I guess by now most of you know I have a love for films and the cinema. I started going to the cinema with my mom quite regularly at a young age and saw epics such as Where Eagles Dare, Ben Hur, The Sound of Music, and many others on the big screen.
My tastes in films have generally stayed the same in that I like films that are uplifting, to a degree escapist, and not heavy on violence (unless it is in context such as the film 1917 for instance, which after all is a story based in the trenches in the Great War!)
These days we still get to the cinema when we can, A Man Called Otto being the latest which is a terrific film subtly played by Tom Hanks and I highly recommend it.
However, having heard about the Oscar nominations recently and as we have Amazon Prime, at the weekend at home we watched Everything Everywhere All At Once.
The film which is considered an absurdist comedy stars Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis amongst others and has just been nominated for eleven Oscars including best picture and best director for Daniel Kwan and Daniel Steinert. This puts the picture in the big leagues, and we will see the results at the Oscars in due course.
In short, the plot centres on a Chinese American immigrant played by Michelle Yeoh running a laundromat business, who while being audited by the IRS, discovers she must connect with the parallel universe versions of herself to prevent a powerful being from destroying life as we know it.
Phew!
All whilst trying to run a family business with a seemingly ineffective husband looking for a divorce, a disconnected daughter, an ailing father set in the past, and setting up an anniversary business event!
After thirty minutes of the two-hour-plus film, I really wasn’t sure what I was watching as they say it is absurdist… But it very much grew on me and in the end I really enjoyed it. It’s one of those films you need to watch twice I guess to really appreciate it and it is very different. I recommend you watch it with an open mind.
What’s the point, Peter?
It’s the title…
Everything Everywhere All at Once.
In business, there are times in our life when we feel the same.
We feel we must do everything in our business.
We feel the need to be everywhere in our business.
We feel we must be all in.
All the time.
At a second’s notice.
It can be frustrating, demoralising, exhilarating, relentless, and exhausting.
And that’s on a good day!
The one thing I have learned running the Family Business Practice for the last eight-plus years is that at times, simply sharing your thoughts with others is key. If only to exchange stories, it helps to balance your brain and help you take stock of your life and the business.
It’s the reason why we started the practice in the first place and the Monday Check Ins and Huddles help this situation for many of our members.
In the end, Michelle Yeoh’s character in her own unique way does just that…
How about you?
Take time to discuss how life is if only to help you get a grip!
And if you need a hand, you know where we are…
Just say'in...
Until the next time...
Peter
