A Lesson From The Godfather

A Lesson From The Godfather

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and written by Mario Puzo, this 1972 classic portrayed the life of a Mafioso family and the changing of the guard from father to son after their enemies try to take away their power and end their run at the top of the food chain. Featuring memorable performances by Marlon Brando (Don Vito Corleone), Al Pacino (Michael Corleone), and James Caan (Santino “Sonny” Corleone), this action-packed gem insights into the once-secret lives of the Coreleone crime family and gave previously unknown perspectives on real-life Mafiosi.

The Setup:

The Corleone conciliary (lawyer), Tom Hagan (Robert Duvall), tries to convince hot-headed Sonny Corleone not to go after the crime families responsible for a botched attempt on Don Vito’s life. Although everyone is angry about the failed attempt to remove the Don from power, Hagan tries to keep Sonny from acting out of emotion instead of “using his head” and understanding that sometimes you have to let go of your feelings if you want to make the best decision. Unfortunately, Sonny doesn’t listen, which ultimately leads to his death later in the film.

The Quote:

Tom Hagen: This is business not personal.

Sonny: They shoot my father and it’s business, my ass!

Tom Hagen: Even shooting your father was business not personal, Sonny!

The Lesson:

Don’t let your emotions and frustrations get in the way of accomplishing what you have set out to do. Although it is easy to let others influence the way you think and feel, most of the time the best you can do for yourself is to regain self-control so you can make the best decision to move forward. This doesn’t mean ignoring how you feel, but it does mean you need to suppress emotional responses that could interfere with your work or personal life.

Although it is easy to get wrapped-up in a situation, you need to remain focused on the task at hand and do what it takes to see things through. When dealing with others, don’t put yourself on tilt because of something they have done. The only person you will hurt is yourself and those you are looking out for. The people looking to throw you off your game or people who are unaware of the collateral damage they inflict are simply looking out for themselves regardless of the damage their ideas and actions cause. They don’t care that you could put yourself in a bad spot because of their manipulation.