Landman is one of those television shows that, surprisingly, have some life lessons. I’ll try not to spoil much of the story, but I wanted to discuss a few of them. I believe there are three lessons that can be useful to us on our financial planning journey.
Landman is another one of Taylor Sheridan’s creations. Mom and I enjoyed Yellowstone, so we try to give his other shows a chance too. Fortunately, we have enjoyed his other shows as well.
However, I do wish he would use some of the fortune gained from his success to buy a thesaurus. His shows are great, but I think he uses the F-word way too much. I’ve always heard profanity was a crutch in writing, but he’s rich and we keep watching. Who am I to criticize his style?
If you haven’t seen Landman, it’s about the oil industry. Based in Texas, the story follows the daily life of Tommy, played by Billy Bob Thornton. He is perfect for the role as he excels in playing angry and tough characters, so the profanity seems to roll off his tongue.
While Billy Bob Thornton is the star, Landman’s first lesson comes from another cast member.
I think it’s fun to see actors develop over their careers. For example, Scarlett Johannson is a superstar today. That’s a long way from 1998 when she played the moody little girl in The Horse Whisperer.
I first saw Ali Larter in Varsity Blues. In Landman, it seems that she is finally getting the professional attention she deserves. The news coverage may have been about how amazing Ali Larter looked at 50 years old, but she was also great in her role. Her portrayal of Angela was so entertaining as she went from happy-go-lucky party girl to mama bear mode in a split second.
The lesson, however, comes from looking at her career as a whole. If Varsity Blues was Ali Larter’s first movie, then she has spent over 20 years in the film industry. That statistic alone is amazing considering how difficult it can be to even get started in that industry.
Ali Larter shows us that patience, discipline, and perseverance pay off. Sadly, these traits can be forgotten in our instant gratification society. Of course, Ali Larter would love to be in leading roles, making millions, and living on the red carpet, but I bet she has a nice nest egg after 20 years in Hollywood.
One of the greatest challenges I face as a financial planner is to convince clients that wealth is usually built over time. My favorite saying when trying to make this point is that small bricks build large houses. When we don’t have much to invest at once, small amounts consistently deposited over time can grow into that nest egg we desire. I think Ali Larter would agree with me.
Another lesson from Landman involves an exotic dancer.
The lesson here is that we should be aware of opportunities in unlikely situations. In the busyness of life, we tend to be so focused on our to-do list that our environmental awareness suffers. We can miss the opportunities that offer solutions to our problems.
Tommy needed help with his elderly father, played by Sam Elliot. I really felt this part of the story because I deal with home health needs daily. Getting into government assistance programs is difficult in general and your chances for approval are basically nonexistent if you have any wealth.
Tommy does what I dream of being able to do; hire and pay his own helper. He needed some help during the day while he was
at work, so he hired an exotic dancer. This was genius for two reasons.
First, she worked nights and could easily spend a few hours during the day with Tommy’s dad. Second, regardless of your feelings about exotic dancers, they must be in great shape in order to perform. Therefore, she would have the strength to help Tommy’s dad around the house and do some physical therapy exercises.
It may not seem like much, but this is extremely important for people with disabilities and senior citizens. Having help in the home allows someone a longer and happier life, while easing the burden on their families. Everyone is a winner in that scenario because a solution was found when someone looked past the stigma and potential rumors.
Don’t you think we can learn something from that?
The final lesson from Landman involves the emergency fund.
My clients know I constantly harp on this subject because the emergency fund is the cornerstone of a good financial plan. It is the cushion we need, so we can allow our invested funds to work for us. Money cannot work for us if we are constantly spending it on those little unexpected expenses that pop up in our lives.
Landman provides an example of another use for the emergency fund. In college I had a professor who colorfully referred to the emergency fund as the “screw you” fund. This was one of my first classes and his point still resonates with me 20 years later.
Sometimes in your career you come across situations that will test your ethics. If you’re asked to do something you know to be wrong, either legally, ethically, or morally, then you need a way out. By having the emergency fund, you can leave your job and take time to find a better fit.
Basically, you’re buying the freedom to tell your boss, “I’m not going to jail over this, so screw you.” Tommy and the other characters faced a similar dilemma in Landman. Without spoiling the story, their savings gave them the freedom needed to solve the problem.
In essence, that is what financial planning is all about. Freedom! It’s not about being greedy or just hoarding money, so you can swim in it like Scrooge McDuck. Financial planning is about providing peace of mind for our clients and their families.
Shouldn’t we do things that ease the stress in our daily lives? Landman did a great job showing us that everyone faces struggles. Instead of complaining and having a 24-hour a day pity party, the characters pursued solutions for their problems.
It takes a lot of courage, but I’ll be there with you. Are you ready? Email me.
