“I had chosen to use my work as a reflection of my values.”
-Sydney Poitier
How does the quote above resonate with you?
Pause here: take a deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... calm your mind and be present...
What part do values play in the work you do?
...are your personal values something you've thought about...?
values | noun a person’s principles or standards of behavior; One’s judgement of what is important in life.
Core Values | noun the things that you believe are important in the way you live and work. They (should) determine your priorities, and, deep down, they're probably the measures you use to tell if your life is turning out the way you want it to.
Ask yourself:
Does the work I do match my principles... my personal standards... the things that are important to me? ...think about that for a moment...
Sydney Poitier, Bahamian-American actor and film director, was the youngest of seven surviving children born to Evelyn (née Outten) and Reginald James Poitier. His parents were Bahamian farmers who owned a farm on Cat Island.
Poitier's family would travel to Miami to sell tomatoes and other produce. Reginald Poitier also worked as a cab driver in Nassau, Bahamas. Poitier was born in Miami while his parents were visiting, thereby acquiring American citizenship . His birth was two months premature and he was not expected to survive, but his parents remained in Miami for three months to nurse him to health.
Sydney Poitier became the first black actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor with his role in Lilies of the Field(1963) in which he played a handyman who stays with and helps a group of German-speaking nuns build a chapel. He also received critical acclaim for A Raisin in the Sun(1961) and A Patch of Blue (1965).
Poitier continued to break ground in three successful 1967 films, each dealing with issues of race and race relations: To Sir, with Love; Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and In the Heat of the Night, making him the top box-office star of that year.
After twice reprising his Virgil Tibbs character from In the Heat of the Night and acting in a variety of other films, including the thriller The Wilby Conspiracy (1975), with Michael Caine, Poiter turned to acting/directing with the action-comedies Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Let's Do It Again (1975), and A Piece of the Action (1978), all co-starring Bill Cosby.
During a decade away from acting, he directed the successful Stir Crazy (1980) starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder, among other films. He returned to acting in the late 1980s and early 1990s in a few thrillers and television roles.
Poitier received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 1974. And, in 2009, Poitier was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor.
In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Poitier 22nd on their list of Greatest Male Stars of classic Hollywood cinema. He is currently the only living actor on the list. In 2002, Poitier was chosen to receive an Academy Honorary Award, in recognition of his "remarkable accomplishments as an artist and as a human being."
What values matter most to you?
(i.e. honesty, integrity, authenticity, creativity, beauty, compassion, challenge... there are many, these are just a few)
How are you showing up?
Today's Challenge: Make this a Meaningful Monday by letting your actions speak for you Be intentional and watch what happens...
#leadbyexample, #intention, #valuesmatter, #learnandgrow, #shareyourgifts, #speakup, #justdoit, #levelup, #letsgo, #leadership, #courage, #authenticityissexy
You got this!
Coach Tavia
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