Ladies & gentlemen, as you recall in part one of this series, about the three incredibly important business and personal development lessons, all serious young entrepreneurs definitely need to learn from the feature film “Conviction” starring Oscar award winning actress Hillary Swank.
(Entrepreneur, be sure you read part one of this series first, so that you can totally appreciate the full impact of what’s being shared here!)
Betty Anne Waters (Swank’s character), had incredible and relentless (cult like) dedication, if you will, to accomplishing her ultimate goals! Did she not?
And it’s definitely a darn good thing that people like her with (unwavering) commitment to accomplishing their goals, are committed to more admirable pursuits, like proving a relatives innocence! As opposed to pursuing more nefarious endeavors!
No doubt, any and all of us, no matter what our current or future endeavors might be, can and should be extremely inspired and motivated by her incredibly courageous efforts! Agreed?
However, the real purpose of part two of this series, is to truly explore some of the not so obvious issues and or concerns, in an extremely practical way, that the movie simply, could not and did not even attempt to touch on or explore! Because they were not the main premise of the movie!
Three More Incredibly Powerful Personal Development Lessons All Serious Young Entrepreneurs Can And Should Learn From The Feature Film Conviction Starring Oscar Award Winner Hillary Swank!
First of all; let’s be crystal clear upfront. The real and main purpose of part two of this installment is not to suggest and or infer in any way, that just because the movie’s main premise, didn’t address and or even mention,(in any significant way) any of the ideas that are about to be discussed, that somehow there’s a problem with that! Quite the contrary!
The real reason for adding them to the discussion, is merely to hopefully demonstrate, just how truly amazing, inspirational and downright remarkable, this incredibly courageous woman (Betty Anne Waters) and her brother Kenny ( superbly played by veteran actor) Sam Rockwell, story truly was and is!
And hopefully, going forward! Can inspire all of us to newer and far more meaningful heights of accomplishment! Both personally and professionally! That said!
Now then; let’s quickly revisit her plight and see what if any additional powerful insights might be discovered!
Isn’t It Amazing What Can Be Accomplished When You’re Truly Married And Totally Committed To The Final Outcome And Not Just Focused On The Inevitable Temporary Setbacks!
Swank’s character (Betty Anne Waters) literally has her world shattered when her beloved brother Kenny whom (she’s extremely) close to; is falsely accused of the brutal murder of a young woman! (Which unfortunately remains an open unsolved case to this day!)
He’s first tried and convicted, and later set free! And two years later, retried (on supposedly) new evidence, convicted again and this time sentenced to life in prison!
Entrepreneur, here’s what I (desperately) wish to draw your temporary undivided attention to! During the time of both of her brother’s convictions and his eventual sentence of life in prison!
Betty Anne Waters (is merely) a divorced single mother of two small kids! Two sons and she’s struggling financially (just like a gazillion other) single parents in her exact same situation!
However, (as you’ll see) when you watch the trailer! This series of events so galvanizes her, that she vows at his sentencing, to prove his innocence and gain his freedom!No matter what or how long it takes! (Yea, like that’s never been promised before,right!)
But Betty Anne immediately enrolls back in high school equivalency classes, in order to first get her GED! Meaning, to that point in her life, this woman hadn’t even formally graduated from High school!
You Probably Can’t Get It All Done Sitting On The Couch!
Which means, she didn’t sit around having a pity party, because her marriage ended! She was extremely low skilled and she had two young kids to look after! While she tried like hell to get her brothers murder conviction over turned!
After clearing that very first hurdle, she then applies to and and is accepted into college! Now she starts aggressively pursuing a four year degree of some kind! Mind you, during this entire time, she’s still working full time to support both herself and two growing boys!
Plus, on top of that, she still finds time to periodically visit her incarcerated brother on the weekends! Plus study and pass her college courses!
In a normal setting, it would take a full time student (typically) a whole lot younger than her, at least four years (non stop) to graduate!
Try not only working full time, plus raising two youngsters on top of that! And as if that isn’t enough entrepreneur! After graduating college, in who knows how many years? (Because the movie doesn’t say!) She not only applies to, but get’s accepted into a fairly decent law school! Say what?
The More Convicted You Are The More Likely It Is You Can Attract All The Resources Or Assets You Initially Need!
And remember, during all this time, she’s still working full time and constantly visiting her brother in prison! And on the side she manages to try to piece together evidence to prove his innocence!
After she finally manages to graduate from law school! And passes the bar exam!And her two boys are still growing & yes more than likely she received at least some sort of child support along the way from her ex! And got a ton of student loans and student aid to help finance her along the way as well etc! (Which BTW, still eventually has to be paid back!)
It’s Not Where You Start That Matters It’s Where You End Up That Counts!(Don’t You Agree?)
Here’s the point! After finally taking and passing the bar exam! It took her a grand total of 18 years of incredible struggle, before she ultimately proved her brother’s innocence! And got his wrongful (and more than likely unlawful criminal) conviction overturned!
So entrepreneur, for (you & I), here’s the $64,000 dollar question? If that former low skilled divorced mother of two small kids, who when she started, hadn’t even formally graduated from high school!
Had two small kids to raise (pretty much) on her own! Could and did find time to do and accomplish all that! How can you and I routinely blow 15 to 20 hours per week, or more, doing nothing more than merely socializing on Facebook! Or other social media platforms!
Watch one to three hour sporting events per week!
Dedicated Entrepreneurs Get To Work First! (And Don’t Bother Constantly Making Lame Excuses!)
Constantly hangout with friends, family and co-workers etc! Watch and record our favorite TV shows! Yet in the next breath! Raise our right hands and swear under oath! We simply have no time for? You fill in the blanks!
Those are the three extremely important business and personal development lessons, all serious entrepreneurs, but especially young entrepreneurs desperately need to learn! Don’t you agree?
Please list at least two simple spin off concepts (in the comments section below) that you can apply to your business, product or service in the next 30 days or less!
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Mark, this post is a total value bomb! You have written an extremely detailed and engaging post that I’m sure TONS of young business men/women will learn from. Additionally, Hillary Swank should be cutting you a check because I will definitely be watching “Conviction” because of your article. Keep spreading the knowledge!
Patrick Sullivan, Entrepreneur recently posted…Start Thinking Like an Entrepreneur
That is such an awesome comment Patrick!
Thank you so much! And I’m so glad you found some value in the post!
Yes, (Swank’s) character definitely went through it (and then some) as we like to say!LOL!
And even though the main focus of the movie was to detail how she fought like hell
to eventually secure her brothers eventual release from prison.
I just felt another untold part of that totally fascinating story was her incredible (partially untold) personal story and personal struggles as well!
Patrick (honestly) how many of us, (myself included!) could have or would have personally endured and pressed
on like she did!She was totally relentless, wasn’t she?
Sadly, you don’t even need all the fingers on just one hand,correct? That said, my friend if you would be so kind, please socially
share this post and lets both help spread the word!
And as far as receiving a check is concerned, my reward will helping the future eye ball’s such as yours,
see and hopefully appreciate both parts one & two of this series!
And again, thank you so much for your incredibly kind words of encouragement! And for stopping by and sharing your thoughts as well!
I truly appreciate both! And I’ll be sure and check out your latest post as well! Please don’t be a stranger going forward!
Oh wow — I thought I had already commented on this, but it looks like I read your post and thought about it, but didn’t say anything!
I haven’t seen the movie, but I am going to look for it! She had ‘way more courage, determination and persistence than most of us, myself included. She knew her brother was innocent, and refused to let the hugeness of her opposition stop her from following through. How many of us have stuck with something against such odds, and for such a long time? Most of us would have given up at the very thought of going back to school solely for the purpose of fighting such a fight.
Thank you for sharing, Mark, and thank you for your thoughts that set me thinking too.
Willena Flewelling recently posted…A Helping Hand
Exactly Willena!
That’s why I felt so compelled to do a follow up post and focus some attention on the incredible
odds and obstacles, this incredibly courageous woman faced! Head on no less!
And like you said, she didn’t flinch or make excuses or talk herself out of why she couldn’t do it
or even start! Like most of us would have! Myself included!!
Instead, she jumped all in, with both feet and simply got after it, with a take no prisoners sort
of (truly inspiring), get it done no matter what mentality!
And you don’t really get that point of view directly from the movies voice! But I just felt it was worth
highlighting the incredible odds she faced! And then some!
I’m glad you found (or at least) I hope you found some type of value in part two of this series!
Thanks as always for not only sharing your truly valuable insights! But for your
continuous support as well! I truly appreciate it!
And on a final note, now that you’ve had a chance to read both installments, I’ll bet it will make watching the actual
movie even more enjoyable and inspiring!
Such a nice post. It is very detailed.
Excellent Adi!
Thanks! And glad you found some value!
As Always your positive feedback and continuous support is greatly appreciated! Take care!