3 Lessons from the movie Dead Poets Society

Friday, March 6th, 2009 at 7:39 pm

03.06.09

Who says watching movies is a waste of time?

Hogwash.

Perfect example…

Dead Poets Society from 1989.

It’s one of the rare movies that I’ve watched with
a legal pad and pen in hand to jot down many quick
notes.

(Am I a geek or what?)

Any-hoo…

Here are a few of the lessons I picked up.

“Words and Ideas can change the world”. ~ Robin Williams

question…

Isn’t this the same philosophy that Joe teaches us?

That we speak our worlds into existence by the very
words that flow from our lips. And that to be FREE,
we must THINK for ourselves (aka… create ideas).

Coincidence?

I don’t think so.

Moving forward…

I love the scene where Robin Williams takes the class
outside to the courtyard and instructs 3 members of the
class to walk around with each other in a circle

He quickly points out that the 3 students are in
alignment or in tune with one another. Not one
of them separated himself from the other.

The lesson was CONFORMITY.

aka.. following the “HERD”.

So he breaks the mold and challenges the class
to break free from conformity, and walk in any
way they choose…. to set their own individual
path… regardless of how silly or unusual it may
seem in the moment.

The objective is legendary.

To be thinkers & doers v.s sluggards & lemmings.

To set your own path , to “BE” your own voice.

( More Joe Schroederisms! )

Here’s a 3rd one..

You’ll love this.

This lesson is so deceptively simple that it’s painfully obvisious.

When Robin Williams is inside the classroom, and he stands
on his desk. And then he instructs the class to come to the
front of the room and to stand on the desk too.

The lesson?

Wait a second..

Isn’t it clear to you already?

Why else would someone stand on the desk?

But for no other reason than to “SEE” the world from a
different perspective!

To look at things, events, people, etc… from a different view.

And when you do, you get a different perspective.

Try it yourself at home.

I have.

Instead of following the prescribed “foot traffic” path,
you veer off and go to a corner. Stand there, and turn
to look at the room from that ANGLE.

Looks different, doesn’t it?

Of course it does.

Because we’re not taught to look at things from different views.

Society teaches us to be CONFORMISTS, to follow the herd.

Dead Poets Society and Million Mind March teach us how
to think for ourselves.

To use our words and ideas to change OUR LIVES.

To stop being a lemming and to start forging our own trail.

To start listening to our own inner voice v.s the voices around us.

In the end, D.P.S. is more than just a movie.

It’s a moving translation of some of lifes simplest concepts
put into relevant context.

And it proves that having the teachings from ONE uncommon
mentor can in fact change your world.

To Your Success,

Tim

330.881.3026

Filed under: List Dragon

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3 Lessons from the movie Dead Poets Society

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