Great Business Lessons From The Movies – Working Girl.

Let's zip back to 1988 and watch one of my favorite Harrison Ford movies . . . Working Girl! Yes, I know, Working Girl. I love this movie — it's a romantic comedy directed by Mike Nichols. It tells the inspiring story of Tess, a secretary, played by Melanie Griffith, who works in the mergers and acquisitions department of a Wall Street investment bank.

When her boss, Sigourney Weaver, breaks her leg skiing, Tess uses her absence and connections, including Weaver's boyfriend, Harrison Ford, to put forward her idea for a merger deal.

I can't believe it's 26 years old. So let's go to the business lessons:

Image Gets Your Foot In The Door.

Tess is a secretary — and back in 1988, there was a distinctive separation how secretaries and executives dressed. So she changes her whole wardrobe to fit in with the big guns.

What do you wear every day? First (and subsequent) impressions play a huge part with everyone you meet and interact with. Where do you dress with your peers? Do you wear t-shirts and shorts? Jeans?

If you want to play with the big boys and girls, you need to dress like them. Pay attention to what they wear — compliment their shirt, jacket, blouse and find out where they shop. Imitation is the sincerest form of getting ahead.

If you don't know what to wear, go here — Boys click here — Girls click here.

Who You Know Is As Important As What You Know.

Tess instantly realizes and proceeds to introduce herself to higher ranking people to get ahead.

Who do you hang around with? Who do you talk to? How's it working for you so far?

If you want to get ahead, move up and play with the adults, you need to begin to connect with other groups of influential people. Read this.

Getting Ahead Involves Taking Risks.

Throughout the movie, Tess takes calculated chances to get ahead, She absconds with her boss' wardrobe, crashes weddings, and barges into meetings.

I'm not saying for you to do that (it's a movie) — but you should step out on the ledge every so often to not only see the view, but to also move your career ahead — turbo style.

Get invited to that meeting, reach out to the dream client you always wanted to work with, ask for the business instead of shutting up. Take a chance every day.

You'll Never Know Where A Great Idea Might Come From.

Tess gets her brainstorm from reading her daily newspaper's gossip column and puts two-and-two together. It ultimately brings together two media titans and gives her a new job.

How do you get your ideas? When was the last time you pitched a new idea to your boss or client? A new product, offering or service?

You need to take a chance sometimes and tell other people — important people — influential people — your ideas. Read this.

Be Ready, In Case Opportunity Knocks.

As the scouts always say - Be Prepared. 

Get your ideas in order. Get your style in order. Get your connections in order. Start taking risks. Because in the near future, someone will be knocking at your door.

Are you ready to answer it? To let them into your business? To sell them on an idea?

You only have one chance — time to make sure you can make it happen. Like this.

Do you like Working Girl? What other lessons did you get from it?

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P.S. Which rule resonated clearly with your career? Which one made you think twice? Let's talk. I've worked with a number of clients — and we developed a successful strategy to grow your career exponentially. If you’re not a client . . . pick up the phone and call me — I offer only one complimentary session each week.

Great Business Lessons From The Movies – Jerry Maguire.

WOW - What a wonderful movie. It's a love story, a coming of age movie, and building strong friendships, all mixed with humor and pathos. And so many business rules. So here they are:

"Show me the money!" - Rod Tidwell (video)

You work to make money. So many people forget this. I know — there's the satisfaction, the notoriety, the use of your talents, etc. But at the end of the day, you need to take a signed check home. And most people forget this.

When it comes to asking for a price for their services, most people either bunt or balk. They don't realize the money discussion is key to any business transaction. And most people think their begging or putting out their client.

I remember a proposal I was putting together — I was asking $15K for the work. My wife reviewed it (she reviews everything!) and she said to double it to $30K. I thought she was crazy — but I did it. And the client quickly accepted.

“Hey, I don’t have all the answers. In life, to be honest, I failed as much as I have succeeded. But I love my wife. I love my life. And I wish you my kind of success.” - Dicky Fox, Jerry's mentor (video)

You're going to fail. And succeed. Don't worry about one or the other. Just do your best and keep swinging.

Learn from your failures and celebrate your successes.

"Help me… help you. Help me, help you." - Jerry Maguire (video)

If you position everything you do to help other people, you will make a lot of money and be gainfully employed for many years.

The minute you veer from this tenet and start doing busy work — you'll find your job prospects drying up quickly.

"It’s not show friends. Its show business." - Bob Sugar (video)

You are not out to make friends — you are there to deliver service.

This is true with your clients, the office, organizations, etc. Concentrate first on business and if friends come later, fine. Not the other way around.

Want to read Jerry Maguire's Mission Statement? Click here.

What are your favorite quotes from Jerry Maguire?

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. Which quote resonated clearly with your career? Which one made you think twice? Let's talk. I've worked with a number of clients — and we developed a successful strategy to grow your career exponentially. If you’re not a client . . . pick up the phone and call me — I offer only one complimentary session each week.

Image: Royalty-Free License from Dollar Photo Club 2014. Over 25 million images, only $1 each.

Great Business Lessons From The Movies - The Godfather.

There's a lot to learn from the movies!  The Godfather is a classic 'business' movie. It's ALL about business. Even when it personal, it's business! So here goes:

Listen, Listen, Listen

There are many instances when the characters are shown to either listen intently and succeed (Michael Corleone) or talk and fail (Sonny Corleone). Don Corleone always listened carefully and almost never spoke, unless he had to.

Too many people in business tend to talk TOO much. In meetings, at lunch, during sales calls, etc. Listening (and asking questions) will always deliver better results and define stronger business relationships with clients and peers. Read this.

Watch Your Back

OMG - the list is endless. Luca Brazi, Sonny, and even the Don all forget to keep their eyes peeled for their competition.

Keep your peripherals moving all the time — keep tabs on who your competition is, where they're going and what they're doing. If you don't, you might two men coming after you while you're buying oranges from a street vendor. Read this.

Take Action — Seize The Moment

When Michael improvises at the hospital, when he comes up with the idea to take out Sollozzo and Maclarsky, or when his coup degras to eliminate all the heads of the families who plotted against his father — he took immediate, calculated, and planned action. And it worked.

Don't wait forever — strike while the iron is hot. Plan without emotion, but once you've come to a decision, take action swiftly and surely. Read this.

Play To Win

The Don and Michael are always 3-4 steps ahead of the other families (and the law). Their life depends on it — they need to ensure every step, every decision and every command is planned and well-thought out.

Who's your competition? Where are they strong? Where are they weak? Develop SWOT analyses on each one to position your business in the best possible light.

It's Not Personal, It's Business

This is the 'big line' from The Godfather — and it's SO true. Stop allowing your self-esteem to take a hit when most business decisions are exactly what they are — business decisions.

If you get passed up for a promotion, it probably isn’t personal — it just made more sense from a business perspective for your superior to do so. If your longtime client leaves and you didn’t do anything wrong, thank him for his long business and move on — it’s not personal, and it doesn’t make any sense to waste time in misery over it. Also, if you have to make the decision, you need to emotionally detach yourself from it to make sure it makes the best business sense. Read This.

What are your favorite lines from The Godfather and how have they impacted your career?

POST YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BELOW

P.S. Which quote resonated clearly with your career? Which one made you think twice? Let's talk. I've worked with a number of clients — and we developed a successful strategy to grow your career exponentially. If you’re not a client . . . pick up the phone and call me — I offer only one complimentary session each week.

Image: Royalty-Free License from Dollar Photo Club 2014. Over 25 million images, only $1 each.

Great Business Lessons From The Movies – Zombieland.

In honor of one of my favorite holidays, Halloween, let's take a good look at a new, but classic horror/comedy . . . Zombieland! The main character, Columbus, has a solid set of rules he abides by to stay alive in a world full of zombies. So far — they work — so let's get them working for you!

Cardio & Limber Up (video)

Zombies are fast — you should be too.

Don't sit around all day at your desk or in meetings at work. Your head is attached to a body that requires movement. Get out - take a walk - go work out. You'll find you have more energy and more ideas.

Also, you have competition everywhere — you need to be as fast (if not faster) than they are.

The Double Tap (video)

Always shoot zombies twice.

On the job, check things twice. Make the follow up phone call, confirm appointments, double-check proposals going out to clients, review presentations, etc.

It reduces those fun surprises that bite us in the butt when we least expect it. We also come off looking more professional and prepared.

FYI - want to be more prepared? Get my articles sent directly to you. Click here.

Check The Back Seat (video)

You never know who (or what) might be sitting there.

Keep your eyes open and look around constantly on the job. Who's doing what, who's going where, what is growing, what is shutting down. There are opportunities all around you — just keep your peripherals moving.

Travel Light (video)

Carry the least amount of luggage.

Be prepared to move at a moment's notice — for an emergency business trip, a jaunt across town to calm down a client, or even another job.

Don't get tied down by material things at work — if you have to move quickly — get out of there ASAP. Too many briefcases, papers, electronic tools, etc. — get rid of them!

When In Doubt — Know Your Way Out (video)

If you are being chased by a zombie, know your exits.

What's your Plan 'B'? Always have a backup plan for people, projects, positions, and vocations. Odds are you're going to change at some point in the near future — be prepared.

Enjoy The Little Things (video)

Throughout the hell that is Zombieland, you have to appreciate the little things in life.

Your job might suck, your boss is a jerk, or your clients are disappearing daily. Be grateful you have your health, your family, and the ability to pick yourself up and try again. Most people forget this.

What are your favorite rule in Zombieland?

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P.S. Zombie clients or bosses getting you down? Let’s talk. I’ve worked with thousands of people who wanted to take assertive steps and change — call or email me to schedule a complimentary (free) coaching session on the phone. No obligation — just coaching!

Image: Royalty-Free License from Dollar Photo Club 2014. Over 25 million images, only $1 each.