No I didn’t make that up. I do wish I had. It comes from an old Paul Newman movie called Cool Hand Luke. Wiki says this about the movie plot:
Decorated World War II veteran Lucas "Luke" Jackson (Paul Newman), is arrested for cutting the "heads" off of parking meters one drunken night. Luke refuses to observe the established pecking order among the prisoners and quickly runs afoul of the prisoners' leader, Dragline (George Kennedy). When the pair have a boxing match, the prisoners and guards watch with interest. Although Luke is severely outmatched by his larger opponent, he will not back down. Eventually, Dragline refuses to continue the fight. Luke's tenacity earns the prisoners' respect. Later, Luke wins a poker game by bluffing with a hand worth nothing. Luke comments that "sometimes, nothing can be a real cool hand," prompting Dragline to nickname him "Cool Hand Luke".
Now, you may be wondering where I’m going with this, (as well you should). You know, I get to talk with many folks who have just come through an interview situation and the following was relayed to me:
“Gary, I decided that though the role I was interviewing for was exactly up my alley, a few curves and detours had occurred in scheduling the interview. When the interview was finally scheduled, I approached it with the attitude that I personally had nothing to lose. Gary, I went on to interview in the most confident manner, I ever had in my life. I answered the Hiring Manager’s questions happily and proudly. I probably had the interview of my life.”
If we break down this event; my young friend interviewed like a champ precisely because he felt he had “nothing to lose”. Well maybe this is a real larger than life epiphany, wait for it: “Sometimes nothin’ is a mighty cool hand”.
Cheers
Gary Silver
Decorated World War II veteran Lucas "Luke" Jackson (Paul Newman), is arrested for cutting the "heads" off of parking meters one drunken night. Luke refuses to observe the established pecking order among the prisoners and quickly runs afoul of the prisoners' leader, Dragline (George Kennedy). When the pair have a boxing match, the prisoners and guards watch with interest. Although Luke is severely outmatched by his larger opponent, he will not back down. Eventually, Dragline refuses to continue the fight. Luke's tenacity earns the prisoners' respect. Later, Luke wins a poker game by bluffing with a hand worth nothing. Luke comments that "sometimes, nothing can be a real cool hand," prompting Dragline to nickname him "Cool Hand Luke".
Now, you may be wondering where I’m going with this, (as well you should). You know, I get to talk with many folks who have just come through an interview situation and the following was relayed to me:
“Gary, I decided that though the role I was interviewing for was exactly up my alley, a few curves and detours had occurred in scheduling the interview. When the interview was finally scheduled, I approached it with the attitude that I personally had nothing to lose. Gary, I went on to interview in the most confident manner, I ever had in my life. I answered the Hiring Manager’s questions happily and proudly. I probably had the interview of my life.”
If we break down this event; my young friend interviewed like a champ precisely because he felt he had “nothing to lose”. Well maybe this is a real larger than life epiphany, wait for it: “Sometimes nothin’ is a mighty cool hand”.
Cheers
Gary Silver
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