It’s a Wonderful Life
Greg Bustin
Vistage Int'l Master Chair, Leadership Speaker + Author of Decision Time: Inspiration, Insights & Wisdom From History's Make-or-Break Moments + Author of Accountability: The Key to Driving a High-Performance Culture
How Many Lives Have You Truly Touched?
By now, the storyline of It’s a Wonderful Life is familiar.
But how many of these historical facts from the 1946 Christmas classic do you know?
Bedford Falls on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve 1945, prayers are heard in heaven for George Bailey of Bedford Falls, New York.
In a series of flashbacks covering twenty-six years, we see George regularly putting others’ interests ahead of his own. George delays his college plans to run the Bailey Building & Loan after his father dies. George helps others achieve their dreams while his remain unfulfilled.?
As George and Mary prepare to depart on their overseas honeymoon, there’s a run on the bank and all of the customers demand their deposits in cash. George and Mary quell the panic by using their honeymoon money to satisfy the depositors.
As we return to Christmas Eve 1945, Uncle Billy heads to Henry Potter’s bank to deposit eight thousand dollars of the Building & Loan’s cash. When Billy accidentally places the money in Potter’s newspaper, panic ensues as bankruptcy looms.
George turns to Potter for a loan, but Potter turns him down, smirking, “You’re worth more dead than alive.”
Despondent, George contemplates suicide.
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With what regularity do you put others’ interests ahead of your own?
At his lowest moment, George Bailey’s nature is to help others.
Angel Clarence Oddbody comes to earth, jumps off the bridge where George is standing, prompting George to jump in and save Clarence.
As they’re drying out, Clarence tells George he’s his guardian angel. “You look about like the kind of angel I’d get,” George mutters, then says, “I wish I’d never been born.” Clarence grants his wish.
Clarence and George head into town. George discovers he’s not recognized by anyone because he’s never existed. The town and the people have changed for the worse because George was missing in their lives.
“Strange, isn't it?” Clarence asks George. “Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?”
How many lives have you truly touched? What stories will they tell about you when you’re gone?
It’s a Wonderful Life is more than a Christmas movie.
Steven Spielberg once said of the film, “It’s a Wonderful Life?shows that every human being on this Earth matters – and that’s a very powerful message.”
Merry Christmas.
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About the Author:?Greg Bustin advises some of the world’s most admired companies and leaders, and he’s dedicated a career to working with CEOs and the leadership teams of hundreds of companies in a range of industries. He’s facilitated more than 200 strategic planning sessions, he’s delivered more than 600 keynotes and workshops on five continents, and he coaches leaders inspired to take their career to the next level. His fourth leadership book—Accountability: The Key to Driving a High-Performance Culture (McGraw-Hill)—is a Soundview Executive Best Business Book.