Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Chang Can Dunk

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.

Chang Can Dunk is a Disney+ exclusive movie about a young Asian-American teen who longs to get the girl, defeat the school bully, and maybe play some basketball. While geared toward the younger crowd, Chang Can Dunk is a fun experience.

Chang (Bloom Li) is a 5’8″ student in high school. His rival and former friend, Matt (Chase Liefeld, son of the legendary comic book artist and my good friend (Rob’s words on his WhatNot stream) Rob Liefeld), are at each other’s throats over basketball and a girl, Kristy (Zoe Renee). Their rivalry becomes real when Chang tells Matt that he will be able to dunk within ten weeks.

Bloom Li as Chang in Chang Can Dunk. Making a dunk.

This is a challenge. He’s short, not very good, and isn’t motivated to do much of anything. Throughout the movie, we’re reminded that Chang doesn’t stick with things.

Do You Need A Big Following?

Do you dream of having hundreds, no thousands, no millions of followers? People who will listen to what you have to say and follow every piece of advice you lay out before them?

This sounds like a dream come true. With a huge following, you’ve made it to the big time. Everyone wants a piece of you.

One of my recent TV addictions has been the TV show The Following. The protagonist is Joe Carroll, an author, teacher, and serial killer. He’s also generated a massive following from behind bars.

His followers include police officers, school teachers, nannies, and more.

Carroll’s followers rival anything I’ve ever seen before. You can’t turn anywhere in this TV universe without running into one of them.

For Carroll, this was a partial Nirvana. He had people who loved and adored him.

9 Signs You’re A Leader

I’ve met many people who live unassuming lives. Going through the routines and taking care of business.

Many times they feel they’re not adding value to others or they lack the ability to lead.

In reality, they couldn’t be more wrong. The young, stay-at-home mom, the sophomore high school student, or the desk jockey.

Each one has value and the ability to lead.

The qualities of leaders can be very subtle. Look for it and you’ll find at least three or four that are present in your life.

  1. You make decisions: While you may not have the loudest voice, you have the opportunity to speak up and make a decision. Leaders make decisions. Choose to decide.
  2. You have followers: Everyone has someone who follows them. The stay-at-home mom has her children. The quiet student has other students studying their habits. Look around and you’ll see others following you.

Great Leaders Do This

Leaders are leaders for a reason. You and other leaders are willing to take the first step and guide others.

You’re the one people look to in times of trouble. You’re the one to give direction.

sheep on a cliff

Image by Stephen Jones

I recently came across a story from 2005 about sheep in the town of Gevas, Turkey. Here’s what happened:

Shepherds were watching the flock as they grazed on a cliff. Breakfast came and the shepherds decided to take off to eat, leaving the sheep to themselves.

Shortly thereafter, the first sheep took a step over the cliff, falling to it’s death. Then nearly 1,500 of the other sheep followed him over the cliff.

When all was said and done, there were 450 dead sheep at the bottom of the cliff. Thankfully, for the other 1,000 sheep, the bodies of the first sheep cushioned their fall enough to survive.