The Imitation Game

"You Don't Have the Luxury of Being an Ass"

Google Movie Synopsis: 

In 1939, newly created British intelligence agency MI6 recruits Cambridge mathematics alumnus Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) to crack Nazi codes, including Enigma -- which cryptanalysts had thought unbreakable. Turing's team, including Joan Clarke (Keira Knightley), analyze Enigma messages while he builds a machine to decipher them. Turing and team finally succeed and become heroes, but in 1952, the quiet genius encounters disgrace when authorities reveal he is gay and send him to prison.

Scenario:
Alan and Joan are at a pub discussing the day and various issues. Joan decides to take advantage of the moment and opens up about her personal experience as well as provide Alan some much needed advice.

Selected Scene:

Alan: You, got him to like you?

Joan: Yes.

Alan: Why?

Joan: Because I'm a woman in a man's job and I don't have the luxury of being an ass. . . Alan, it doesn't matter how smart you are, Enigma is always smarter. If you really want to solve your puzzle, then you're going to need all the help you can get and they are not going to help you if they do not like you.

Business Tip:
We've all been told that hard work will get us to where we want to be, we've also been told to work smart, not hard. Listen, there is no substitute for hard work, but if we add some smarts into the effort, the sky's the limit on what we can accomplish. For example, Alan was someone who worked very hard to achieve his goal of cracking the code. When Joan finally opened his eyes and told him to stop being an ass to his colleagues, Alan accepted their help, and as a team, they were able to solve the puzzle. Most of us know when we are being an ass or not, some of us are just wired to be this way and have a problem dealing with certain individuals, especially if you are one who thinks you know it all. I'm not going to give you some big pitch on how you need to change--you are who you are. However, within the workplace that attitude is not going to cut it! If you find yourself wondering why you're not included in meetings and the answer you often hear is "I forgot to copy you on the email" or you're seldom invited to go out for coffee/lunch with colleagues, it may be due to your pompous ass, pretend to know everything attitude! Again, that may be fine if your professional goal is to find a job where you sit and do the same thing year after year. If you strive for more, one rarely get's there without help from others, and to work with others you have to be able to give and take. Something to think about when you're drinking a pint after work--by yourself.