THE GREATEST SHOWMAN(2017): 7 LESSONS LEARNED
WARNING!!! This article may contain spoilers for those who have not seen the movie yet, so any further scroll is at scroller’s risk.
So, I know it’s a 2017 movie, but I only just saw it. And before you scream, yes, I’m late to the party. But hey, better late than never, ae?
Now, while watching this movie, it started out a little bit annoying at first with all the music and dancing. I mean, I love music, I really do. But for crying out loud, I signed up to watch a movie, not a 2-hour music video.
But things started to get interesting real quick and I couldn’t help but find myself writing down some lessons learned during the course of the movie. Then I thought of sharing them.
Now, let's take these one at a time;
- Power of Imagination: The main character was named P. T. Barnum, played by Hugh Jackman(He was one of the reasons I watched the movie, considering I love his depiction of Wolverine over the years). He was born into a poor family, but that did not limit his dreams. He saw opportunity where others saw garbage. He saw talents where others saw freaks. Then he grabbed it and used it to plummet himself to the top. From singing in the garden with his beloved to having a grand world tour with Jenny Lind(Played by Rebecca Ferguson), a member of the British Royal Family.
2. Determination: After the company he worked for went bankrupt, Barnum decided to pursue his dreams. He wanted to make life more comfortable for his wife and children as he said,
"My father was treated like garbage, I was treated like garbage, my children will not be treated like garbage"
WHAT IS YOUR DRIVE??
3. Listen: After the failure he suffered on the first day, he was reviewing and trying to figure out what he did wrong and how to improve on it, then one of his daughters said something to him. I’m not sure the exact words, but it was something in the line of
“People don’t want what they see everyday, they want something new, something no one has ever seen before”
Inspiration comes from anywhere or anyone. The key to getting it is paying attention to your surroundings. He could’ve dismissed it as child’s talk, but taking that piece of advice was the best thing that happened to him.
ARE YOU ATTENTIVE?
4. Motivational Skills: Barnum was clearly good with the tongue as he went around town finding people who
had lost hope in themselves, making them see reasons to keep going and making them feel good about themselves.
When making a name for oneself, people will stand in your way. If you’re going to be diplomatic, you need to know how to get in their heads positively. Speaking skills can open doors.
5. Give Value, Get Value: When Barnum found most of his performers, they were outcasts, societal rejects, but when he recruited them, he didn't just give them a job. He gave them a home, he gave them family. He gave them a place where they didn't have to feel bad about themselves. He gave them a place where they could be proud of their "deformities". Where their deformities became abilities. Something he said when he met the bearded lady, he looked at her in awe and said "You are beautiful!!".
These things are the reason they did not leave him even when he ignored them and when his circus burned to the ground. He gave them a home, he gave them a reason to stay.
The people in your life, WHAT REASON DO YOU GIVE THEM?
6. Leap of Faith: Most times, when we see opportunities with great risks, we tend to run toward the safer side of the boat. Barnum taught me that sometimes, you just gotta dive head in and forget what the risks are.
When he called in Jenny Lind to sing in his show, he wasn’t sure of her capabilities, In fact, he was at the risk of losing his audience if she flopped, but the faith he had in her motivated her to perform beyond even his expectations. This led him to making his world tour that made him famous even across borders.
CAN YOU TAKE THAT LEAP OF FAITH?
7. Never Forget Your Roots: OK, so far I’ve talked about his virtues. Now, let me mention his vice. I can’t say vices since I only know one of them. P. T. Barnum let his fame get into his head. He started to create boundaries between him and his crew. He started to once again, make them feel like rejects, he barely had time for his family, embarrassed his in-laws, the list is endless.
Generally, this almost broke his home and but for the timely intervention of his new friend and partner Philip, he could’ve lost his show for good when his whole building came down in flames.
When the days are good, do not forget the route you took there, you might need it in the dark days.
It’s been fun writing about this movie. All the songs were lit. My personal favorite is "Rewrite the stars" by Zac Efron(Phillip) and Zendaya(Anne).
I hope you enjoyed my review and if you’ve seen the movie and feel like I missed something, feel free to write in the response box.
I am Chidiuto E. Okorie, an Electrical/Electronic Engineering Student of Federal University of Technology, Owerri. And guess what? I love to write✍️✍️
Oh, and this is my first medium article, inspired by Theresa Oyim, or as I like to call her, Mother Theresa of Lumen Press(A LUMENite)!!
