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Only YOU are responsible for your Future: business/life direction!

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with John Henry Masterworks Design International, Inc. 13013

No, this is not about a branding moment...

We tend to do a lot of couch potato TV watching over weekends --especially if there are no good movies out.  And so we ended up late last night watching the original b/w film about Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol".  I think Charles titled his books like we title our blogs here on AR...  

This juxtaposition of ghastly apparitions and misanthropy against syrupy do-goodness and the Christmas spirit just doesn't seem to mix well at first blush.

But I took great notice at one of the lines in this film that was apropos vis a vis current blog discussions...

The way I remember it Scrooge treats his partner Jacob Marley very poorly and undeservedly.  And drove him to his grave.  Well, apparently not.  Marley had grown to share Scrooge's proclivity towards greed, indifference to the plight of the poor, selfishness, and was equally cold-hearted towards anyone in need.

Marley was equally to blame for these 'sins' and deserved to wander for 7 years since his death, as a ghost in chains.

In Marley's short monologue he says something that tops my 'Apocalypse Now' ah-ha moment.  

"And then I realized, like I was shot — like I was shot with a diamond...a diamond bullet right through my forehead. And I thought: My God, the genius of that. The genius!"

 

This amazing bit of rhetoric comes from a Victorian author's mind in 1843.  I have seen at least three renditions of the tale on film.  Now I want to read this entire tale by Dickens in print.  There is a macabre sense of things in many descriptive moments in this tale:

 "every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart"

How could this language be in such a macabre tale with the title chosen??

Each decision Marley made was a link in a chain.  A metal link!  Think about that.  The links added up to yards of a life filled with negativity, greed, and disdain for others!  

We also forge our own links one by one and hold onto them. AND WE DO THIS OF OUR OWN FREE WILL~!

But this singular statement by Marley is a confession, too late in life, that would grate on anyone's conscience: 

Why did I not do better, why didn't I see the opportunities, why didn't I seize the moment, why didn't I set proper goals and execute, why was I so complacent, why didn't I push myself, why did I blame everyone except myself?

 

Yes, 'A Christmas Carol' is about redemption.  Marley's line is really the entire theme of the tale.  He forged his miserable existence link by link, yard by yard, and put it on -- wearing it his entire life.

The great revelatory moment in the story is that even at a very late age, Scrooge is moved to change his ways.  He had an unhappy childhood we learn, somewhat abandoned.  He is a recluse, his big house empty while the streets are filled with the poor and destitute.  He treats his staff very poorly, he shuns his relatives.

But Scrooge sees the error of his way, changes gears, changes course, makes new goals, turns his life around, sees the good, feels hope in his heart, and intends to better himself.  He wants to become a new person.

Wow, talk about a great motivational yarn!!  1843...

It is never too late to rethink your business, your life, your goals, your attitude, your relationships, your beliefs...

 

(and if you've missed my weekend blog on some ways to set goals, strategy and tactics, click here)

Comments (10)

Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

John Henry  One of my cousin Suzie's favorite movies . Yes it is never to late to see the error of one's way .  Move foward and set new and better goals . 

Dec 03, 2018 09:47 AM
John Henry, Florida Architect

Hannah Williams Thanks Hannah.  A great tale that many of us miss one of the most important points.

Dec 03, 2018 10:02 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

That is an interesting observation. I guess I don't think that deeply

Dec 03, 2018 09:49 AM
John Henry, Florida Architect

William Feela , I missed this gem for years and years.  It pays to read books I think and not just gloss over great themes watching edited Hollywood interpretations!

Dec 03, 2018 10:05 AM
Faye Y. Taylor
StepStone Realty, LLC - Floresville, TX
Country Living with City Convenience -Wilson Co TX

John Henry  Most of us do mature and learn from the error of our ways.  The thought of some of my younger years makes me shudder.  The world is a better place as we learn and grow.  Now to stay on track with my goals is a harder task for me.

Dec 03, 2018 09:58 AM
John Henry, Florida Architect

Faye Y. Taylor Hi Faye, it is a sobering moment when you realize you could have put some effort into righting a damaged ship!  Thank you

Dec 03, 2018 10:05 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Hi John Henry been there, done that.... and with every change, my business became stronger.... onward and upward.... never flat line.... enjoyed every different direction I decided to focus on and had no issues with taking another path once I decided I had enough of the previous one....new construction is how I finished real estate career and that included a builders license...unrestricted... for 20 years....

now I hang out on ActiveRain!!!!!!!! and focus on good health and fitness.... 

Dec 03, 2018 10:00 AM
John Henry, Florida Architect

Hi Barbara Todaro You are a paragon of motivation and success, and bodybuilding healthfulness!!   A lot of us here haven't quite figured it out!!  Thanks!

Dec 03, 2018 10:22 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Up up and away doesn't just apply to reindeer !

Dec 03, 2018 10:19 AM
John Henry, Florida Architect

Sally K. & David L. Hanson Yes, agreed.  I think we don't get a lot of the points of these fables and morality tales!

Dec 03, 2018 10:23 AM
Bill Roberts
Brooks and Dunphy Real Estate - Oceanside, CA
"Baby Boomer" Retirement Planner

Hi John Henry It is the Christian message, after all. So why shouldn't this tale be called "A Christmas Carol"? Thank God it is never too late to change one's ways. I've made my share of mistakes and have my regrets. Maybe mine aren't as nasty as Scrooge's but they needed to be changed, nonetheless.

Merry Christmas Steel Driving Man.

Bill Roberts

Dec 03, 2018 10:25 AM
John Henry, Florida Architect
John Henry Masterworks Design International, Inc. - Orlando, FL
Residential Architect, Luxury Custom Home Design

Bill Roberts Hey there Bill.  Yes, the Christian message is there, but somehow buried in a lot of hocus pocus stuff.  The book I think reads more sinister than the movies, all of which tend to scare the beejeebers out of you, especially as a kid.

I am trying to right the ship a little late in the game from the marketing point of view!!  And yes, I AM a Steel Driving Man.  I had a model railroad in high school and was spiking nickel silver rail!! Oh yes!

Dec 03, 2018 10:29 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi John,
Love the quote you chose, John!  We all create our own chain, link by link, don't we? Some chains are easier to break than others. We need to focus on creating a chain we don't want to break.  It is never too late!  

Dec 03, 2018 12:24 PM
John Henry, Florida Architect

Carol Williams Hi Carol, exactly.  We don't even realize how tough or fragile our chain may be but it can be broken if it is weighing you down!  Thanks

Dec 04, 2018 08:29 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

John Henry - Isn't it odd that many of those old movies we watched as children scared us, but we watched them anyways. Your analysis and breakdown of the meanings behind that clever quote by Charles Dickens, "The Christmas Carol," took me to a higher conscious level, just by reading your interpretation! 

I love to read; also really enjoy watching movies. I think I will read the book to seek greater insights, as you did. Thank you for this very inspiring post you wrote on ActiveRain. 

Dec 04, 2018 05:41 AM
John Henry, Florida Architect

Hi Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI 


I never did 'read between the lines' on this movie and probably too many others, but when I heard the lines about the chain I had to look them up as it is a very strong indictment about how we build our future - free willed -- and how that future can be deadly, irresponsible, or positive and fulfilling.  Good to receive your comment, thanks!

Dec 04, 2018 08:31 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I suspect that some of your readers might already be feeling the weight of those chains.

Dec 06, 2018 10:45 AM