3 Leadership lessons From the Film ‘Vice’

I watched the film ‘Vice’ the other day.

Had no idea about Dick Cheney

And, like most stories, when you get to know someone better, it’s better.

This isn’t a political post — so not here to get into any of that.

This story to me was inspiring.

A guy like Dick, gets a DUI at a young age.

He has very little drive for success.

However, his wife did.

And after many failures — something STUCK in his brain.

The guy ends up going to a great collge.

He applies for a government internship.

He applies these principles and it gets him in the White House with Donal Rumsfeld.

School may have been over but his true education began.

I love THAT!

In the very beginning of the film, Dick mentions three things to his success.

DO AS YOUR TOLD

SHUT YOUR MOUTH

BE LOYAL

He understood very quickly in government these three things.

And his momentum began.

I love thinking about these three things in my own life.

Do I do as I’m told?

Most of the time yes — however, wisdom is also needed to know when you need to push back or play devils advocate.

But, for most, starting out, yes — do as your told.

What about #2 — shut your mouth?

Once again, yes wisdom does need to apply in situations but for the most part — no one needs your opinion, unless they are asking for it. When your in the midst of political legends as Dick was — he understood quickly, his ears were more important than his mouth.

At your stage of life, are your ears more important than your mouth?

Good question to ask ourselves daily.

And finally, loyalty.

I like this definition of the word loyalty:

If you are faithful and devoted to someone or something, you’re loyal. … Loyal comes from the Old French word loial which means something like “legal,” but if someone is only loyal to you because the law requires him to be, that’s not true loyalty, which should come from the heart, not a contract.

To be loyal not because of a contract but because of your heart — wow!

That is a BANGER.

And, something to think about — even question yourself.

I guess I could go on and on about each of these but I’ll let you do that.

Audit yourself on these three.

Be honest — self aware.

My hope is we can all do better on each.

Have an epic day.