To Be Successful, Follow the Path in the Forrest

It has been an interesting week to say the least. Unfortunately, most of the news has been around the unfortunate death of George Floyd. LinkedIn is a professional platform, so I will reserve my opinions on the matter, but I know that there is outrage, confusion and anger as to what has happened. We are all citizens of the world and for those of us in the United States of America, I feel as though the "United" is missing and we are just citizens of America. I will expand on this topic and issue in an article later this week after I get my thoughts together. Today, I wanted to focus on something slightly different yet uplifting and positive.

All of us have probably seen the movie Forrest Gump several times. In my opinion, it is one of the best movies ever made. Forrest Gump, played by Oscar winner Tom Hanks is such a simple yet genuine guy. Each time I see it, I am awed by the way this seemingly simple character, had such a profound effect on the people in his life without even realizing it. There are several lessons from the movie which can be applied to our lives and help us step out on even the darkest of days.

One thing that I truly admire about Forrest Gump is that he inspired those in his circle to reach their potential and he worked to change their lives for the better. There are many amazing people on LinkedIn who I truly value, respect and love their posts. They are greate individuals and I am truly blessed to be a part of their network. They all lead busy lives, but supporting them unconditionally is the best prescription. Their passion for what they do is addictive and helps fuel me to be a better version of myself every day. We all have our LinkedIn circle and followers. Why not apply the same principle to your followers? It might just make a great difference in someone's day.

Forrest inspired those in his circle to reach their potential and he changed their lives for the better. And, with the way the movie was directed, he seemed to luck into situations that led to great success. Upon further review, we can say that his inner core was responsible for his accomplishments and helped contribute to the positive influence he had on others. The key lesson to learn is that to inspire those around you and to be a great leader, you do not need to be the smartest, most innovative or the most popular person. There are several "it factors" that you need to possess to achieve success daily.

C. S. Lewis is quoted as saying, “Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.” Throughout the movie, Forrest shows strong integrity. Forrest and Bubba started a shrimp business and a great example of integrity is when he gave the profits from their shrimp business to Bubba's family. He shared the profits because it was the right thing to do.

In the workplace, in order to gain the respect of your employees', we must lead with integrity. A manager must be firm and never compromise their beliefs. In addition, a leader must be willing to admit their shortcomings. Lead with integrity and your employees will emulate you, creating an ethical and cohesive team.

Forrest was very loyal to the people in his life, even when they did not fully appreciate him. When Forrest boarded the school bus for the first time, all of the kids on the bus shunned him, except one. The words, “You can sit here if ya want,” was all he needed to hear to form a lifelong bond with Jenny Curran, his best friend and love interest. There wasn’t anything that Forrest wouldn’t do for the troubled Jenny. Even when she rejected him and ran away, he was still there for her when she needed him. Furthermore, he never judged her for the poor decisions she made. And though she didn’t always show it, Jenny had a deep respect for Forrest, adamantly defended him when others tried to hurt him.

Loyalty is a two-way street. If you are loyal to your employees, they will be loyal to you. To instill loyalty in your team members, show them that you value them and that you will reward them for doing their job well. On LinkedIn, if you have a connection who you truly admire, don't be a Tinder Timmy, but actually take time to read their posts and see how they impact your life. Showing support that is GENUINE and COMPASSIONATE goes a long way in helping your CONNECTION feel VALUED. #truth

Perseverance was another great trait of Forrest in the movie. Even when it seemed more logical to quit, he kept at it. Once Forrest had his mind set, he doggedly pursued his course until he reached his objective. The best example of Perseverance was during the war scene where Forrest risked his own life to go save the lives of his platoon. I am sure all of you are familiar with the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. I have never eaten there, but friends have said that place is really great. When Forrest and Bubba started their shrimp business, it got off to a slow start. Forrest persevered and stayed the course. He eventually was rewarded with a profitable venture. His business success did involve luck with the arrival of the hurricane, but he never gave up and saw completion of his venture from start to finish.

 Being a manager that perseveres will inspire and motivate your staff to do the same. Now during COVID19, we all have unexpected changes that have occurred in our lives. For those who are managers, leaders, inspirational thought leaders, please continue to persevere. It will pay off in the end.

Honesty was yet another trait of Forrest Gump that I truly admired. Deception was not part of his DNA makeup. During his ping pong playing days, Forrest did not accept the endorsement deal because he did not want to lie about the paddle to the public. He turned down the endorsement deal based on honesty. He was raised the right way by his Momma who raised him to be a great and noble man. How important is honesty within an organization? A culture of honesty starts with the executives and managers and goes beyond never lying to your staff. Have an open door policy and encourage your employees to give you feedback about their positions, their responsibilities and the company. Insight from them will help you to be a better manager and will allow you to make positive changes. Never sugar coat issues with your team. Honesty really is the best policy. On LinkedIn as we are all thought leaders in our respective fields, be honest. If someone does not like it, it is on them. You did your part to be honest and show them the light. If they want to venture to the dark, that is on THEM. Don't change who you are for them.

Humility is one of Forrest’s most amazing and compelling traits. This trait inspired others to follow him. In life, we can all just be a Simple Person leading a Simple Life. We don't need to spend our money on materialistic things. Instead, invest in yourself and invest in others. That is the best way to move forward. You will feel great when you invest in other people. You will feel great when you go out of your way to make someone else's day. Trust me I know from experience.

Forrest accomplished a lot for a “simple man, leading a simple life.” He met three Presidents, was an All-American football player, awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, featured on magazine covers, and was the founder of a thriving business. Despite all these accolades, he acted as if these achievements were everyday occurrences. Never be proud or prideful for your accomplishments. When you look at a connection on LinkedIn, look at them for who they are on the inside. This is so critical during COVID19 and Social Distancing. We must be able to look at a connection as a valuable member and one who provides great value to life.

Many confuse being humble with weakness, but in reality, humility is a characteristic that only the strongest people possess. The bosses that brag about their achievements, who take credit for other people’s work, and who need their employees to stroke their egos have a void in their lives that need to be filled. A person with humility strives to earn respect by treating members of their team with the platinum rule. Who do you want as your boss?

In closing, if you attempt each day to emulate the characteristics outlined above that Forrest Gump had, you will leave a lasting, positive impact on those around you.

The world needs us now more than ever. We do not have time to send whimsical and nonsense tweets. Our nation is fractured, hurting and in desperate need of positive leadership.

Look at the qualities of Forrest Gump and see how being simple helped him achieve so much. I am confident that all of you with your amazing traits can help rebuild the world one piece at a time. It will take effort, but we can make it happen. Much love and support from the 615 and always remember to smile and make a difference in someone's day.