I think of great movies like great songs. I can watch them over and over again without getting tired. Hoosiers. Rudy. Braveheart. My Cousin Vinny. The Notebook. Titanic.
Teresa usually and graciously gives me control of the TV remote, even though she knows exactly what’s about to happen. We’re scanning the guide, and when one of my favorite films pops up, I’m instantly drawn to click and see exactly which scene it’s on. Once I peek, moving on is nearly impossible. Sure enough, the other night, Titanic captured me again.
What a powerful love story and what an amazing depiction of chivalry. Remember that scene with Leonardo DiCaprio sacrificing his life, freezing in the water, so Kate Winslet could stay safely afloat on that wooden plank? It gets me every time. And this time, it got me thinking about chivalry in real life. Curious, I began to research other acts of chivalry, starting with real people aboard the Titanic.
Oh my gosh, what I learned was remarkable and inspiring.
Take, for instance, one of the wealthiest men alive at the time, someone who had literally everything to lose. What did he choose to do when faced with life and death? He didn’t use his immense power and influence to secure a seat on a lifeboat, even though his
pregnant wife did and was saved.
His name was John Jacob Astor IV, one of the richest people in the world, whose bank account held enough money to build several Titanics. But in the end, his wealth wasn’t his legacy, it was the chivalry he demonstrated on that fateful day.
And Astor wasn’t alone in his heroic actions. Isidor Straus, co-owner of Macy’s department stores, was another remarkable example of courage and dignity. When offered a seat on a lifeboat, he refused, saying, “I will never enter a lifeboat before other men.” His wife, Ida Straus, also declined a seat, choosing instead to spend their final moments together. She said, “Where you go, I go.” Ida gave her spot to her newly appointed maid, Ellen Bird, demonstrating that genuine love and true character matter more than wealth or status.
To me, stories like these from the Titanic shouldn’t be relics of the past, but rather inspirations for how we should conduct ourselves in the present. It’s not likely any of us will face the choice between saving our own life or giving it up so others can live. But we all have a quiet, personal choice on how we conduct ourselves day-to-day in small ways. Do we act nobly, kindly, and selflessly, even when it’s not easy or expected?
At its core, it seems to me that chivalry is about respect, honor, and putting others before ourselves, and it’s as crucial in business as it is in our personal lives. A chivalrous business leader listens carefully, shows genuine concern, gives credit freely, and shoulders responsibility gracefully. That’s the kind of leader I aspire to be.
So tonight, when Teresa hands me the remote (thank you, T), and another of my favorite movies pops up, I’ll try to remember those incredible stories of chivalry on the Titanic, inspiring and reminding me to be just a little more chivalrous tomorrow. And hey, perhaps you will too. After all, I think we can all agree that today’s world needs more gentlemen… and perhaps more gentlewomen too!
