I've directed seven movies and know a thing or two about dealing

Hear, O seekers of wisdom, the words of Penny Marshall, a pioneer who broke barriers and carved a path in the world of cinema. She declared: “I’ve directed seven movies and know a thing or two about dealing with unexpected crises.” This is not merely the reflection of an artist upon her craft, but a proclamation of endurance, experience, and the courage to face storms unseen. For in her words lies a truth older than time itself: those who labor in the service of creation will always meet crises, sudden and unbidden, and the mark of greatness is not in avoiding them but in mastering them.

The realm of filmmaking, like the realm of life, is fraught with uncertainty. Lights may fail, tempers may flare, weather may betray the schedule, and dreams carefully scripted may crumble into chaos. Yet Penny Marshall, who directed not one, but seven films, speaks as one who has faced these trials with strength. To direct is to stand at the helm of a ship filled with many souls, guiding them through uncharted waters. Thus, her words teach us that true leadership is tested not in calm seas, but in the storm.

Consider the ancient tale of Alexander the Great, whose campaigns stretched across continents. On the march to India, his army faced drought, hunger, and rebellion. In one moment of dire thirst, his soldiers found a small vessel of water and offered it to him. Yet Alexander, seeing the despair of his men, poured the water into the dust rather than drink alone. This act transformed despair into renewed loyalty. He too “knew a thing or two about dealing with unexpected crises,” for he met chaos not with selfishness, but with vision and sacrifice.

So too did Penny Marshall, though her battlefield was not dust and steel, but the fragile harmony of art and people. In the making of A League of Their Own, she guided a diverse cast through the challenges of telling a story that was both humorous and profound, while battling skepticism about whether audiences would accept women as the heroic center of a sports tale. She faced the crisis of doubt from the world itself, yet through her steady hand, the film became a triumph, inspiring generations to believe that strength and spirit know no gender.

The lesson shines clear: experience in crisis is the forge of wisdom. Those who have walked through many fires carry within them a knowledge that no book or theory can bestow. The words of Penny Marshall remind us that to create, to lead, to live fully, one must be prepared for the unexpected. And when the crisis comes, one must neither shrink nor rage, but adapt, endure, and guide others through.

And what of you, listener of these words? You may not direct films or lead armies, but you will face your own unexpected crises—in your work, in your family, in your dreams. Do not curse them, for they are the very stones upon which your character is carved. When the storm descends, breathe deeply, hold your ground, and remember that calm resolve commands greater power than panic. Each crisis is not an enemy, but a teacher in disguise.

Therefore, carry this teaching in your heart: when chaos rises, do not be unmoored. Learn from Penny Marshall, who directed with courage, and from Alexander, who led with sacrifice. Let your crises become not stumbling blocks, but stepping stones. And when others falter, be the one whose steadiness guides them onward.

For in the end, to live is to direct the grand film of existence, with its twists, delays, and unforeseen turns. If you endure with patience, adapt with wisdom, and lead with compassion, then when you look back, you too shall say with quiet strength: I know a thing or two about dealing with unexpected crises.