Entrepreneurs are a representative of the American dream. Many people fantasize about turning their Big Idea into a lucrative and rewarding career, but only few people have the determination and vision to make it happen. Successful entrepreneurs are the real heroes in our nation because they show the rest of the country that dreams can be turned into reality.
Because we are so fascinated with entrepreneurs, they are the subject of many of the most famous Hollywood blockbusters. Their stories are particularly inspiring during bad economic times, when entrepreneurship becomes more attractive and more complicated to achieve at the same time. However, these stories are not just fantasies for would-be entrepreneurs; they are sources of inspiration and even ideas for people who are actually following their passion. Here are a few movies, old and new, that every entrepreneur should watch.
Citizen Kane
About the Film: This 1941 film is considered a cinema classic due to excellent character development and interesting film techniques. However, it is also based on the true life story of an entrepreneur whose name (and fortune) survives to this day: William Randolph Hearst. The main character, Charles Foster Kane, build a media empire with a mixture of passion and underhanded bids for power.
Real Life Entrepreneur Lesson: You can begin with nothing and still make it to the top. We love Kane’s ingeniousness, although we certainly do not recommend some of his techniques. Citizen Kane is often seen as a cautionary tale: don’t let the quest for power dominate your business decisions.
It’s a Wonderful Life
About the Film: You probably watch this 1946 movie every Christmas season for the heartwarming tale, but it is not just a holiday story. It is an entrepreneur story as well. George Bailey runs a family loan company that is placed in jeopardy when his uncle accidentally loses all of its money—literally loses it, because this is back in a time when a loan company would actually use paper money. Bailey considers suicide and is visited by an angel who shows him how different the world would be without him. He happily returns to his family on Christmas Eve and is bailed out by his neighbors, preventing the loss of his business.
Real Life Entrepreneur Lesson: The obvious lesson is not to be careless with finances, although most of you will not be carrying your wealth around town in paper dollars. However, another, more salient lesson is that you should never give up. Your business is making a difference, even if no guardian angel is available to spell it out.
Baby Boom
About the Film: Late eighties, power-suit-wearing business executive J.C. Wiatt is excited when she finds out that she has received an inheritance. Imagine her surprise when the inheritance is not property, but an infant. Humorous foibles ensue when she attempts to balance new motherhood and her career. In the end, she gives up and moves to the country. On a farm dotted with apple trees, she begins making baby food and builds an applesauce empire.
Real Life Entrepreneur Lesson: Entrepreneurship is often the best choice for ambitious parents because the corporate world simply is not accommodating of a parent’s needs for flexibility. You must look around you for inspiration and come up with a plan that allows you to have the work-life balance that you desire.
Cocktail
About the Film: Brian Flanagan, played by a young and less crazy Tom Cruise, is an aspiring entrepreneur who is studying for a business degree while serving drinks at night. He gets a job with a boss who teaches him how to be an amazing bartender and ends up moving to Jamaica to earn more money at a popular resort using the techniques he has learned. This eventually leads to Flanagan opening up his own bar, which is wildly successful.
Real Life Entrepreneur Lesson: While I would never downplay the importance of a business education, getting the right mentor can make the difference between success and failure. Flanagan learned the ins and outs of the bar business from his boss. The boss made some bad business decisions, but ultimately he taught Flanagan everything that he needed to achieve his goals—without a single book or term paper.
Chocolat
About the Film: This 2000 film tells the true story of Vianne Rocher, who would go on to become a famous chocolatier. Rocher moves to a new town as a single parent with a small daughter and opens a chocolate shop. She eventually wins over the provincial locals and becomes a success.
Real Life Entrepreneur Lesson: Rocher believes in her business, but she really focuses on quality and building a high quality brand. This eventually wins over the town, which builds the foundation for the international chocolate company which still exists today. She faces challenges squarely, but never loses her vision, which is definitely a lesson for modern entrepreneurs.
The Social Network
About the Film: Released just last year, this is the true life story of young billionaire Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook. The idea for the website was developed in 2003 when Zuckerberg was a student at an Ivy League university. He decided to create an online social network for college students, which would eventually become open to the public and achieve the brand name status that it enjoys today. Myspace who? This story is inspirational because it shows us how a simple idea can turn into a fortune.
Real Life Entrepreneur Lesson: Don’t let anyone hold you back from your dream. Even if you are merely a young student, even if you face significant struggle (Zuckerberg was sued by former friends), even if your dream seems too big to come true, there is always a way to achieve success.
These movies provide so many more lessons than I can name here. I suggest viewing each of them when you have time and seeing what morals you can take away and apply to your own entrepreneurial dreams.
