I am one of the many humans that over the past week has contributed to what has become a remarkable record for a film…grossing over $150M not only over a weekend, but a holiday weekend. Yes…that’s right, that film is what we are all speaking about over drinks right now…Top Gun: Maverick.
The original Top Gun has always made my “top 10” list for movies. I am not sure whether it is that suave smile that Maverick had throughout the movie, the need for speed, the amazing soundtrack, or the emotional strings that the movie strikes with me…heck, might be all of that combined…but it is a movie I have been able to watch time and time again. Needless to say, I was skeptical about a sequel…For many reasons…but the main reason being that when you’ve done something so well before it is hard to exceed the expectations that have been laid in the 2+ decades (since the film)…
Well…Jerry Bruckheimer must have coined it Top Gun: Maverick for just that reason…
MAVERICK: an innovative, ‘outside the box’ thinker, who is undaunted by failure. An independent-minded thinker.
I had to look up the definition of ‘Maverick.’ Interestingly…I had read that definition before. It has been years…until today…when I opened my files…combining through trying to find something to jog my memory. I opened the file and found a report…
This particular report I pulled up was one I took exactly 3 years ago, June 2019. I had to stop, grin and shake my head a bit…
Sidenote: I believe that things happen for a reason in our life, not always at the time we want…and today was an example of that, when I saw the date on the report…as if today I needed to find it again…
The report from three years ago is entitled “Maverick.”
Independent…Sociable…Driving…Flexible…
Is very self-confident and needs to be challenged. Is very intense and restless and needs lots of opportunities to work at a faster than average pace with variety. Is very tolerant of uncertainty and needs lots of freedom from rigid structure. Is very outgoing and needs opportunities to interact and influence.
Proactive. Comfortable with Risk. People and Task Oriented. Casual, yet careful, with rules. Is fluent and quick to connect the dots.
Has high aptitude for self awareness, innovation, agility, urgency and courage. Demonstrates comprehension of the way business is conducted. Quickly establishes rapport and understands customer-first mindset. Has difficulty with letting others in and celebrating wins/having fun given the drive to always become better.
Maverick…one undaunted by failure…but one who will fail without stepping back, learning from failure and engaging those most trusted to deliver the best outcome required…
Maverick…the lone wolf that fears asking for help…and sometimes stunts their own growth because they can see the bigger picture and all the facts, but have a lack of patience.
Maverick…one who strives operates at or with the ‘top’…who strives to be better each day waking up…who is not afraid to fail…yet afraid to let others in at times to fail alongside them…
Maverick. A critical role…but not the only role, character, individual that needs to exist for a TEAM to thrive, be successful and deliver results that breaks the status quo and turns heads.
That is why a Maverick and a Goose…and all the trusted few…are essential. It doesn’t require many…but it requires more than the self.
If there is are two things I have learned over the past three years…it is that while you are the only one you can count on at the end of the day…the true art of living, the true art of loving, the true art of delivering what has never been done before…well that…that never happens alone. It doesn’t require many…it requires the few who are brave enough to embrace the risk, to be each others’ wingman, to believe there is no 2nd place, and to need believe they need each other to succeed…And a Maverick always wants their trusted person…call it a sidekick, call it a wingman…call it their better half…they want that person that will push them, challenge them, and be there at the end of the day…
And the second important aspect I have learned, is that who you are is rare…is unique. Doesn’t mean you cannot polish, finesse, update and become a better version…but never change your core and what makes you shatter goals, break thresholds and leave the world, and yourself, better off than yesterday and the day before. You can always be better…but your strengths are your superpower. Never apologize for them…
The purpose of this sharing this story is not to entice Jerry Bruckheimer to look at me for his next casting role or entice Tom Cruise to want to meet another Maverick (though I would be open to either option if presented…!…)…the purpose is that when you put the energy and focus…the drive and passion…the commitment and direction…in to what you believe has the magic and power to influence, change, inspire and ‘break records’…
With Maverick…with Goose…and your the trusted team…
ANYTHING BECOMES POSSIBLE.
Baby…BABY…Baby…BABY!!! I leave you with…
…There was an optimist, a realist and a pessimist….and while the three of them were arguing about the glass of water the opportunist drank it.
‘MAVERICK’