“The most important lessons in life are often learned when you least expect them.” – Coach John Gallagher
Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
As a coach and a lifelong learner, I have an insatiable passion for leadership development. It’s a deep-seated passion that fuels my reading, drives my podcast listening, and, perhaps most surprisingly, leads me to find profound insights at the movies. While salespeople live by the mantra “Always Be Closing” (ABC), I believe that for leaders, the real key to uncommon success is a different kind of ABL: Always Be Learning.
Leadership lessons are everywhere if we’re willing to look for them. Some of my favorite movies and movie scenes have the power to stop me dead in my tracks when I’m flipping through channels. They don’t just entertain; they teach.
The Bug’s Life Principle: Nurture Your Seed
One of my favorite leadership scenes is from the movie A Bug’s Life. The young ladybug, Dot, feels small and insignificant. She believes she can’t fly, and she doesn’t believe in herself. That’s when Flik, the protagonist, uses a simple metaphor to inspire her. He gives her a tiny seed and says, “It’s a rock. But it’s also a seed. It just needs a little water and some time.”
The leadership lesson here is profound. As leaders, we often focus on what people are in the moment—an employee, a team member, a student. But a great leader sees what they can become. We must see the seed, not just the rock. Our job is to nurture that potential, to water the seed of greatness within the people we lead, and to create an environment where they have the space and grace to grow.
The Sister Act Principle: Find the Right Seat
Another powerful lesson comes from Sister Act. When Whoopi Goldberg’s character, Deloris, is put in charge of the nun’s choir, she doesn’t try to make them all sound the same. Instead, she listens to each one. She discovers the shy nun with the powerful alto voice and the nun who can belt out a solo. She moves people into the right seats, where their unique skills stand out.
The lesson for leaders is simple but essential: everyone has a role and does their best where they are utilizing their strengths. A great leader knows that forcing a square peg into a round hole only creates frustration and limits potential. Deloris didn’t try to change the choir members’ voices; she changed their arrangement, creating something far more beautiful and powerful by putting each person in a position where their unique strengths could shine.
The Karate Kid Principle: The Power of Discipline and Consistency
Some of the most memorable leadership lessons come from the simplest disciplines. Mr. Miyagi’s lessons to Daniel-san in The Karate Kid are a perfect example. “Wax on, wax off,” “paint the fence,” and “sand the floor”—these weren’t just chores. They were fundamental training for discipline, muscle memory, and focus. Daniel-san was learning how to be a champion without even realizing it.
This is the power of fanatical consistency. Uncommon success isn’t about one grand moment or a lucky break. It’s about the small, often tedious, daily disciplines that build your foundation. It’s about building a system of habits that moves you forward, one “wax on, wax off” at a time. It’s about being so faithful with the small things that when a big opportunity arises, you’re ready for it.
The Nanny McPhee Principle: A Leader’s True Purpose
I’ll leave you with one final, powerful line from a surprising source: Nanny McPhee. “When you need me, but don’t want me… I must stay. When you want me, but don’t need me, then I must go.” This is the ultimate lesson in servant leadership. A leader’s job is not to be liked or to be needed forever. Our purpose is to serve our people, equip them with the skills they need to thrive, and make ourselves obsolete. True leadership is about empowering others to the point where they no longer need you to lead them.
This week, I challenge you to look for leadership lessons in unexpected places. In a movie, a song lyric, or a conversation with a stranger. Because when we are always be learning, there’s no limit to how far we can grow.
- Quote of the Week
“Leadership lessons rarely arrive dressed as lessons; they come disguised as challenges, stories, and surprises.”
– Coach John Gallagher
Being effective as a leader means consistently choosing discipline over distraction. It’s about deeply reflecting on what’s working, humbly learning from what hasn’t, and courageously course-correcting in relentless pursuit of uncommon growth. Leaders don’t just drift into success—they evaluate, decide, and act. At Growing Champions, we equip leaders with the precise tools and vision to do just that—because real leadership is about consistent, deliberate alignment between your values, your habits, and your desired outcomes.
👉 What’s a leadership lesson you’ve learned in an unexpected place?
📩 Email me at coachjohngallagher@gmail.com with the subject line “LEARN” and share your story. I’m excited to read all your messages!
What you need to do:
Your Call to Action: Take a Seat, Grab the Popcorn, and Learn
The biggest barrier to growth is the one we allow ourselves to build. It’s time to take ownership of your personal and professional development by engaging with stories that inspire you.
Do you want to become a Champion of learning? Are you ready to see the world as a classroom filled with powerful leadership lessons? This week, revisit a favorite movie with new eyes. Look for the moments that teach you about character, strategy, and servant leadership.
You’ve got the time. You’ve got the tools. Now it’s time to make this year your most intentional, inspiring, and uncommon year yet.
It’s an honor to be your trusted Friday Coffee Guy. Each week, I bring what I’m learning and living in the trenches of leadership. If this edition challenged or encouraged you, share it with someone who leads, stays faithful, or learns alongside you, then click subscribe. Let’s grow Brew Nation together! ☕💪
Until next time—stay focused, stay faithful, and keep growing, Champions! 💪
P.S. Want to share your story of courage and grace on The Uncommon Leader Podcast? Email me and let’s connect!
