Quotes And Leadership Lessons From The Russian Five

A Reel Leadership Article

Most of the movies I attend can be classified as action, suspense, thriller, or comedy. Rarely do I share a Reel Leadership article about a documentary. Today, though, is one of those rare moments and I think you’ll enjoy this one.

The Russian Five isn’t about government collusion with Russia or Russian spies. No, The Russian Five is about one of the greatest turnarounds in hockey history. It’s about the Detroit Red Wings and their pursuit of the Stanley Cup.

Profile shots of the Russian Five

Red Wing players Sergei Fedorov, Viacheslav Fetisov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Vyacheslav Kozlov, and Igor Larionov

The last time the Detroit Red Wings had won the Stanley Cup was 1955. For years, the Red Wings became the laughing stock of the NHL. Many people referred to them as the Dead Wings.

Their NHL stock was falling. No one believed they could win another Stanley Cup. Then things changed.

Why Small Choices Derail Big Dreams

What big dreams do you have? Or, should I ask, what big dreams did you have when you were young?

Me? I longed to become a video game designer. I wanted to design the next Final Fantasy game.

But I didn’t. Instead, I took a few college courses and began working. And then continued working and pursuing other passions.

Small choices determine the course of our lives

From the outside, one could think it was the big things which derailed my passion of designing video games. Thinking this would be incorrect.

What really derailed my passions were the small choices. The small choices I made and didn’t make.

Why Small Choices Are So Important

Our small choices are what really guide our day-to-day actions. They’re what we’re doing to create our lives.

And, because of this, we easily overlook what guides us to our dreams.

What People Will Remember

Our culture has taught us to love the larger than life events. Grand proposals aired on the Jumbotron at Madison Square Gardens. The Christmas bonus that’s half of your annual salary. A midnight release of The Hobbit.

Great events, sure. Memorable? Of course! But, in all honesty, they’re not what most people will remember.

Over the last couple of months friends have posted pictures of our former church secretary (but she was more than a secretary. She was an amazing woman). These pictures made me think of what I remember about her.

Her name was Eleanor Sonnega. And she was a quiet woman.

Mostly in the background. Never wanting much attention. But she did one thing that drew attention.

She had a tradition she would carry out for our church members. Every birthday she would mail a birthday card to the congregants of the church. On top of that, each birthday card contained something special.