For the past several months I’ve been fascinated by the movie Groundhog Day and the formula: T + E + R + P = DR.
(The formula and the storymaking concepts I discuss in this post come from Jim Bonnet’s book, Stealing Fire from the Gods.)
What does Jim Bonnet call this formula? The Universal Structure. It’s part of the structure that forms the principal action of a story. What do the symbols stand for? Trial plus Error plus Reflection plus Perseverance equals Desired Result. You take an action (trial), don’t obtain the expected results (error), evaluate the results, devise a new plan (reflection), execute the plan, and keep repeating these steps (perseverance) until you solve the problem (desired result).
These steps are fundamental to the problem-solving process. Thomas Edison repeated this process, perhaps hundreds of times before creating one of his marvelous inventions.
In a great movie there’s always hidden wisdom. And Groundhog Day offers plenty of wisdom, even wisdom that shines light on the career path for students of business. The star of the movie, TV weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is like many business people. He has a project, a task to complete. Go to Punxsutawney, shoot the Groundhog Day event, and bring the film back to the TV station in Pittsburgh. He’s about to complete his project and deliver the film, when his TV van is stopped on the highway by a snowstorm he failed to forecast. He must return to his despised Punxsutawney for the night. The next morning, as Phil goes about his day, he begins to realize that Groundhog Day is repeating itself. It’s the same day, again and again. Phil ponders his predicament, “I met a girl... At sunset, we made love like sea otters. That was a pretty good day. Why couldn’t I get that day over and over and over?”
Phil sets about escaping the enchantment, an enchantment with no rules or guidelines for escape. So what’s the only tool Phil can use to unlock the door of time that has slammed him into a state of bewilderment? Trial + Error + Reflection.
Through reflection, Phil learns how his new world works. There appears to be no consequences for his actions, because the following day it all starts over again, from the beginning. When he’s tossed in jail for reckless driving, the next morning he awakes in his hotel room bed. No police looking for him. No arrest warrants. Free to flit about another Groundhog Day.
Perplexed, Phil kidnaps the groundhog and speeds away in a stolen truck. The police corner him, but Phil sees a way out of his nightmare. He drives the truck off a cliff, plunging to a fiery death. Alas, the next morning Phil wakes up in his hotel room without a scratch. Even death is unable to free Phil from the grip of the Groundhog.
Whatever knowledge or skills Phil learns during a day sticks with him from day to repeating day, allowing him to take advantage of his new knowledge. Of course, since Phil is full of himself, he first uses this observation to seduce women. He collects information about a lady and uses the details to connect with her the following day.
For most of the story, Phil feeds his lower desires, the desire to gorge on food, steal money, and charm the ladies. He falls for his producer, Rita, but his attempts to charm her fail. No matter what he tries, he’s trapped in this one miserable day like a magician’s assistant in a box. Phil gives up on his tricks and starts to develop talents that make you think of him as an artist.
This is the same career advice that Dan Pink provides in his book A Whole New Mind. Move from the left brain to the right. Learn to tell stories and develop your design skills, giving you power to orchestrate memorable customer experiences.
Returning to our story, Phil hears blissful music on the radio and is inspired to learn to play the piano from the local piano teacher. Each new day he returns to take his first piano lesson. So here’s a truth. The skills and talents you develop in life, time travel with you. Think of a talent you developed years ago. If you mastered a musical instrument or the art of storytelling, those skills live with you today.
In the opening act of the movie, Phil proclaims this is the last year he will cover Groundhog Day, because other TV stations are vying for his talent. From his blustery tone, we know he has no prospects. In the final act of the movie, we see Phil on stage, playing piano with a band. The crowd and Rita are enthralled with his performance. His music teacher brags to Rita, “He’s my student.” Throughout the day, by using his knowledge of the events that would take place that day, Phil creates customer experiences that delight people so much, they just have to tell other people -- and Rita -- about Phil’s remarkable talents. Now, Phil could have any job he wants.
Rita is so enamored with Phil’s talent and charisma that she returns to his room for a night of cards and conversation. In the morning, Phil awakes to a new day with Rita by his side. The spell is broken, giving Phil the life and lady he’s always dreamed of.