My family watched the movie Whiplash this weekend. It was shot in 19 days with a $3 million budget (In Hollywood terms, that is almost a home movie.) It didn’t make a gazillion dollars at the box office. In fact, I didn’t even know it existed until the Oscars. But as I sat on my couch Friday night, I was shocked at how much it moved me. Partly because of its amazing acting and gripping story. But mostly because it reminded me of a very important life lesson about success.
Veteran character actor JK Simmons plays Fletcher, a hard-driving, abusive music teacher (Simmons won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role and deserved every ounce of it). Fletcher pushed Miles Teller’s character Andrew to become an incredible jazz drummer — but not without blood, pain and tears.
No doubt, Fletcher was a jerk. He was foul-mouthed and verbally abusive. And if my kid bumped up against a coach or teacher like him, we’d have words. But I also know sometimes it takes a jerk to make you great.
Fletcher tells Andrew the story about how saxophone legend Charlie Parker became great. One night, when Parker messed up on stage, Jo Jones threw a cymbal at his head. Parker walked off in shame. And then he went home and practiced to make sure that never happened again. Fletcher then said, if Jones had said, “Good job,” the world would have been deprived of the greatness of Charlie Parker. Charlie Parker became a legend. And Andrew did that, too, by fighting for his dream.
While I don’t necessarily agree with Fletcher’s teaching methods, I do agree how Andrew reacted to him.
I’ve had bosses and coaches who wanted me to quit. I’ve had teachers who looked me in the eye and said I could do better. I’ve suffered public failures. I’ve been embarrassed and humiliated. I’ve had a few cymbals thrown at my head.
And I thank God for all of it.
Because when I’ve suffered my worst defeats, I’ve been motivated to overcome them. Maybe it was because of wounded pride. Maybe it was just self-preservation. Like Andrew, I got busy and wanted to prove the world wrong. That’s when personal growth happened.
My sons and I talked about Fletcher, Andrew and the lessons of the movie. I told them they’d encounter their own versions of Fletchers in life. When they do, I hope they stiffen their spine and fight for their dreams. Because life doesn’t give participation trophies. And greatness is achieved by those willing to fight for it.
Whiplash was a great reminder that heat and pressure turns coal into diamonds.