The film 'Erin
Brockovich' is the true story of one woman's successful initiative to
investigate the deaths and illnesses of dozens of individuals through
the leakage of poisons into the water supply by the Pacific Gas and
Electrical utility company of California. At the end of the story, Erin,
working for a legal firm, wins a $333 million settlement for the
families of victims, which also includes a very substantial sum for her
law firm as well as for herself. It is also a story that each of us can
learn from -- especially if we hope to take our lives to the next level
of success. The film not only shows her own personal struggles that
allowed this vast achievement, but also the social obstacles she was
forced to overcome.
Although Erin demonstrated several unflattering traits -- including her
provocative dress and her too-often vulgar speech -- one trait makes up
for all of the others: her great tenacity of purpose. In this
instance, Erin not only knew precisely what she wanted -- to uncover the
injustice that has befallen the victims -- but pursues that goal with
almost super-human effort and determination.
In studying the
ways individuals accomplish in life, several traits seem to stand out.
First, it is imperative to have a clear vision of what one wants to
accomplish. Then one is able to develop a plan to make it happen. And
finally, one makes an exhaustive effort to see it through. Erin was able
to embrace all three in this great period of her life. She not only had
a clear vision of what she wanted to occur, not only developed right
strategies to bring it about, but then implemented them through an
unrelenting, persevering effort. As a result, life cooperated from all
quarters -- leading not only to a vast settlement for the suffering
families, but to a monumental breakthrough for victim's rights.
In addition to
vision, strategies and determined implementation, there is one other
factor that played an important role in Erin's stunning achievement --
the adoptions and adherence to deep personal values. At each point, Erin
personally identified with the plight of the victims and felt a moral
duty to bring them justice. Such deep beliefs and values guided her
efforts and in the end drove her to succeed.
If she can bring
about such vast results, then each of us can do the same in the areas we
are predisposed towards. For example, think about your own situation for
a moment, and then consider what it is that you really want to achieve
in life. Now ask yourself the following questions: Do you have a very
clear vision of what you want to archive? Do you really want to make it
happen -- i.e. do you have a deep abiding passion for this to come
about? If so, then do have clear strategies to make it happen? Also, are
you willing to make an unrelenting, persevering effort to bring it
about? If so, and if you follow through at all these levels, then life
will surely cooperate with your efforts from all quarters. E.g. life
will begin to present you with sudden instances of good fortune; a
miraculous-like phenomenon that I call a "life response."
Now let's move on and
consider the social dimension of Erin's extraordinary story. When
any person ventures to achieve at a higher level in life, one is forced
deal with the social milieu. I.e. in these situations, we will see that
there are environmental forces that are trying to help us, and there as
those conspire or otherwise gather to defeat us. Often that opposition
can originate from most unlikely of sources. For example, one thing we
notice in Erin's case is that though she is working for the great
benefit of the law office, the clients, even society itself, at many
points she is directly opposed by these very entities!
When a pioneer
individual takes on a work that is not part of the normal routines of
that society, it often opposes that individual's efforts -- even if it
will in the end bring it great benefit! We see this phenomenon at work
in various points in Erin’s story -- when the lawyers continually show
their misgivings about her initiative; when the people in the office are
put off by her behavior missing the greater benefit she is creating for
them and the victims; when her boyfriend deserts her for a time; and,
most dramatically, when the eventual beneficiaries of her initiative --
the victims in the village -- gather at one point and decide to oppose her efforts! This shows how the groundbreaking work of a
pioneer will often be opposed by various collectives, including those
who stand to gain the most. It is more than an irony; it reflects a
fundamental Ignorance and unconsciousness of the society in the face of
a great boon. To be aware of these forces is to know the influences of
life, which one can overcome through the right capacities -- of
strength, attitude, right strategies, and so forth.
Fortunately for all involved, Erin's tenacity of purpose and her great
psychological strength overcome the unconscious opposition of the
ignorant social forces around her. She is courageous, and never despairs
when the social milieu opposes. She is consistently positive in
her attitude, believing in the rightness of her cause, and its eventual
success. She also has great social skills, demonstrated by her great
empathy and communication skills when interviewing the sick victims and
their kin. She is not bothered by the social obstacles because in one
sense she cares little about conforming to the social order. She is her
own person, despite her sometimes boisterous and crude behavior.
Fortunately, that offensive behavior in minor compared to the social
strength she brings to bear.
By the way, we
should also point out that the falsehood of the society is born out even
at the end when Erin wins the case. She receives but $2 million out of
the $333 million settlement, when she has, for all intensive purposes,
single-handedly enabled this great outcome! The law firm, being a social
institution, accepts the socialcustom of only giving Erin money equal to her social status and
position, instead of what she really deserved. In addition, the law firm
itself collects 40% of the reward. It is another indicator of the
negative and false quality of institutions in society that reward the socially-accepted custom instead of that which is
right and
just.
So we can ask
ourselves again: do we have the drive and will to succeed in our endeavors?
Are we clear about what we want to achieve, and have the right
strategies to make it come about? Do we have the strength and
determination to bring our aspirations to fruition? Also, are we
directed by our own beliefs, rather than being overly influenced by the
social norms; and do we have the strength of purpose
to persevere beyond the opposition of the social milieu around us.
If we meet these conditions, then we too can bring
about successes that rival those of Erin; we too
can rise to the highest pinnacles of success.
