Pop Culture Friday! Thanksgiving Edition

The classic film, "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," known for its humor and life lessons about the value of human connection and emotional intelligence. This film, starring Steve Martin and John Candy, follows the misadventures of two people trying to get home for Thanksgiving.

Always Be Networking!

If it wasn’t for Neal and Del networking and being open to solving their problem together, they wouldn’t have had a crazy journey, of course. Throughout the story filled with mishaps, Neal and Del encounter numerous setbacks, from delayed flights to stolen money and burnt-out vehicles. 

What continually propels them forward isn't just resourcefulness, but their ability to lean on each other and build temporary networks with strangers. 

Each time Neal and Del network, whether with motel clerks, truck drivers, or each other, they find strange solutions to seemingly impossible problems and inch closer to their goal. 

The story shows that networking isn't just for professional gain. It’s a safety net that helps people adapt and thrive in adversity. When you’re up against it, who’s got your back?

EQ Over IQ: The Heart of the Story

Planes, Trains and Automobiles excels at contrasting Neal’s initial reliance on intelligence, planning, and analysis with Del’s warmth, candor, and emotional insight. 

Neal’s high IQ alone does not resolve their predicament. Their progress accelerates only when he learns to empathize with Del and others. 

Del’s emotional intelligence heals tensions, builds trust, and ultimately leads to genuine friendship, highlighting that understanding and managing emotions is often more instrumental to success than being the smartest person in the room.

EQ for Your Career

Many articles, Harvard Business Review papers, and books discuss how psychology research aligns with the film’s message: emotional intelligence is a stronger predictor of career performance and life satisfaction than IQ alone.

When you need help in your career, you need your network. To build that network, you need to spend time in building relationships and building your EQ along the way. Your network will be there for you, but don’t take it for granted. The key part of the word “network” is “work.”

And the only way to truly network is give, give, and give some more. Transactional networking will never be perceived as authentic.

Those who excel in recognizing and managing emotions outperform smarter peers in most real-world settings, reflecting Del’s ultimate triumph, not just in getting home, but in winning Neal’s respect and friendship.

Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving, and safe holiday season.