Trading Places

Over the past several months, multiple partners and friends of our team at HUG have reached out to ask for our counsel on some pretty sticky issues. The fact that people trust our team for advice on these types of things is quite humbling, and comes with great responsibility. One of the more recent calls like this reminded me of a great movie and also of one of my favorite quotes. Let me explain.

In 1983 there was a brilliant comedy on the big screen called Trading Places. Without revealing the plot to those that haven’t seen it, there is one particular scene where a disgruntled stock trader (Winthorpe, played by Dan Ackroyd) is loading up a rifle to go hunt down the assailants that tarnished his name over a bet. Ironically, in this scene the voice of reason is a con man named Billy Ray Valentine (played by Eddie Murphy). The key quote in their exchange is when Billy Ray says to Winthorpe as he loads his firearm, “You know (Winthorpe), you can't just go around and shoot people in the kneecaps with a double-barreled shotgun because you are pissed at them.”

Of course Billy Ray is right, however the recent call we received reminded me of this movie scene and of a quote that is partially attributed to American author Vince Flynn. In the movie, someone was wrong and wanted swift revenge. In real life, Flynn’s quote that came to mind in this particular situation says basically this (paraphrasing)….

“No matter how bad you have it, someone will always trade places with you.”

Think about that for a moment.

Like me, I’m sure you have been at a point where you thought failure was imminent and the lowest point on life’s totem pole was right in front of you. Yet even in those challenging times, there is ALWAYS someone that has it worse. There is ALWAYS someone that will trade places with you.

This premise gives us great perspective.

For most people, not all but most, the world isn’t going to end tomorrow. No matter how dire things look, there is a pathway to redemption. While you think you may be in the worst situation of all time, numerous others would say, “That is better than what I’m looking at right now.”

Going back to the first paragraph and the theme of this week’s Monday Huddle Up. Flynn’s quote is what we often talk to people about when they want some advice. While your current situation (in work or in life) isn’t all roses, others have it way worse. Things will be better tomorrow than they are today, and they will be even better the day after that.

Take a deep breath. We can’t control the universe. We can’t even determine some of our own life outcomes. No matter any of that, and how bad things are today, someone else will trade places with you. Right now. No shotgun required.

Lean on this proposition when the chips are down. Hopefully it will give you some internal grace.