Everyone Needs a Scarlett Moment

Performance

A Life Lesson from “Gone with the Wind”

December 15th marks the 70th anniversary of the opening of “Gone with the Wind”. It is still the all time highest grossing revenue movie ($400 million – not bad when it only cost a 25 cents to see a movie, adjusted to today’s dollars that’s $1.45 billion!)

The movie evokes many emotions. I first saw it as a little girl of 4 or 5 years old. One scene has stayed with me all these years.  I call it “The Scarlett Moment” but it’s known as the “As God as my Witness” scene.

Not only does this scene mark the beginning of intermission, it is the turning point and lowest point of Scarlett’s life. When the movie resumes, Scarlett the woman emerges: determined, fierce and yes, a tad bit unethical. Ok, very unethical and cold.  But since leaders are people of integrity, we won’t resort to the tactics she relied on! We can see what makes turning points in our lives.

  1. She’s VERY hungry – hunger is a powerful motivator.
  2. She realizes she alone is responsible for her life.
  3. She’s frustrated by her own situation and she makes the decision to never be in that situation again.
  4. She accepts that her formal southern belle life and ways would no longer work for to be successful.
  5. She never looks back and tries to recreate what once was her life.

What is it that keeps you from pursuing at all cost your dreams & fortune? Are you holding on to a way of life that no longer exists? Is it time for a turning point in your life?  Have you had your “Scarlett” moment?

As we approach the New Year, I encourage all to set goals and go after them with the determination Scarlett declared in this scene.