8. One Thing About Trains

This is the one time of year I might choose to watch a movie instead of a football game. One of the main things I look forward to at Christmas time is watching Christmas movies. Do I have a favourite? I don’t think so, but I could probably narrow in on a top 20 or so. That said, watching 20+ movies in December doesn’t fit very well with running 2 businesses and starting a third. Like I’ve talked about before, life and business wait for nobody. Christmas is a holiDAY, not a holiMONTH. I’ve taken care of a lot of business this month, but you can bet your butt I’ve set aside some uninterrupted hours to make sure I watch one particular train themed film: The Polar Express.

Tom Hanks brilliantly voices many of the characters in this wonderful animated adventure, most notably the unnamed train conductor. This personality is one that you’d probably learn a lot from in real life. In fact, he provides plenty of memorable moments within the story that make the movie so delightful for viewers of all ages. I for one particularly enjoy his affinity for being on time, but it’s a line just before the credits roll that I want you to pay attention to:

Every year since 2004 when I first heard it in the theatre, I’ve heightened my attention as this final quote approaches. For many years, I couldn’t quite figure out why it was such a profound statement, I just knew it was based on the perfectly timed music and emotional build up. It was actually Jim Rohn that eventually told me about the meaning of the conductor’s parting words of wisdom. On that note, if you haven’t looked up Jim Rohn and listened to his stuff yet, stop what you’re doing and do that. You’ll learn more from him than you will from me. Read books, listen to podcasts, pick up what noteworthy individuals have put down. That’s the best advice I can give you.

Now where was I? Deciding to get on. You can stay in the train station and watch trains come and go all day long, but getting to the station means nothing if you don’t hop on and go. Don’t ask where the train is going, we’ll get to that later. Just go, decide, get off the fence and let the locomotive take you full steam ahead. There would be no movie if the kid in the house coat didn’t decide to go for it at the beginning, and the movie would be lousy if Billy didn’t get on. They don’t make movies about regular stories where regular people avoid making decisions and aimlessly wander through Christmas seasons.