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Some of our staff being movie buffs, we decided to start a series of posts on sports in movies, get a discussion going on what we can learn in terms of inspiration, "tipping points" and what separates good or plain mediocrity from greatness.
The first movie in this series is one very dear to my heart, not because of its cheesyness but really because of its humanity and evolution of characters: Jerry Maguire (1996, starring Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., in case you have not seen this movie, I highly recommend it).
What I would like to share with you is a very iconic but pivotal scene in the movie: it's the scene where Tom Cruise bluntly tells Cuba Gooding Jr., a mediocre NFL player, what the real reason for his mediocrity is. The scene is a tipping point in Cuba Gooding Jr.'s season in the NFL, he actually ends up bruised, injured game after game, but finishes the season with flying colors and wins a multi-million dollar contract.
Before we conclude with what the lessons are from this scene, here it is, PS: the scene contains foul language, so PG13 please:
This scene is really about what separates mediocrity from greatness, and the answers are:
- Attitude (play with heart!): want the change, and act on it
- Will power (play with heart!): if you fall, dust it off, stand up and try again, don't be discouraged
- Responsibility: don't blame circumstances, take responsibility and do it.
The movie is filled with other messages about relationships between husband/wife as well as between friends, the evolution of both Tom Cruise's and Cuba Gooding's characters is brilliant, they both add to one another's lives.
Your turn: What did you think of this scene and what key messages did you like? please feel free to share your thoughts below...
