Some Things Aren't Meant to be Compromised
“You’re the best bull I know…You can do this, but you’re gonna have to fight. Just this one time.” Lupe, as played by Kate McKinnon, Ferdinand
Throughout my life, I have watched countless kids’ movies. Many of those films have been watched in the last six years since we had our first child. What I love about a well made kids’ movie is that the lessons taught can transcend age. Much of what we learn is just as applicable in our adult lives as it is in our children’s lives.
About a year ago we watched the movie Ferdinand. It’s an animated film about humongous bull living in Spain, who is destined to go up against the greatest bullfighter ever, El Primero. One problem: Ferdinand doesn’t want anything to do with fighting. He is a gentle soul who wants nothing more than to smell flowers and hang out on his ranch with his family.
Late in the movie, he is kidnapped — or bull-napped rather — and taken to the fight. His self-appointed trainer, Lupe the goat, begs him to fight just this one time. Ferdinand enters the ring and proceeds to make an incredible fool out of El Primero by refusing to fight. The pivotal moment in the “fight” comes when Ferdinand gets hurt, and he has an opportunity to go after El Primero and could even kill him. As he contemplates what to do, he sees a flower on the ground that has fallen from El Primero’s hat. In that moment he is reminded of what he believes in and that nothing is worth comprising his values. So he backs off, sits down and resolves himself to his fate. Since this is a kids’ movie, the crowd chants for Ferdinand and El Primero gives up. Bring on the happy ending. But there is a huge lesson here.
I recently read a post in a discussion group where a leader was struggling because the executives at his company extolled the virtues of their values — and yet whenever the going got tough, they would comprise those values to increase profits or save costs.
I would argue that if you’re willing to compromise your values so easily, then they aren’t actually your values. They’re only posters on a wall that adorn your office in a false attempt to motivate others. Our values should be the core of what drives us as human beings. The way we live or don’t live those values can have a huge impact on others.
Ferdinand knew what he believed, and he stuck to it even when all hope seemed to be lost. In the end, that passion changed the hearts of thousands of people and saved his life. Maybe it was just a movie. A kids’ movie at that. But I believe that when others see passion in us as leaders, they will respond to that passion.
Sometimes that passion can be the spark that start a world changing fire. Sometimes it can spark change in a handful of people. Sometimes, it only changes one life — your own. And I think even just that is enough.
A good friend of mine was working on a large project where things were going a bit haywire. In the beginning, they had setup the project to be run based on the company’s values and said they wouldn’t comprise on that. But then one leader in the right position wanted to comprise those values to get the project back on track. They said, “I understand that these values are important, but sometimes we have to be willing to ignore them to get things done.” My friend replied, “I think in times like these it’s even more important that we stick to our values and show we aren’t willing to compromise.”
In the end, they ignored my friend and pushed forward. The project was completed on time. Celebrations were had and everyone was praised for coming together to get the project done. When the next project started to get off track, compromises were made again, and once again on the next project, and so on. Then the company started losing good people who were tired of all the compromising.
And it started with one decision by one person who was afraid to fail. That person decided to compromise their values and the company has literally not been the same since. While I didn’t witness this first hand, I think it’s safe to say that negative consequences from compromising what we believe can grow exponentially and have lasting impacts. But what my friend said really is the key to living your values. When it gets tough, when there is darkness all around, that’s when we need to use our values like a torch to light the way. Be a beacon to others, show them how we can all stand up for what we believe in.
I challenge you as leaders and as fellow humans to not only know your core values but also refuse to compromise them. Even when it seems like the only option. Instead, stand up for what you believe and by all means, help others do the same.
One last comment. The values you live by should never hurt or demean others… If they do, you've confused values with prejudice and you’re going to need to work on that. But hey, that’s a whole other post.
-Jason