Welcome to the third installment of my current blog series: My Obscure Role Models.  Each week I will focus on a lesser known character from various TV shows or movies.  So far we have featured Lando Calrissian from the Star Wars saga and Wade Garrett from Roadhouse.  Today I’m going to take things in a different direction and focus on an obscure character from one of my favorite chick flicks, Pretty Woman!  Don’t worry…I’m not choosing George Costanza’s character.  Not a lot of redeeming qualities in that guy!  My Obscure Role Model from Pretty Woman is…(drumroll please)…the hotel manager, Barney Thompson, played by award-winning actor, Hector Donahue.

For anyone who hasn’t seen this classic film, the story is about a wildly successful businessman, Edward, played by Richard Gere, who hires a call girl, Vivian, played by Julia Roberts, to be his plus-one for a series of social events at which he has to appear.  He pays her handsomely and lets her stay in the same upscale hotel room which he is occupying.  Along the way, Vivian befriends the hotel manager, Barney, and asks him to give her lessons in etiquette so she can fit in at the highbrow functions she will be attending.

Barney is in a tough place because he has a heart of gold and wants to help Vivian, but also needs to run interference so other guests don’t know there is a ‘lady of the night’ staying with them as one of the hotel guests.  He is a man of few words, but viewers grow to love him as the story unfolds.  And as in any good romantic comedy, Edward and Vivian ultimately break up.  They both still love each other, but alas, they’re from two different worlds.

So why is Barney my obscure role model?  It’s because he’s an encourager.  There is one simple line he delivers at the end of the movie that changes everything.  Edward had just parted ways with Vivian and he is giving Barney a necklace that he had borrowed to return to the jewelry store. Barney looks at the necklace and then looks at Edward and says, “It must be difficult to let go of something so beautiful.”  This might just be my favorite movie quote of all time.  What a double entendre!  And with that one comment, Edward is reminded of just what he is giving up so easily.  After that, he tracks down Vivian, climbs a fire escape, kisses the girl, and they live happily ever after!

That’s the power of the spoken word.  Well-chosen and timely, it can motivate us and inspire us to do things we may never do on our own.  I truly believe behind every great act in the history of the world, there has always been someone to fan the flame.  Someone provided the encouragement.  Someone delivered the motivation.  Someone simply told someone else that he or she has worth.  And this person may typically be behind the scenes, but in my opinion, he or she is just as important as the one who receives the empowerment and does something with it.

There is a psychological theory that states 10% of positivity can negate 90% of negativity.  Allow me to put this in perspective.  You decide to run a marathon.  Nine friends come along and tell you why you’d fail.  Then one friend tells you he or she believes in you and that you can do it.  That one friend’s encouraging word will override all the other nine friends’ discouragement.  It’s the way we are wired. We respond to positive reinforcement.  But the world is also in short supply of this kind of conversation.

Be an encourager.  Be an inspiration.  Change someone’s perspective.  Remind someone that he or she is valued.  It costs us very little.  And the return on investment can literally change the world.