Feb 6, 2022
Storytelling Lessons From Tommy Boy
There is a great scene from the movie Tommy Boy that displays the power of storytelling in a silly but meaningful way.
Tommy, played by Chris Farley, is in a restaurant with his friend and business partner Richard, who was played by David Spade. Tommy is the son of “Big Tom’ Callahan, the owner of Callahan Auto, a successful auto parts business in Sandusky, Ohio. And even though “Big Tom'' is a master at sales, Tommy, or Tommy Boy as he is known, is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
It took him seven years to graduate from Marquette University, and even then, he barely made it out. Tommy Boy is gifted given an executive position within the company. This annoys Richard, who has been a loyal, hardworking employee and understands the nuances of the company and the business. Tommy Boy is set to cruise through life in his cozy office with the mini fridge and the Star Wars fan.
But during his fathers wedding, ‘Big Tom’ collapsed while dancing and, to the shock of the guests,…