Donna Highfill
  • Home
  • About
    • About Donna
    • What People Are Saying
    • My Other Blogs
      • Dame Nation Blog
      • Huffington Post
  • Services
    • Power Up BUSINESS
    • Coaching
  • Books and Tools
  • Blog
    • Fave Products
  • Contact Me

Lessons from Toy Story 3

AndrewBlog3 commentsJanuary 3, 2011

Photo from toysrus.com

I watched Toy Story 3 last night and I cried like a baby. Without spoiling the entire movie for you if you haven’t seen it (and you should), there is a scene where the toys are facing certain destruction.

When they realize there is nothing more than can do to save themselves, and they make eye contact with each other. Rather than screaming or scrambling, they resign themselves to the fact that these will be their last moments. In those last moments, they reach out and join hands with each other.

The look in their eyes – a combination of resignation and a need to connect– reminded me of a time I was on a plane on the way to Tyler, Texas. We got stuck in a thunderstorm, and as lightening lit up the plane and it bounced left to right, then rising up and dropping several hundred feet, everyone grew eerily silent. I waited for the screams, and the tears, but I heard nothing.

Instead, hands slowly stretched across aisles as people reached out to each other. Unfortunately, I was seated by the bathroom in a single seat so I just held on to the handle of the bathroom door, but you get the point. Like a chain of human life, everyone just held on and prayed quietly.

As I face the new year and discuss change with you, I am going to really build on the concept of stories found in my soon to be published book called “Real Change, Real People.” I believe the most important part of change is the collection of beating hearts behind it. Ibelieve there are stories out there to which we can all relate, because they capture the human side of change. And I don’t think change works long-term without first respecting the people who are impacted.

Woody and Buzz Lightyear reminded me that no matter how much we strive for success, the fact is that when we face our final demise we want to be connected in a moment of meaning. We are pack animals, and there is energy transferred when we join hands. Our racing, panicked hearts slow down as we realize that we are not alone.

In this new year, I want to reach out a little more, and focus on individual success a little less. I want to tell more stories and connect more hearts. I want to value the people side of change, and remind people that “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB7Msp091CA[/youtube]
Tags: Change Stories, donna highfill, featured, highfill performance group, Toy Story 3

Related Articles

My Year of Change Begins!

November 1, 2011Andrew

How to Change: Taking Baby Steps Out of the Social Self

September 18, 2012Andrew

Anger is Getting Boring

March 23, 2015Donna Highfill

3 comments. Leave new

Pam
January 3, 2011 8:59 am

“And I don’t think change works long-term without first respecting the people who are impacted.”

I think this is the most important thing you can say Donna. Our society has degraded to a “ME” process and we (myself included) often forgot the outcome or effects it has on others. My goal is to listen more – really really listen – to others. Slowing down….smelling the roses…call it what ever you want. But we have to pay attention to what and who is around is. They are what makes our lives what they are and we can only learn from each of their stories.

Reply
Donna Highfill
January 3, 2011 10:10 am

Pam: Thank you! Maybe we need to put one of the toys from Toy Story on our desks just to remind ourselves that people matter more than . . . anything. I’m with you; this year I’m slowing down and paying attention to people. Because, as a friend once said, we’re all in a little bit of pain and we need each other! Thanks for your comments!

Reply
John Halderman
January 4, 2011 2:13 pm

I think the big change coming about right now is exactly what you bring up. People are realizing their desire to to feel and connect in a deeper more meaningful way. I think more people are realizing the real value of their time in relation to what is important to them. The corporate structure has developed into a system sucking all the available time out of a persons life I think possible. People see this now more than before. All the advances in technology, systems and equipment has been funneled to investor profits, none is realized by the people involved. Whatever appears to have sparked the disruption of the corporate structure is debatable but the reason is mankind has been pushed up against the wall.
People will change how they trade their time for money, in a more equitable manner, they are coming to value what is more important than trading anything for the dollar.
Speak to us Buzz!

Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Learn How to Tell a Better Story and Achieve Success!

Sign up below to receive 48 FREE Energizing Messages.

Connect with Me

Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

Recent Posts

  • A Cab Driver Who Appeared as if from Nowhere
  • Here’s Some Honesty For You
  • Laughter is My Hero
  • A New Year in Old Clothes
  • Why I Will Face the Fall

CHECK OUT MY BOOK

highfillcover

As a leader, do you implement change only to watch the projects, processes and initiatives stall because you can’t get the people driving them to change? In my new book Real People, Real Change: Stories of a Change Warrior in the Business World I share real stories to illustrate how leaders can move people to action.

Archives

Where Donna Will Be Speaking Next

  • April 22, 2015 - SunTrust Women's Networking Group
  • April 23, 2015 - SunTrust Women's Networking Group
  • May 12, 2015 - LPGA Championship, Kingsmill, Williamsburg VA
  • May 21, 2015 - Education Association of Fundraising Professionals, Eerie, PA

Certified_hi-res

mbti_certified
huffbadge

Learn How to Tell a Better Story and Achieve Success!

Sign up below to receive 48 FREE Energizing Messages.

Recent Posts

  • A Cab Driver Who Appeared as if from Nowhere August 9, 2017
  • Here’s Some Honesty For You March 16, 2017
  • Laughter is My Hero January 10, 2017

Contact Me

804-370-6665
[email protected]
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright
  • About Donna
  • Contact Me
Copyright Donna Highfill 2014