equalizer 2

A Reel Leadership Article

Denzel Washington returns as Robert McCall in the Equalizer 2. Robert serves as an avenging angel. He goes after those who prey on the weak and the powerless.

Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 2

When one of his close friends is murdered, he sets out on a mission. He will find the people responsible for Susan Plummer’s (Melissa Leo) death and avenge her.

The Equalizer 2 isn’t for the faint of heart. There’s a lot of profanity. Even more blood and death. Yet there are many leadership lessons in the Equalizer 2.

Let’s check out those leadership lessons in the latest edition of Reel Leadership.

Caution: The Equalizer 2 spoilers below

Quotes And Leadership Lessons From The Equalizer 2

1. Great leaders confront wrongs:

Robert McCall was a man on a mission. He sought out the aggressors of wrongs. When he found someone doing wrong, he would exact vengeance upon them.

Being A Disciplined Leader Is A Choice

The Disciplined Leader Series

When you think of becoming a disciplined leader, what do you think about? Do you think about the effort and energy it takes to become disciplined? Do you think about changing your thoughts and actions? Or do you think about changing your choices to become a disciplined leader?

The choice is yours to become a disciplined leader

Photo by Heidi Sandstrom

The reality of discipline is that it does take energy and effort. To be disciplined means you will have to think more and do things differently.

Discipline also takes change. You can’t keep doing the same things you had done in the past. Those were undisciplined actions. You want to become disciplined.

To become a disciplined leader, you have to begin changing the choices you make. Being a disciplined leader is a choice. A constant choice.

Being A Disciplined Leader Is A Choice

Boiling everything down, you see that a disciplined leader knows how to make wise choices. They know how to make choices they don’t want to make.

There’s Nothing Wrong With Not Hitting Your Goal

They say the biggest fear most people have is the fear of public speaking. I can relate to that fear but I’m not sure public speaking is the biggest fear people really have.

The real fear is not hitting the goals they set.

hitting the goal isn't the point

Image via Joe Jukes

Public speaking is an easy fear to gravitate to. It’s an obvious fear. I mean, who isn’t scared of getting up in front of a crowd of people and sharing their message? I know I’m scared to death to do it.

But it’s not the greatest fear I have. Like many others, I fear failing to meet the goals I set.

The Purpose Of Goal Setting

With the fear of failing to meet goals, many people won’t even set goals. They figure “Why set a goal if I won’t accomplish it?” In theory, this line of thinking seems to make sense.

How Leadership Becomes Easier

Leadership is a labor of love. You’re going to pour your all into it. And you may never get the energy you put into it back.

Leadership is hard. Leadership requires much of you.

You’re never going to find a quick fix to make your leadership easier.

Valley Towards Denali

Image by Nic McPhee

Leadership Is Difficult

There’s no way around this. Leadership will be difficult, especially as you start out.

You’ll be called on to provide everything you’ve got. Sometimes this isn’t enough. And you’ll be required to give more.

Your tribe won’t always want to follow. Your vision won’t always lead to sunshine and roses. Your leadership will be questioned.

Leadership is difficult. No question about it.

While there will be difficulty, don’t give up. You’ll regret it when you do. And you’ll be so close…