Life’s lessons can be learned from new motion picture.
was the night before Christmasin a Southwest city, and for five
lonely strangers spread across
town, it’s the most depressing time of
year. Lefty, a divorced, jobless and
homeless man, is on the verge of losing
the privilege of seeing his young daughter if his situation doesn’t change. Eva,
an older woman estranged from her family, contemplates suicide. Mitch, a discouraged youth pastor, takes his reluctant teens for a night of caroling to shut-ins. And Mary, a young mother and her
son, become stranded at a convenience
store when their car breaks down, forcing them to spend the evening with Kirk,
the bored but sympathetic owner.
Throughout the movie these people randomly cross paths and exchange fates
along the way.
You’re thinking this sounds like a
movie plot? It is. Recently, I was Stephen
Baldwin’s guest at the premiere of his
new film Midnight Clear. It debuted at
the 37th Annual U.S.A. Film Festival in
Dallas, Texas. The U.S.A. Film Festival
is one of the oldest, most respected festivals in the United States. Dallas
Jenkins of Jenkins Entertainment directed the film and did an excellent job of
melding superb acting with an incredible
story line. There are countless life lessons to be learned from this film that
keenly parallel both our personal and
professional lives.
Trust and respect are values that can
be applied every day of your life.
Knowing when to trust people is key;
respect however, should be given to everyone. Trust is earned by doing what you tell
people you’re going to do. With regard to
respect, you must give respect to get it in
return. When you tell a client that you’ll
have a product or service ready on
Thursday, make sure that you can deliver it
on Thursday. If you’re not sure if you can
really fulfill that deadline, then don’t promise it. Customers will respect your honesty.
When you protect your word and make it count, you will gain your customer’s trust
and that’s priceless.
Opening doors must be a part of your
mission.
You’ll never know where the next great
opportunity lies unless you’re willing to
open each new door you encounter.
Many people fail because of stagnation
and their unwillingness to play on multiple levels. Be prepared to try new things
and new ways of accomplishing your
goals. Be willing to change up the way
you presently do business. Make it a
point to consistently review, revisit and
revitalize projects. Put a new twist on
the way you do daily things.
You’ll meet people in the most
unlikely places that can help you get
to the next level.
Often it’s when you least expect it that
the most extraordinary things can happen. Being open, ready and prepared at
all times is essential. As depicted in the
movie, throughout our daily routines we
encounter people that could impact your
life and business in a way that you didn’t
plan on. Relationships are so vital. You
can’t be successful without them.
Surround yourself with the best people
you can find. Hire people who will
inspire others and bring out the best in
your company.
Have the fortitude to keep moving
forward no matter what the consequences.
There are many times that you probably feel like throwing in the towel. Don’t.
Life is a series of ups and downs. We
really learn more from the hard things in
life if we determine to use them constructively and grow. There is a purpose
in everything that happens to us, good or
bad. Success comes in many shapes and
forms. Be willing to adapt and stay
focused on your bigger vision. There will
be distractions along the way, but if you
understand that everyone has them, it
will help you not give into them. Be
determined to win in the end.
It was refreshing to experience a movie
that reflects the positive outcomes that
life can bring. While Hollywood continues to produce movies that focus on
murder and mayhem, Jenkins focused
on hopeful opportunity to make this
thriller.
Midnight Clear will be released in theatres later this year. Watch for it and
other exciting events that Stephen
Baldwin and Dallas Jenkins are producing to positively impact America’s youth.
MALCOLM A. TEASDALE is the principal and “Big
Idea Catalyst” for Teasdale Worldwide, a strategic marketing firm that is headquartered in Tampa. Reach him at
[email protected]. To obtain more information
about upcoming events and possible event sponsorship, visit
www.MarketingofDistinction.com. You may also call Kathi Kasel
at (813) 868-1520 or e-mail [email protected].
For additional articles, register at www.MalcolmOutLoud.com.