New series at the Capitalist: The Top 100 Movie Quotes of all time for HR Pros.  In no special order, I break down the 100 movie quotes that resonate most for me as a career HR pro.  Some will be funny, some will be serious... Some will tug at your heart like when the Fox voice-over guy said, "Tonight - a very special episode of 90210"... You get the vibe... I'll do it countdown-style like they're ranked, but let's face it - they're ALL special...

#99 - From the first Matrix (the only one that matters) - "I don't know how this is going to end, I know how it's going to begin..."

Which is actually a modified quote of the original from the movie, which is taken from the last words Neo speaks on a phone call to the Matrix before he flies away.  The original:

"I know you're out there. I can feel you now. I know that you're afraid. You're afraid of us. You're afraid of change. I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin. I'm going to hang up this phone, and then I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world … without you. A world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries; a world where anything is possible. Where we go from there is a choice I leave to you.

Why this line and my modified version is a classic for HR pros everywhere: We're coaches.  We tell people in tough circumstances what they should do, even if they're not sure what's going to happen next. We can't tell them what will happen down the road, but we can confirm that they need to do the right thing now.  For themselves.  For their own sanity.

Sounds preachy doesn't it?  Guilty as charged.  At least I act better than Keanu Reeves.  The first Matrix was perfect for him.  Act confused.  Get in your Karate stance...

Plus, the clip ends with someone flying and Rage Against the Machine performing "Wake Up".  Which includes a bonus quote of note: "How long?  Not Long. Cuz what you reap is what you sow"

Heavy.

See the whole Matrix scene the quote is based off of by clicking here... Couldn't get the video - damn studios...

Side note - I'm in Seattle at the Social Recruiting Summit today.  More stuff to run here and on twitter. Spent some time with The HR Bartender and The Cynical Girl, and they said there was no way I make it through 100 of these quotes.    I don't know where's it going to end, but I know where it's going to begin.

At #99 ladies.  So there.