Brian Perry: Blog

There is an old movie called “It Should Happen to You” (1954) with Jack Lemmon and Judy Holiday. In this movie a woman named Gladys Glover (Ms. Holiday) is an aspiring model who decides to take her fame into her own hands by renting a huge billboard on Columbus Circle in NYC and putting her name on it in gynormous letters. Hyjinks ensue, of course.

When I was going through my life coach training, one of the questions they posed to us was “If you could have a billboard anywhere in the city/town where you live where would it be and what would it say?” A fair number of hyjinks ensued there as well.

I love Ms. Glover’s boldness and I love this coaching question. At the heart of it, to me, is a question of impact.  What impact do you want to have – or more to the heart again – to BE on the world?

I thought of several things I might put on a billboard that would likely be along the interstate in New Orleans. Just thinking of those ideas made me feel lighter and more empowered – like I had something important to say. Then came the Super Bowl this year.

As part of the celebration, I went out and bought myself one of those paint pens people use when they’re selling their car so they can write on the windows. I wrote: HONK IF YOU’RE A WHO DAT! and BLACK & GOLD SUPER BOWL and FINISH STRONG! Don’t worry, I could still see to drive. This turned out to be so much fun between the honking and the smiling waves and just the connection it opened with people around me. Even better, if I got in the car feeling down or frustrated about something, either somebody would honk or slow down to read or I would just look in the rearview mirror and suddenly find myself smiling. As usual, the things we think we’re doing to and/or for the world are really mostly about what we need.

Anyway, all that was so much fun and it occurred to me that I had found my “billboard.” Now each week I put a new thought on the rear windshield and then carry that thought everywhere I drive with my portable billboard. It gives me a chance every week to stop for a few minutes to think what impact I want to have in the world, but also (and perhaps more importantly) what impact do I most need to have on ME this week. I also write on my mirror in my bathroom. It’s endlessly interesting to me that as unified and big as the darkness in my mind can sometimes feel, it almost always turns out to be the tiniest (and often seemingly silliest) of things that I do that begin to dislodge its grip over me.

Sooo, IF YOU COULD HAVE A BILLBOARD ANYWHERE IN THE PLACE YOU LIVE (and you can) WHERE WOULD IT BE AND WHAT WOULD IT SAY?

BTW, this week mine says, “U R ON YOUR WAY TO A MIRACLE.” Because, you know, you kinda always are.

Be good to you.

Brian