The Cavalry Ain’t Coming

Have you ever had a moment when you heard a phrase that was so simple, so clear in its intent, that it sticks with you?  That happened for me when I was watching a re-run of Larry King interviewing Chris Gardner.

Those of you who saw the Will Smith movie, The Pursuit of Happyness, will know who Chris Gardner is.  Gardner was a down-on-his-luck man who had lost everything: His wife, his career, all his money….his bitter girlfriend even cleaned out their apartment of every stick of furniture and all his clothing.  With literally only the clothes on his back, he had to begin again.  Gardner spent several months as a homeless man, washing up in subway restrooms while he struggled to find work and care for his young son.  He ultimately landed an entry-level job at a financial institution, and through hard work mixed with a couple of lucky breaks, he ultimately became a phenomenally wealthy man.

Back to the Larry King interview.  King said something along the lines of, “You were broke, you were sleeping on the streets… How could you get up and face the world every day?”  And Gardner had a terrific response.  He said, “Because I said to myself: Chris, the Cavalry ain’t coming. Get up and do something!”

Garner went on to explain that he realized he was the only one who could haul himself out of the mess he had gotten into.  He could whine and complain…..or he could rise to the occasion and do what was necessary.

I can’t tell you how many times students have approached me at the library and complained about how their professors demand too much of them or that the college should re-distribute their workload.  I usually smile and listen politely, then simply use Gardner’s line.  “The Cavalry ain’t coming.  Time to get back to work on that paper.”  The line almost always earns a laugh, and it is amazing how quickly most students immediately snap out of the cycle they’ve worked themselves into.

And…I must admit, when I feel tired and run-down, I use the same line on myself, too!