Read time: 6 minutes
#89 – 26 Jan 2024
Welcome!
Can I tell you a secret?
I hope this isn’t too cringe.
But first…
You probably fall somewhere on the spectrum from superfan to disgusted about the main feature of this story.
So it will be interesting to hear how this lands for people.
Okay. Let’s get into it:
Remember the buzz in the lead-up to the Christmas break?
My wife loves rewatching all the classic “holiday” movies every year.
You know the ones.
Now I’m not really a sucker for romantic comedies, so I tune out mostly while she gets her fix. Except for Home Alone or Die Hard, in that case: “I’m In!”
Somewhere between Christmas and New Year, she had burned through her usual list and was now scraping the bottom of the movie barrel on Netflix.
But then I got the question:
“Will you watch Harry Potter with me?”
“Hmmm. Alright.”
And so we randomly watched Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone… I think cause Harry Potter is kind of a “Christmas movie”. I know what you’re thinking: “Come on, that’s a stretch!”. But hey, Die Hard somehow makes the cut, and there is always a feature of snow or Christmas vibes in each of the HP movies.
I don’t know why I feel the need to associate snow with Christmas. I live in Australia, where it’s often a boiling hot summer over that period.
Anyway…
It seems to be getting harder and harder to watch a whole movie in one sitting.
Can you relate?
It must be the distraction of our smartphones and the allure of social media scattering our attention. But also, as someone who lives for personal development, I always feel this underlying pressure that if I am going to watch something, I may as well be learning something. So, I’ve unconsciously swapped out TV and movies for self-improvement via podcasts and YouTube.
But what I have noticed is I still appreciate rewatching the classics from my younger days. And that’s where the Harry Potter collection sits.
There is one other reason that makes it nearly impossible to watch a full movie in one sitting these days:
Kids.
Yep, I love them to bits, but it’s distraction city in our home at the moment with two young (often screaming) boys bouncing with energy.
When it comes to unwinding over TV, we usually chip away a bit each night once the kids are settled in bed and the household chores are done.
And this was one of those nights.
I paused Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone about 45 minutes in and let out a loud yawn—time for bed.
Now, usually, this isn’t a special moment.
But tonight was something different. What did I see on the pause screen?
“LAST DAY TO WATCH ON NETFLIX 13 JANUARY.”
I instantly wrapped up that yawn and turned to my wife. We locked eyes with excitement!
“OMG, are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Harry Potter marathon?”
“Hell yeah!”
“WE HAVE TO DO THIS!”
Here lies the first practical lesson of our story:
Deadlines are a powerful mobiliser. A good challenge can rally the troops together and forge action in alignment with a powerful goal. Use deadlines to your advantage. Remember Parkinson’s Law: Work expands to the time allowed.
So it sounds easy. Our mission was:
Complete 8 Harry Potter movies in 15 days.
We were ready for this.
But then some pessimism crept in:
“Yeah, right. Sounds easy…”
But it’s not so easy when you have two screaming kids and limited “scary movie time” (let’s face it, Harry Potter is pretty scary if you’re under 10 years old, maybe up to 17 years old as the movies progress into more death and darkness!). And you are so exhausted at the end of each day you want to pass out at 9 pm.
Plus, we were going on a beachside holiday for 7 of those days, without Wi-Fi for streaming movies.
Nevertheless, challenge accepted!
Okay, side note: I’m having way too much fun writing this. I wanted to model how you can make an everyday experience into an entertaining, educational and inspiring story through creative writing. Cause, hey, boring emails don’t get read.
I’ll save you the tedious step-by-step progression on our HP marathon. But guess what?
WE DID IT!
Second lesson:
Singular focus on a goal makes achievement easier. You don’t waste time “umming and ahhing” over potential options or chasing shiny objects. You just get busy working on your goal. Eliminate the noise and laser focus.
But it was close! It came right down to the wire.
We finished Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2… at 11:45 pm on 13 JANUARY 2024 (The final date).
15 minutes to spare!
And how was it?
Awesome!
Third lesson:
Following your obsession lights a fire inside. I know this might sound silly, given the topic. Still, we unlocked a herculean motivation and driving energy. The whole adventure was enriching!
I’d never watched all eight movies together in a somewhat rapid succession. So you remember all the bits and pieces that tie them all together. It’s much better than the year or so apart as the movies were originally released.
Fourth lesson:
Immersion is powerful. When you dive deep into a topic, it becomes a part of you, and you can make connections and draw insights others can’t see.
Anyway, what is the overarching point of telling you this?
If you put your mind to something, YOU CAN DO IT.
Even when the odds are against you.
FOCUS.
And what is my main takeaway from Harry Potter’s journey?
COURAGE.
Yep.
The courageous win.
I invite you to bring a little courage to how you show up as a leader today.
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
Professor Albus Dumbledore
Fifth lesson:
Courage wins. You must show up bravely, stand by your values, take action in the face of your fears, and lead your tribe through adversity.
And that’s it!
Cheers,
Matt
PS.
I’d love you to reply to me answering this question:
Why did you need to hear this story in your life today?
PPS.
If you are a total HP fan, tell me:
What Hogwarts House would you be in?
House & Values
Gryffindor: Bravery, helping others, and chivalry.
Hufflepuff: Hard work, patience, loyalty, and fair play.
Ravenclaw: Intelligence, knowledge, planning ahead, and wit.
Slytherin: Ambition, cunningness, heritage, and resourcefulness.
(Source: University of California)
Or if you created your own “house”, what would it be called? And what would the core values be?
You unlock part of your hidden power when you lead with your values. Don’t shy away from them, own them!
If you’d like some help:
Would you like to explore how coaching could help you (or your team) achieve your goals in 2024? Contact me or book a call.
