Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious
A nonsensical word that brings a smile to our faces. It originated in 1931 with a student, Helen Herman, in a column in the Syracuse University student newspaper. Simply put, it was used to describe things that were grand and wonderful. Why, you say, am I bringing up such a word?
If you follow me at all, you will know that I am all about good communication and relationships. After all, God made us to communicate and have a great relationship with Him, and He wants that to go horizontal to the people around us as well.
Normally, I’m a glass-is-half-full guy; however, today I will say I see too many selfish, self-centered, and opinionated people full of themselves in our society and in our businesses.
I had the honor of meeting with the late two-time Academy president Robert Wise, who tallied four Academy Awards for West Side Story and The Sound of Music. The Academy also presented him with the prestigious Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, which is an honorary Oscar given for lifetime achievement in film. For a 29-year-old film studio executive, that was quite the moment of a lifetime. During our meeting, I asked, “What makes you such a great director?”
He smiled and admitted he used to be a hot-headed yeller early in his career. The turning point came during the filming of The Sound of Music. While preparing for a massive $100,000 outdoor shoot, a lowly grip tried to speak with him, but Wise dismissed him. (a grip is someone who moves equipment around)
When they finally rolled the cameras, the entire shoot was ruined by shadows cast by a neighboring tree—an expensive disaster that couldn’t be fixed in post-production back then. As it turned out, the grip had been trying to warn Robert about that tree.
From that day forward, Wise dropped his diva mentality. He vowed to listen to anyone on his set, realizing that every crew member’s skills and purpose were essential to bringing his vision to life.
Communication is as much about listening as speaking, and speaking with kind words goes a long way to build relationships. We are commanded to love others as ourselves, and in business, this principle will increase the bottom line.
After that movie, Robert learned the true meaning of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and became a man looking at a grand and wonderful purpose rather than profit. Are you profit-centric or purpose-centric, and what is the culture you are creating in your business?
—With over 46 years of entertainment industry experience, studio executive and producer Michael G. Carnes blends high-level business acumen with Christian integrity. He has managed multimillion-dollar budgets, consulted for Fortune 100 companies, and collaborated with Hollywood legends to build marketplace leadership. mcarnesproducer@gmail.com. He is Chairman of the Board of the Tennessee Christian Chamber of Commerce.
Check out my new book, An Imperfect Servant, at www.a.co/d/0hLgtJCn
