Prison Break! But where's Morgan Freeman?

As everyone knows, several weeks ago two convicted murderers escaped from a maximum security prison in a godforsaken area of upstate New York. After a manhunt involving more than 1000 cops, one of the escapees was recently shot and killed and the other was captured a few days later. 

This was a big news story. Prison escapes have always been fascinating, whether in fiction or in real life. And this escape was definitely worthy of "The Count of Monte Cristo." It involved almost unbelievable feats of planning, cutting, climbing, crawling, and tunneling over many months, or possibly years. 

The prisoners also seem to have talked some prison workers into helping them: a woman, whose husband they promised to kill once they got out; and a male guard, apparently an art lover, whom they bribed with paintings and drawings created by one of the cons. (And they're not bad!) 

Certain features of the escape -- the planning over long periods of time, for instance -- have inspired comparisons with "The Shawshank Redemption," the 1994 film adaption of a Stephen King short novel, starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. Although the film was not initially a commercial success, it was nominated for multiple Academy Awards (but didn't win) and has since gained great popularity. 

In fact, surveys have revealed that millions of people consider "The Shawshank Redemption" to be one of the greatest movies ever made. Ask anyone about it and they'll tell you, "I love that film!"

I happen to agree that it's a very powerful story. It hooks into the conventional appeal of prison escape stories, but then adds a deeper dimension. 

We're all in prison, sort of, aren't we? We're all stuck doing repetitive tasks that seem to have little benefit, at least not for us. But we've got to keep at it, because we're stuck with it, just like the characters in "The Shawshank Redemption" are stuck in the penitentiary.

So how do survive in that situation? What the film suggests, I believe, is the need for an escape plan, the more elaborate the better, concocted and executed over many years, or even over the course of a whole "life sentence."

But here's the twist. The plan itself is the escape. Whether or not you ever do get outside the walls, just having a plan can radically change your day-to-day experience. It's got to be an actual plan, however, not just a "dream." 

If you been in the exterminating business for fifteen years and you've got fifteen more to go, you can plan to become a hunting guide in Alaska some day. But if you've been in the exterminating business for fifteen years and you're five feet sour inches tall, you can plan to play in the National Basketball Association when you retire. That's just a dream -- and if you invest too much in a dream, it can turn into a nightmare. 

In "The Shawshank Redemption" film -- and in the New York prison break -- the escapes were actually "successful." The walls were breached. That may be too much to hope for in many cases, but you don't have to hope. You have to plan. If you need to hope for anything, just hope for the best. 

"WHO SAYS SO BESIDES YOU???"

When you meet with a potential new client, you of course want to make a good impression. You want to avoid bragging, but you also want “to put your best foot forward,” as the old saying goes. So you try to present yourself in a positive light. You might even brag a little, and there’s nothing wrong with that, provided you do it in a tasteful and tactically effective manner.

And while you’re bragging, what is your new client thinking? If you could know the answer to that question, your self-presentation could undoubtedly be even more effective. It’s hard to know what’s on in another person’s mind, particularly in a business conversation where people are likely to be somewhat on their guard. Fortunately, I can help with that. I can tell you right now what clients and customers are thinking while you’re trying to ignite their interest in your product or service.

They’re thinking, “Who says so besides you?” No matter how persuasive you are, no matter how great you seem to be, everybody wants to know, “Who says so besides you?”

The referral is a very efficient and low key way of answering that question. Some might call it “name dropping,” but “referral” seems much more dignified. Call it what you will, it’s very effective when done correctly. In fact, it’s quite essential that you know how to use this tool correctly.

About ten minutes into your initial meeting -- after some compliments have been exchanged, and some questions have been answered -- it’s time for this step. Just refer to someone your customer knows and respects as a professional, and indicate your connection with that person. That’s all it takes.

Yes, it’s best if you actually have some personal connection with your referral. But it could be your only connection is a book you’ve read by that individual, or an interview you’ve seen. You’re still showing an affinity with the person you name. Moreover, you’re creating a triangular bond with your customer, who is also interested in that prominent individual.

The referral is a good chance for you to show an insider’s knowledge of your profession or industry. In the real estate business, for example, everyone knows about Donald Trump. But there are many other powerful developers who aren’t media celebrities. By mentioning someone of that sort, you can show that you’re not just an outsider. Instead, you know who the real players are and you can refer to them in a knowledgeable way.

Sometimes this requires a little homework. Just before your meeting, you can leaf through a trade journal and find a story that you can bring up with your client. Just make sure that you explicitly mention the name of the individual who’s the subject of the article. You’ll be surprised by what a powerful association this creates in the mind of your listener.

My friend, you can even use me as a referral. Be my guest!

All the world's a stage...but is that a mocha-colored chip on your shoulder?

This has been a big story for a few days and it still has a way to go. 

Rachel Dolezal is a senior administrator with the NAACP in Spokane, WA. The NAACP, as many people know, is a long-established civil rights organization. Over the decades, it has had many white people as benefactors, and probably a number of white people on staff. 

Rachel Dolezal has been one of those white staffers, except she has identified herself -- perhaps on her application papers, and definitely in her hairstyle -- as black. Recently, however, her parents, who are white, stated that Rachel is also white, and therefore has been other than honest. It's worth noting that the parents have four adopted black children, so they're probably not racists. They just claim to be puzzled by their daughter's behavior, and are uncomfortable with it. 

As an aside, Rachel Dolezal has claimed to be the victim of several "hate crimes" in the form of letters and a noose seen hanging from a tree near her home. The police have found no basis for her claims, and have strongly suggested that she herself planted the evidence. 

There are several angles to this story that have generated interest. Is race something that we "choose"? Can we legitimately self-identify as black or white, just as it's become the consensus that people can self-identify their gender, as in the case of Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner? Is Rachel Dolezal guilty of "cultural appropriation" if she has as Afro haircut? Is she raising important societal questions, or is she merely a head case?

This story puts me in mind of something I learned during my experience as an actor and a standup comedian. Certain people -- and yes, this may be a pathology -- can't function, or connect, or communicate effectively unless there's an element of deception involved. 

From this perspective, an actor who evokes laughter and tears from an audience isn't a "phony" because he's playing a role. Instead, he's accomplishing something he couldn't do in his everyday identity precisely because he's using a false identity to accomplish it. But from a creative (and financial) standpoint, the important thing is that he gets it done. 

No one has said Rachel Dolezal is not effective in her work, which I imagine involves mostly fund raising and event planning. It's possible that presenting herself as a black person has made her more effective, and her organization has benefited. From a business perspective, if she chooses to identify as a black person, should she be allowed to go on doing so? I don't believe it's a crime. Can I go on saying I'm the Easter Bunny if it gets me clients? Even though I'm not really the Easter Bunny?

What do you think?

Here's a link for more on Rachel Dolezal:
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/13/us/washington-rachel-dolezal-adopted-brother/