Whatever it is you look up to. Whatever it is you look forward to. Whatever it is you’re chasing … Matthew McConaughey couldn’t have said it any better after receiving the 2014 Oscar for Best Actor.
Check it out yourself. If you saw it you likely want to see it again.
McConaughey said he needs three things every day:
- Something to look up to.
- Something to look forward to.
- Someone to chase.
He went on to say he wanted to thank God, because that is someone he looks up to. He said God has graced his life with opportunities that he knows is not of his own hand or any other human hand. He said He has shown him that gratitude reciprocates.
He expressed gratitude to his family because they are what he looks forward to every day. He said his dad taught him what it means to be a man. He said his mother taught him to demand respect for himself, and he said from that lesson he was better able to respect others. He mentioned his wife Camilla and his three children who he said are the four people in his life that he wants to make the most proud of him and he thanked them.
And then he mentioned something I’ve never heard mentioned before. He said “To my hero, that’s who I chase.”He said at 15 years of age he had a very important person in his life come to him and ask who was his hero. Matthew said, “I don’t know, let me think about that.” Two weeks later Matthew came back to that person and said, “I thought about my hero. My hero is me in 10 years.”
Ten years passes and he’s 25. His same friend asks him, “Are you now your hero?” Matthew told him he wasn’t even close, and that his hero is always going to be himself 10 years further down the road. In his speech on Sunday he said, “I’m never going to be my hero or attain that because it’s always 10 years down the road…and that’s fine with me because it keeps me with somebody to keep on chasing”.
Your Chase
It’s been said you are what you have been becoming. Are you creating the life you want? What do you aspire to? Is it driving you each day? Maybe you’ve given up on your dreams. Maybe you’ve lowered your expectations. Maybe the grind has taken its toll and your tank is empty. Maybe someone in your life disappointed you or let you down. Let me encourage you. It’s never too late. You’re still breathing right? Then stop for a moment and recommit to your dream and then push yourself to achieve a small step of that dream every day. Share that dream with the people that love you. Show gratitude to those that help you in getting to your dream and keep on chasing! Never give up. This is part of your story and people want to hear great stories.
Following are some key insights and challenges:
- If you’re discouraged don’t quit. Every person in history who we look up to persevered and overcame hardship and difficulties. That’s why they are known!
- Every time you speak, every article you produce, create an experience for your listeners and readers. What is said or written and how it is presented creates either a forgettable moment or a riveting inspiring touch (feeling) that people share. You can see here how quickly this story became of interest over the entire world.
- Show passion.
- Create moments of anticipation. Matthew McConaughey created a moment where we waited with anticipation for him to address each of the three things he needs in life.
- Set up your points and knock them down. Your audience wants to know where you are going to take them. Take them on a journey they will remember.
- Stories have details. Really good, juicy, concrete details. That’s why they give Oscars to cinematographers, sound editors, and costume and set designers — details matter. McConaughey added a story to each of his three main points. And he did it so well that the vision of McConaughey Senior eating gumbo and a lemon meringue pie while dancing with a cold Miller Lite will become forever seared in the audience’s mind. What are the chances your last article was seared in your audiences’ mind? Add some concrete details to your story and see what happens.
- Every time you communicate, whether it be for the Oscars or your blog, create an experience. There is a great book that will help you make your idea or message stick. It’s called Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.
Resources and Acknowledgements
You Tube, Matthew McConaughey Wins Oscars 2014 For Best Actor – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nsR3SJMc8Q
Chip Heath and Dan Heath, Made to Stick – Random House, 2007
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