I Offended Mini Me

I offended Vern Troyer, the actor who played the role of \”Mini Me\” in the Austin Powers movies.

Why would I do such a thing? I didn\’t mean, to, but it happened anyhow…

If you\’ve been following my blog, you would know that I\’ve been in D.C. attending Yanik Silver\’s Underground Seminar. Yanik was very clever in putting the seminar together. He gave the entire thing an \”Austin Powers\” secret agent feel, which each attendee being one of the secret agents.

Cardboard cutouts of Mike Myers as Doctor Evil and Austin Powers were on the stage, a couple of the female assistants were dressed in groovy clothing, movie clips were shown on the screens as people came back from session breaks and Yanik even gave away a Mini Cooper to one lucky attendee.

As the final icing on the cake, Yanik paid Vern Troyer to come and give autographs and take photos with the attendees. I should have my photo with him available in a few days.

Anyhow, I was not in the conference room when protocal for how the photos and signing would happen was announced. As it turns out, everyone was instructed to NOT refer to Vern as \”Mini Me\”. Apparantly, he HATES that.

I was out of the loop.

After the photo shoot, most people had left the area. I decided to ask Vern to personalize a photo as a gift for someone. He wrote on it, \”You da man!\” and signed his name.

I said, \”No, YOU da man!\”

To which he replied… \”No, I\’m just me\” (in his very small person voice)

Well, being the joker that I am and thinking he would see even the slightest humor in the play on words, I said, \”No, you\’re mini me!\”

So much for being clever.

He looked and me and recoiled in his chair, moving the signed photo away from me.

He said, \”Do you want this?\”, referring to the photo.

I said, \”yes\”

He asked, \”What\’s my name?\”

I said, \”Vern\”

He nodded and warned me, \”Don\’t ever call me that again\”

I took my lumps, smiled at him and said \”ok\”.

Now, I understand why actors can be sensitive to not being totally identified with their roles. After all, they are human beings with feelings. Acting is just a job for them.

Still, the role of Mini Me is the very thing that launched Vern Troyer to stardom, and the reason that he was invited to get paid to do a signing and photo shoot. Wouldn\’t it just be easier to accept that as an actor?

Anyhow, if Vern ever reads this, I am truly sorry you were offended.

What\’s the moral of the story?

We all mess up from time to time. Sometimes we can be insensitive to other people. Other times we just make stupid decisions. It\’s all part of being human. I regularly practice both methods of making a mess, so I guess I am somewhat of an expert at it!0

The question is, what do you do AFTER you make a mistake? Do you deny it and try to bury it out of shame? Or do you \”own it\” and grow from the experience? As we learn to accept responsibility for our words and actions, we can grow more mature in our personal lives.

And as we make the decision to build our business, making ethical choices and persisting no matter what obstacles are thrown in our way, we take responsibility for our financial future. Are you putting these principals into action in your business today? If so, kudos! If not, what\’s holding you back?