Lessons from Secretariat

We rented Secretariat from the Red Box today.  I wasn't planning on watching it but Ben really wanted me to.  Wow, I'm so glad I did.  What a great movie!  I love crying happy tears and I certainly did watching this movie. 

I came across a blog post by Brian Dodd where he outlines Leadership Principles from the movie.  Listed some quotes Brian highlighted that I liked below...

1.Our Lives Are One Phone Call Away From Changing Forever. Penny Chenery, played by Diane Lane, receives a phone call in the opening scene notifying her that her mother has passed. This begins the series of events that resulted in Secretariat becoming the greatest racehorse of all time. I have had several instances this year where my life was propelled in another direction simply as a result of an unexpected phone call so this principle hits close to home.

2.“It’s not whether they think we won. It’s whether we think we won.” - Penny’s father Chris Chenery

3.“Great colts come from great sires.” Fathers, we are not horses obviously, but can you see the application?

4.Talent is Often Uniquely Packaged. Lucien Laurin, played by the incredible John Malkovich, is eccentric in wardrobe and personality to say the least. Be careful about making judgements based upon external appearances.

5.“I got what I wanted.” - Penny Chenery referring to acquiring Secretariat in a coin flip followed by her brother Hollis’s statement “You got what no one else wanted.”

6.Always Trust A Woman’s Intuition. Penny received no support from either her husband or brother. It is one of the truths of this life that God gives women a sixth sense regarding life’s issues. Husbands, trust your wives’ insights.  (hehe)

7.“Let him run his race.” Good words for us as leaders.

8.“You never know how far you can go unless you run.”

9.“I will not live the rest of my life in regret.” – Chenery

10.“One loss can happen. Two is non-performance.” – Chenery’s primary financial backer Ogden Phillips played by James Cromwell.

11.“I’ve run my race. You run yours.” – Chenery speaking to Secretariat the evening before the Belmont Stakes.

12.“Let him run Ronnie! Let him run!” - Chenery as Secretariat was going down the backstretch at the Belmont.

Go rent the movie!