What follows are lessons from The African Queen: 7 Steps to love and success: (click here to read last week’s note if you missed it)

Preface: It’s 1914 in Africa, World War One has just broken out. German troops burn native and missionary villages, forcing African men to serve as troops, destroying their homes so they have no place to return.

These are the essential steps in the journey of love and success as played out in The African Queen—7 Steps to Love and Success:

1. Remaining Open: Why did the shock of the attack kill Hepburn’s missionary brother and not her? I think it’s because he was terribly attached to his dream of becoming important as a priest, of being recognized. He could not survive this major setback. She did, through remaining open.
2. Clarity of Purpose: Once Hepburn learns the details of the German ship The Louisa and envisions the possibility of using the African Queen to destroy it, her clarity of purpose becomes unshakable.
3. Stubborn Persistence: In spite of being told in no uncertain terms that her dream, her plan, is impossible, she doggedly persists (and insists).
4. Negotiating Terms: There are better ways to negotiate terms than those modeled in the film. But it’s great drama and comedy: Bogart goes on a gin-drinking binge and tries to insult Hepburn into seeing she is inadequate to the task, unfit to dream such dreams. When he comes around, she has poured all his gin into the river. She proceeds to give him the silent treatment until he can’t tolerate rejection any longer, and reluctantly agrees to the journey.
5. Taking Committed Action: Once it’s been negotiated, Hepburn tolerates no messing around even though it’s late in the day. She orders Bogart to fire up the engine, because 2 hours gets them progress. Committed action then carries them down the river, one obstacle after the next.
6. Celebrating Victories, Praising the Good: For Bogart and Hepburn, the breakthrough from unwilling partnership into love happens after the two successfully run their first real rapids. Celebrating their victory, praising each other’s courageous actions, their hearts open into gratitude and love.
7. Believing in Each Other: If you took my challenge to heart and watched the movie last week, you saw one challenge stack on the next: passing the German Fort Shona while under fire, running not just rapids, but waterfalls. Repairing a rudder with no tools. Being driven mad by mosquitos, blood-sucked by leeches, facing sure death in the swampy reeds. Making homemade torpedoes, surviving shipwreck, nearly being hanged… But from the moment they allow their mutual admiration to become love, these two believe in each other. Each time Bogart thinks something is impossible, Hepburn reminds him of his capacities through a well-aimed (sincere) compliment.

Coach’s Challenge: If you didn’t watch The African Queen last week, watch it this week. And take a second look at these 7 Steps to Love and Success. Which ones come easily to you? Which ones can use some more attention and support? Jot down or journal on any insights this brings.

Lindy MacLaine of lindymaclaine.com is a Life Purpose Coach whose messages empower and inspire those in the second bloom of life to reclaim their dreams, reignite their passions and rekindle their joy.

She is the author of the fantasy adventure book The Curse of the Neverland, for those ages 9-90 who loved the Neverland and wanted to go there for something far more than Spring Cleaning.