Live courageously from your heart!
We now are going to war. This is the beginning of the end.
The hour is late, and you are needed. We need your heart.
If there were something more I could do to help you see, I wish to God I could have done it. Tears fill my eyes for fear I have not done enough. You must turn, then, back to myth — tomorrow and the next day and the next. Read the battle of Helm’s Deep; it’s chapter seven of The Two Towers. Watch any of the trilogy of those films.
Recently at our company weekly seminar we invited a guest speaker who lead a conversation about ‘The Pros and Cons of Keeping Score’. The core of the presentation focused around the idea that keeping score is something we all do whether it is comparing ourselves to some ideal or to others around us. There are pros and cons of keeping score with a thin line between moving forward positively and moving forward at the expense of self and relationships with others. It was a solid message that and got me thinking about a leadership story I heard using the events of the 1994 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks. The topic was pride and leadership. I’m not talking about the pride that aspires us to become better people, I’m talking about that insidious thing inside of us that keeps us from: celebrating others, admitting when we’re wrong, acknowledging when we need help, opening up, fill in the blank _____.
Let’s roll the tape back to the year 1994 during the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks. The Bulls, already down two games of the best-of-seven series, were trying to prove that they could pull out a win without Michael Jordan, who had retired at the end of the previous season.
I believe one of the most valuable tools a man can possess in walking out this adventure called life is a mentor.
Have you sought out a mentor to help you navigate your personal and professional spheres? Maybe you found your mentor at church, in a professional setting, during your first job search or perhaps it was when you transitioned careers. Either way — your mentor was that valuable compass that most likely provided much needed guidance helping you overcome challenges and life’s obstacles. And if you’re fortunate to link up with a solid mentor, they inspired you along the way.
I’ve been blessed to have had a handful of mentors that took the time to walk with me on my journey. Not seeing the value of a mentor early on in life, I wish I better understood that having someone older and wiser than me speaking into my life would have saved me from many pitfalls. Definitely would have helped me navigate the road of life better too.
I can count my life mentors on one hand and my most recent mentor helped me through some of the toughest trials of my life. He helped me walk out of some really tough circumstances, he helped me get my book out there and is always available to walk with me as a life coach if needed. Entering into a place of accountability with someone who you trust, who can share life experiences with and provide the much needed wisdom to navigate it — is invaluable.
Pause for a moment and consider your own need for a mentor at this place in your life. Many people I talk to, convince themselves that they can navigate life in their own strength and it’s sad to watch them stumble and fall. I’m not saying that a mentor will prevent all stumbling in your life, but they will definitely help you avoid some landmines along the way if you listen to them. I recommend mentors for men and women, but I’m speaking to the guys here because many boys have had fathers who were not involved or just absent. A boy without a compass is like an explorer without a map!
Consider the following story.
I love a good Western! Some of my favorites include, “The Good The Bad and the Ugly”, “The Outlaw Josie Wales”, “Silverado”, “Open Range” and the new “The Magnificent Seven” is a worthy successor to its 1960 namesake.
The original Magnificent Seven is more your dad’s favorite film than a cinematic blockbuster, which was also a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 Japanese film “Seven Samurai”. Denzel Washington does a great job in leading a cast of acting talent with a heroic and watchable performance. If you’re looking for classic Western action, the movie does not disappoint in giving the audience spectacular gunfight scenes faithful to this genre of movie. Also notable, were the inventive set pieces accompanied by astonishing scenery and backdrops. I have not seen a Western this good in awhile.
Spoiler Alert
Mel Gibson’s Braveheart is the story of the Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace who led revolt against King Edward I of England during the 13th century. Although some of the historical fact might have been infused with a bit of Hollywood license, the movie was nonetheless…epic! There were awesome battle scenes fought without relying on CG, there was the film’s romantic emotional-tugging soundtrack and the epic theme of courage.
Yeah, this is one of those inspiring movies that will watch over-and-over again, but one of most inspiring elements of the movie are the timeless quotes about freedom, passing the mantle, and epic courage. Here are some of my favorites:
