Category Archives: Perseverance

Leadership, in the movie “Reagan”

06 Friday Sep 2024

Posted by in Adversity, Appreciation, Clarity, Communication, Consistency, Decisions, Effective, Influence, Inspiration, Leader, Leadership, Mission, Perseverance, Purpose, Relationships, Respect, Sacrifice, Vision

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This past Monday, we went to the movies, enjoying our Labor Day afternoon to see the new film, Reagan, staring Dennis Quaid. I was eight years old in 1980 when Reagan was first elected as president. Over the course of the next eight years of his presidency, the movie allowed me to remember a few things here and there. Obviously, as I got older, and even now, I appreciate his leadership and the legacy he left America.

As I sat there, names and events from the past started surfacing in my mind. Looking back allows so much more reflection and enables us to see insights and the effect you didn’t know was happening in real time. At any present time, you can see leadership at work. However, looking past tense is where you see the starting results of leadership.

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Here are a few leadership takeaways from the movie Reagan that I gleaned…

Reagan was known as “The Great Communicator” and “The Great Persuader.” While he exhibited several leadership traits that resonated with political and business leaders alike, his ability to inspire through communication to the general public awarded him an audience of supporters. He knew when to be serious and when levity was needed. Being a great communicator allowed him to speak purposefully and to give and maintain direction, even when others doubted his approach to situations.

His optimism in the face of adversity and his strong sense of purpose emerged as key themes seen throughout the entire film. In all of his leadership, a sense of clear vision makes this possible. Reagan knew exactly what he wanted to do and when to do it. Many tried to hold him back from being who he was meant to be, while at the same time, there were those who championed him and encouraged him to be who he was meant to be.

Reagan embodied a rare talent for simplifying complex issues without diluting their importance. What impressed me most about watching his earlier life in Hollywood was his sacrifice of knowing his stance against the influx of communism would hurt his image and alienate him in Hollywood’s future. However, if there was ever anyone to look to for an example of having a vision and a mission, it was Reagan.

As with any great leader, Reagan’s willingness to listen to different perspectives is another hallmark of his leadership. He surrounded himself with a strong team of advisors and trusted them to help make decisions, demonstrating confidence in others while maintaining accountability (in one scene, Reagan asked a cabinet member, “What did I hire you for?”).

All in all, political differences and ideologies aside, Reagan was a dynamic leader. He always took every opportunity to rally people around a shared goal, inspiring pursuit while at the same time remaining resilient, even when faced with challenges. That’s what great leaders do.

If you get a chance, go watch Reagan. You will find leadership that can inspire and motivate you.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2024 J Clay Norton

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Keeping A Hold On Your Foundation…

24 Friday Mar 2023

Posted by in Actions, Circumstances, Decisions, Foundation, Leader, Leadership, Perseverance

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Over spring break, Heather and I drove down to Natchez just to mess around and see a few landmarks that Greg Iles, a Natchez, MS, author, uses in his books. On the way back, we stopped by the Rocky Springs site on the Natchez Trace and walked a few trails. One trail we hiked was way in the back to the old deserted town of what was Rocky Springs.

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As we walked around, I saw this great looking tree. As I looked longer, I wondered how many years of eroding had occurred. I also looked at the roots of the tree. As you can see, they are still digging down into the soil. I looked up and down the tree and noticed how alive it was. Outside of something happening irregularly, I figure the tree will not die anytime soon.

So, I decided to take a picture. I thought it was just cool looking, and then I got to thinking as we hiked… The tree represents the leadership life that many live. How? I’m glad you asked.

How many leaders do you know that are still surviving after someone else tried to erode the foundation under them? Those leaders, who had strong roots, have stretched their roots into the soil beneath them and chosen to continue thriving. It seems that, as with eroding, those others just simply wear away at your foundation. Little by little, over time, their short-sightedness toward others’ leadership has weathered away many good people.

Actually, we see it in all aspects of society. There are so many “out there” who do everything they can to erode your foundation for what you stand for from beneath you. They will challenge your beliefs, your ethics, your values, your… And when it happens, those same roots must stay strong and continue to dig, sometimes way down, to find new soil, grab hold, and stand.

I have no idea how old that tree is, but I know it has stood the test of time thus far. It has taken everything thrown at it, even the erosion to take the foundation from under. Yet, it still stands. A favorite quote of mine is, “Make sure your feet are planted in the right place; you never know when you will have to stand firm.”

Ultimately, that’s what real leaders have to do, stand firm. Let your roots stay established and continue to grow. I’m not sure when I will return to the Rocky Springs site again, but if I do, I think I’ll stop to see how the old tree is doing…

Let’s go fight the good fight of leadership. Someone has to…

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2023 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

You Have One Job… Thoughts from the Movie “1917”

17 Friday Jan 2020

Posted by in Actions, Agenda, Courage, Decisions, Heroes, Importance, Intentions, Leader, Leadership, Obedience, Perseverance, Purpose, Sacrifice, Trust

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This past weekend we went to see the new movie 1917. I am not a movie critic by nature, but 1917 is well worth your time to see. The leadership which takes place and seen in the film is powerful, and that is what I want to discuss today.

Quick synopsis… “During World War I, two British soldiers — Lance Cpl. Schofield and Lance Cpl. Blake — receive seemingly impossible orders. In a race against time, they must cross over into enemy territory to deliver a message that could potentially save 1,600 of their fellow comrades — including Blake’s own brother.” – retrieved from “1917 movie synopsis” Google search.

Take-a-ways… Without telling parts of the movie (in case you have not seen it, if you have, hopefully, these will resonate).

Schofield and Blake had one job…

1. When a person is determined to get a job done, they will go beyond sacrifice and defy obstacles to ensure that the job is completed.

2. A person with a vested interest will go further than someone who is not. Sometimes, it just means more.

3. Quality leadership is about seeing the end result, and it is defined with a purpose. Quality leaders do not get “caught up” with the distractions around them.

4. Sometimes you have to hold on to a partner to find your way and have faith when they tell you to jump even if you cannot see.

Obviously, there are more take-a-ways, but these four were significant while I watched the movie and pondered them afterward. Even if you have not seen the movie, these four thoughts can be and should be part of the excellent leadership characteristics that you need for yourself and want for others.

With anything, as in the movie, leadership is about trust in those who lead and those who carry out orders. Wherever you are in your leadership, be the leader who looks out for others. Leadership is not always life or death, but it always affects the lives of others.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

©2020 J Clay Norton

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GPS Leadership

20 Friday Jul 2018

Posted by in Actions, Attitude, Clarity, Communication, Family, Leader, Leadership, Listening, Perseverance, Trust

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This past week, our family had the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles, CA.  My wife had a counseling conference to attend, and my daughter and I made it a vacation.  Now, if you have never driven in LA, then you do not know what you are missing.  The rumors are true.  It is slam packed, turtle moving, and prayers needed. We had to make a lot of Ninja and Jedi moves to get to the correct turns sometimes.

We rented a car and used the GPS on our phones for directions.  As I reflect, I found a lot of leadership lessons from the trip and the GPS.

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Good leaders need a great wingman.

I found myself a few times telling my wife or daughter, “Talk to me Goose.” The classic line in Top Gun with Maverick and Goose.  They both did an excellent job in guiding me where we needed to go.  Leadership is like that.  There has to be trust and communication. You have to have someone on your side, by your side who is going to help you because it benefits the whole group, not just themselves.

Good leaders plan for the long road.

We were going to Anaheim one evening, a distance of only 26 miles.  1 hour and 39 minutes later, we arrived.  No one in LA says, “I’m just going to run over there real quick.” Leadership takes a look at what is ahead and determines the path to take.  It may be long, slow, stressful… but at least you are doing something.  Too many times, it is too easy to say no, let’s not do that.  It will take too long.

Good leaders sometimes make wrong turns.

Every day, I made at least one wrong turn.  LA is full of forks in the road and merger here and merge there lanes.  The great thing about missing a turn, the GPS will always recalculate.  That is what happens in leadership.  Sometimes leaders make a wrong turn, a bad decision, an oops and an opportunity to recalculate.  Let’s try that again.  Many times, on our wrong turns or missed exits, we were able to see something that was not planned.  A lot of great leadership decisions have been made in the same manner.

Our GPS made our trip all the more doable.  I would not want to drive in LA blind.  At the same time, I do not want to be leading blindly.  I am not a fan of the “let’s fly by the seat of our pants leadership.”  Too many bad things can happen.

Leaders need a good wingman, a plan for the long road, and an opportunity to recalculate.  If you do not, then you are leading alone, probably shortsighted, and think you never make mistakes.  If this is you, then stay out of everyone else’s lanes that know where they are going.

Remember… THINK LEADERSHIP!

©2018 J Clay Norton

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