Herman School of Business
The Joy Of Movie Club...
Three of my friends retired about the same time…five years ago. Two are a married couple, the third a single man who has known the couple since college. When I sold my company several years ago they invited my wife and I to join them about twice a month for their Movie Club. The only requirements were that you couldn’t be getting a W-2 (and therefore you were unemployed/retired) and everyone pays their own way.
A movie is selected by Jeff and the showing closest to 4:00PM is one we go to on a weekday. After the movie we go to a restaurant where dinner cost less than twenty bucks a person including tip and discuss the movie and then talk about life in general. For about four hours there is no outside world…just a movie and some friends.
This Movie Club has been going on for several years now. And that time together is like a mini-vacation for about twenty-five bucks. No cell phones, fax lines, emails, blackberries or distractions of any kind. The effectiveness of the event was realized and we have now formed a second Movie Club.
The Draft Palace Men Only Movie Club was started a month ago. For those who are hearing about the Draft Palace for the first time, it is a room in my barn with built-in bookcases, a fireplace, busts of the Presidents along with Presidential Memorabilia, antique bar chandeliers, cushy chairs, the obligatory big screen TV, and a full bath with a shower hanging fourteen feet from the vaulted ceiling. And this is where my fantasy baseball buddies draft a team every year at the beginning of the season. Since my wife dubbed the Palace as a Men’s Only Place…we now have a men’s only movie club where Netflix picks are screened on a weekday afternoon. And even those friends still working are encouraged to take the afternoon off and join us for a movie and chat.
Start this with even two of your friends and you can give up therapy…it’s that relaxing.
The value of escaping for even a few hours from your hectic day-to-day can not be overstated. And time with friends is always a plus in life…but the rules are you can not discuss work related problems. Leave those at the door. I realize we have no kids left at home to care for and no nasty boss to scoff at our need for this escape…then find a way to do it one early evening or on a weekend.
By the way…the movie doesn’t even have to be good to enjoy the movie club. It’s the escape and the friendship and the meaningless banter that makes it worthwhile…find one, start one, or come join us on occasion…ladies I am sure the Palace roof won’t fall in on you…after all, the men’s only part was Maggie’s idea, not mine.
- Posted: 19 November 2008
- Comments: 0
- Category: Running a business
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