It's A Wonderful Life 🎄

George Bailey, Mr. Potter, and the Quiet War inside every career.

This past week was my wedding anniversary, and with Christmas around the corner, my wife and I decided to do something a little different: see a play. An actual, in-person play. With real people. Most of them were older than us, and yes, I liked it. May go as far as to say I loved it.

By the way, I’ve noticed that as I’ve gotten older, I've come to enjoy experiences that force me to put my phone away and be present. No multitasking. No scrolling. Just sitting still long enough to actually be where my feet are.

The play we saw was based on a movie that some of you may never have seen or even heard of. If you have, then odds are it's because, like me, you were forced to watch it so your parents could sit quietly and get emotional.....Dad.  

It's a 1946 movie called “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

I’ll be honest. There was a time when I found it slow and uninteresting because there isn't much action, no big twists, no obvious hero’s journey, or comedic relief. Still, over the years, it has become a staple for me,  and this time, it hit harder than ever. It brought me to tears, which was surprisingly healing.

Not because the movie or story has changed, but because I have changed and questioned many of the same things George Bailey has.

It tells a story, and one I think every person eventually lives.

The movie is set in a small town called Bedford Falls.

It begins with George Bailey as a young man full of ambition. He has desired to leave town, travel the world, and build something big with his life. Something that he believes matters. He has plans. Vision. Momentum.

But life keeps interrupting him.

Every time George is about to leave, something pulls him back. A family crisis. A responsibility no one else can carry. A family business that would collapse without him, and slowly, you see the youthful dreams drift into the background. Then quietly shelved.

George never gets to travel, never leaves town, and never sees his ultimate plans come to fruition.

He takes over a small family business that helps everyday people buy homes. He works long hours. He carries stress most people never see, all while he watches friends leave town, build careers, and gain recognition elsewhere. He sees others live the life he dreamt to live! Ever felt that before..?

Across town is Mr Potter.

Now Potter grows richer, and richer every year. He owns buildings, controls the money, and accumulates power. The people of Bedford Falls fear him, envy his wealth, and, crazy enough, depend on him. He never sacrifices. He never slows down. He never gives without gaining leverage. He is what we would call a “clever, but bulldozer” businessman. He is an expert at using people to make money.

From the outside, Potter looks like he figured life out.

Same town.
Same economy.
Two very different paths.

The responsibility. The comparison. The quiet question of whether any of it mattered. Eventually, it all catches up to George.

On Christmas Eve, George reaches his lowest point. He begins to believe that his life is actually worth more if he were not alive at all. That everyone around him would be better off without him. (In the movie, he is in need of $8,000 dollars, which Mr Potter stole, to save his family business, and he has a life insurance policy that has a higher value).

What a terrifying place to be, and a place, unfortunately, that many high performers visit quietly. If this is you, please reach out because I'd love to chat.

That is when Clarence, George's guardian Angel, appears.

Clarence is sent to help George. He does not give a motivational speech or offer advice. Instead, he offers George a gift with no numbers attached. He shows George a different version of reality. He lets George see Bedford Falls as if George Bailey had never existed.

The town is colder. Harsher. Smaller. The people George once helped are struggling. Some are broken, and some are lost. The Bedford Falls community is now called, Pottersville and although the same people still live there, the humanity side of human life is missing.

Then, for the first time, George sees his life clearly.

Not through money.
Not through titles.

But through...........impact.

From a career and leadership perspective, Mr Potter and George Bailey represent two mindsets that quietly shape legacy, friendships, meanings, calling, and so much more.

Potter’s mindset is scarcity. Protect. Control. Accumulate. Win. Use people to accumulate wealth.

George’s mindset is abundance. Serve. Invest. Trust. Build. Use money to impact people.

Potter builds something impressive.
George builds something meaningful.

And here is the warning for us.

You can build a very successful career with a Potter mindset. You just cannot build a meaningful one.

Potter ends the movie alone. Wealthy. Powerful. Untouched.

George ends the movie surrounded.

In the final scene, the entire town shows up for George. The people whose lives he quietly impacted come together to support him in his darkest hour. His value is no longer theoretical. It is visible. The quote that captures the movie is this: “No man is a failure who has friends.”

Most of us never get a Clarence moment.
But George gets something just as powerful.

He gets people.

You may never fully see the impact of your leadership.
You may never know how your integrity shaped someone’s confidence.
You may never see how your presence made a workplace healthier.

But one day, I do believe that we will.

And when that day comes, success will not be measured by what you earn or control. It will be measured by who showed up when it mattered.

And the kind of person worth becoming.

As always, let us know how we can help you navigate your world as you navigate the world.

In Your Corner.

See you next Tuesday!