Courage, Grit and the 'Bradbury' Effect

by Lisa Jeffery

I went to the movie Valkyrie with Tom Cruise, based on a true story. The movie made me think about courage and "grit". I've been thinking a lot about it, in fact.

While many characters in the film had courage, only Tom Cruise, as Colonel Staffenburg, had grit. And grit made all the difference. This was the same grit shown by Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, and Ghandi -- each of knew they had a price to pay, and needed not just courage, but grit.

grit- n. 1. firmness of character; indomitable spirit; pluck...
(Now "pluck"... that's a word I've always liked!)

Watch an interview with Tom Cruise about it on Youtube.

The true story was about failed attempt from within the German Army to kill Hitler. It was a valiant attempt. Actually, months later Hitler committed suicide. Who would have thought that the attempt was unnecessary, that fate, the universe, truth or time would accomplish it for them, without them doing anything?

So this made me the think of the "Bradbury" Effect. Remember Steven Bradbury, the Austrailan Speed skater in the 2002 Olympics, who was in last place, and in a second, won the gold because everyone else fell down? He WON because he was so far behind and protected from the fall!

He's my hero of all times! It just goes to show that you CAN win, even when you are last place and everything is against you. Colonel Staffenburg and his friends, almost pulled a "Bradbury". They were all executed for trying to kill Hitler, If they had only known! But they were doing the RIGHT thing.

'DOING A BRADBURY' has now become a permanent part of the Australian vernacular meaning 'A FLUKEY SUCCESS'. Steven Bradbury has now gone on to be a motivational speaker. He talks about luck, but says

"When your moment to shine presents itself will YOU be IN POSITION and PREPARED to be the next to 'DO A BRADBURY'?"

Watch Steven Bradbury's Winning Olympic Race on Youtube.

So, it just shows you, take me to a movie, and my thoughts go wild for days!

Lisa

"Lisa-isms"

"Now I know that's got something to do with something!"
Lisa