Extra Points: That’s What We Do

This Week’s Focus Point: That’s What We Do

Barb and I watched the third and final movie of the Hunger Games series, Mockingjay Part 2 this past weekend. There was a scene heading into the climax of the film that captured my attention and kept me thinking into the next day (don’t worry, no spoilers).

In the scene, the protagonist Katniss Everdeen (portrayed brilliantly by Jennifer Lawrence) said to her fellow hero Peeta Mellark (actor Josh Hutcherson, equally impressive) as they were about to face another seemingly monumental challenge, “That’s what we do. We keep each other alive.”

I thought about my own relationship with Barb. For the past 30 years married and 34 years together, that’s what we’ve done. Certainly, we’ve never had to battle poisonous snakes, exploding mines, or human combatants in a fight to the death. But we have faced plenty of the adversities, challenges, and tests that come with living a life together in a volatile and uncertain world. Heck, even just raising  children often feels like being in the middle of the jungle hanging on for dear life! We’ve kept each other “alive” emotionally, spiritually, and resiliently.

But what about business? Do we have others watching our backs? I can think of people who have (and still do) help keep me “alive.” My coaches, mentors, accountability partners, and trusted advisers have all had my best interest and “survival” at heart. They are key factors to my survival through a business world that sometimes might resemble the Hunger Games. I’d like to think that I’ve done the same for them and for others.

Here’s your takeaway question for today. With whom can you say, “That’s what we do. We keep each other alive.”? Personally and professionally we need these people. Life is about relationships. Relationships where you can count on others to have your back, to help you when you need it, and who count on you to do the same. Katniss and Peeta demonstrated that in the book and movie series. How about you in real life?