Being an entrepreneur is an exciting and happening journey. It consists of engaging ideas, and the opportunity to be hands-on. Sometimes, ideas do not always come easily to mind and we need to search for promise. Here is a list of 3 thought-provoking movies that can raise your spirits in entrepreneurship and help you grasp concepts. Envision yourself as each character, and take mental notes on how they handle situations.
1) Baby Boom (1987), Director: Charles Shyer
Savvy and sophisticated work-a-holic J.C. Wiatt (Diane Keaton) works as a management consultant in the heart of Manhattan. Having graduated from prestigious Ivy League universities, she is married to her work in her highly competitive firm. One night, her role as businesswoman merged into mother, when she was chosen to adopt orphaned toddler Elizabeth by her late cousin. She had to learn how to juggle motherhood and work, which was hard since she was considered a partner at the firm. She was also allowed to work with the CEO of the famous “Food Chain” company but was put in a tight position to choose her personal or professional life.
After taking the brave step to quit her toxic job, J.C. and Elizabeth move to Vermont to live the countryside dream. The winter provides many expensive problems for her house and makes her desperate to get back to the Big Apple. To her surprise, she has the fascinating idea to start a homemade applesauce business called “Country Baby”. It wonderfully skyrockets all across the United States. Her former firm provides her the opportunity to collaborate her business with the “Food Chain” and entices her that she’ll be richer than she’s ever been. She kindly declines, as she wants to continue to succeed in her own special way. She especially doesn’t want to leave behind her daughter and new lover, Jeff (Sam Shepard), back in Vermont.
Key Motivators
J.C. always believed she would be in corporate, but was constantly moving too fast and never had time to breathe. She always wanted to be one step ahead of others, but her daughter changed her life for the better. If they hadn’t moved to Vermont, she would not have become a successful entrepreneur and paved a new career she was genuinely happy in. She struggles initially when it comes to finances and the fact that stores don’t sell baby food. But, with the help of her local community, she was able to spread the word and expand greatly. She was able to break gender stereotypes, as nobody took into consideration being both a working woman and a mother. She genuinely proved the doubters wrong, however, and Elizabeth is surely in for an inspiring story when she gets older.
J.C. is the perfect example of how it is never too late to switch careers. Although she was successful in both jobs, she was able to find her true love and passion in her business and wanted the best for all children. She even does research by herself and is willing to go big with her original and unique product. She was also able to take it down a notch with the stress and was just as capable of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship. If you are feeling down, try to maintain your confidence and never back down to anything like the powerful J.C. It’s okay to start over and do what is best for you, so don’t get bogged down by this idea. Make sure you have the right support system too, as they will uplift you in making the right decisions.
2) The Social Network (2010), Director: David Finch
Set in 2003, this movie depicts the journey of how Facebook came to life and all its’ dirty secrets. Genius Harvard undergraduate Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) originally came up with the social media site ‘Facemash’, which ranked girls’ attractiveness on campus. The popularity of Facemash was pretty appealing to the Winklevoss Twins (Armie Hammer) and Divya Narendera (Max Mingahella). It leads them to try to start the Harvard Connection, a dating and social site exclusively for Harvard students. Zuckerberg and friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) start Facebook, as a result of this idea, but it comes with a lot of challenges.
By the end of the film, Zuckerberg is more interested in working with Napster founder Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) and pushes Eduardo to the curb. At this point, Facebook has expanded across college campuses and the country, but Zuckerberg finds himself in 2 lawsuits. He not only betrays Eduardo by removing him as a CEO and unfairly sharing Facebook stock shares. He also steals the Winklevoss’ twin’s original idea, without their consent. The film shows how success is not going to be guaranteed, and to be careful about what you wish for.
Key Motivators
This movie can uplift you greatly, based on Zuckerberg’s mistakes. Yes, Zuckerberg was an eager college student who wanted to immediately act on an idea. But, he made problems that could have easily been avoided. One resolution was not kicking Eduardo out and realizing that if they started something, they’ll finish together. There are many implications that Eduardo was not doing his job correctly, but regardless, Mark shouldn’t have been as selfish. He essentially replaced Saverine with a bad influence, who eventually had to be let go anyway because of drug possession. If you are planning on thriving as an entrepreneur, make sure to stay humble and not let business get the best of you. Make sure you choose the right people to work with and think your decisions through. Also, strategically choose your mentors and decide whether or not they will help your company thrive for the better.
Another idea is to just not steal to get ahead. This may be obvious, but sometimes eagerness gets the best of us. Mark could’ve easily saved a lawsuit if he just would’ve cooperated and merged ideas with the Winklevoss twins. Try to be original and unique to yourself when coming up with your ideas, and don’t steal for your advantage. You will be much more successful if you commit to your ideas instead of ripping someone off. You have the power to unleash your brightest potential with your realness, so stick to the plan!
3) Home Alone (1990), Director: Chris Columbus
This timeless holiday classic shows the dysfunctional McCallister family before a trip to Paris. However, they are completely sick of 8-year-old Kevin’s (Macauley Culkin) antics and make him wish he was never a part of the family. He grows sick and tired of his family constantly disrespecting him and wishes for his family to disappear. His wish comes true the very next morning, and he becomes the leader of the house.
His freedom is short-lived, as “Wet Bandits” Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern) decide to rob and intimidate. Kevin, nonetheless, does not back down to them whatsoever, and fights back with homemade traps for resistance. The enemies are sent to jail thereafter, with an 8 year old powerfully swaying them away with his fierce leadership.
Key Motivators
Even though this movie is considered to be a kid’s flick, it shows how Kevin takes initiative as a young child and how his house is essentially “his business”. One important business leadership lesson is to not panic when something bad happens. Kevin was a bit nervous when learning about the Wet Bandits’ plan to take over his fort. But, his tools and plan were of most help to him and he was able to outsmart and fight them all at once. It’s important to always have a backup plan, especially if your competition is trying to intimidate you. Make sure you remain calm through it all and just do what you do best.
Another idea is to never be afraid to invite anyone on your journey. Kevin was most afraid of Old Man Marley (Roberts Blossom), the eerie neighbor who was supposedly the killer of his own family. By the end of the film, Marley saves Kevin from the bad boys and is a good person with a good heart. He was on bad terms with his immediate family, but Kevin’s wise advice helps him reconnect in the end. Each connection you make is essential and can help you thrive for the better. Never judge anyone you meet, because they can just as much make a difference on you and your journey. You never know how beneficial someone is, so don’t be afraid to reach out.
Time to Tune in
The entrepreneurial journey isn’t always easy at times, but these movies are sure to motivate you. These classics are great to learn valuable lessons from, so make sure to watch them on isaidub! It is highly recommended to also watch them more than once, too, so you keep learning as you go.
