Life Lessons in Movies – Top 3 Movies to Watch

Access to English movies was rare in the pre-internet era of the 1970s and 1980s in India. Like most traditional Indian families, mine too did not believe that kids could learn anything by watching movies, but contrary to popular belief there are many Life Lessons in Movies that one can learn. In fact, movies were considered a waste of precious time that should be best spent on academics. I was rarely allowed to watch movies and oh, I was also never allowed to read magazines. For some reason, my mom was certain these would be corrupting influences on my young impressionable mind!

I watched very few movies in the first two decades of my life. As a result, I was obsessed with each of the early movies I got to watch.

The memories of my languid childhood are more indelibly marked than the constant stimulation of today. I want to share some Life Lessons in Movies from my memory lane from three Life Lessons in Movies from the movies I saw before turning twenty.

MacKenna’s Gold

Not many would have heard about this movie, the first Hollywood movie I ever watched. The movie remained one of the highest international-grossing Hollywood movies until blockbusters like Jurassic park and Titanic came along, many years later.

This movie made me think for the first time, very early in life about the essence of ‘risk vs reward’.

1. Importance of Assessing the Risk-Reward – Potential of an Opportunity

In the movie, an old legend tells of a fortune of gold hidden in the “Cañon del Oro” guarded by the Apache spirits. The protagonist, Marshal MacKenna comes in possession of a map that shows the way to the fortune. He doesn’t know if it is true or the rantings of a madman. He possesses an eidetic memory so he memorizes the directions, burns the map and then tries to lead himself to the treasure — much like an entrepreneur who does the same. Their idea offers a tenuous path to the gold fortune. It is important to assess whether the risk is worth taking, the only way you can move is forward.

2. Protecting your IP amidst Stronger Competition

While MacKenna decides to venture towards the treasure, Mexican outlaw John Colorado and his gang are in search of the treasure. When he learns of MacKenna, he forces him to join them in hunting for the treasure. Mackenna knows this is a dangerous company, but he too needs access to their resources. As an entrepreneur, when you convince yourself about an idea (map), you will also find others moving towards it (competitors). In the entrepreneurial journey, you might meet people who are not on your side. Perhaps entrepreneurs feel this way about venture capitalists. You might have to form uneasy alliances to keep moving to accelerate the chances of your success.

3. Is it Worth taking the Ultimate Risk?

Every party including MacKenna, Colorado and the others that join the quest for the treasure along the way, know that the longer they prolong their quest, the more danger to their lives. However, once they reach the treasure, most are overcome by greed and linger too long or have sacks that slow them down, perishing in an earthquake in the canyon. Mackenna survives riding out the horse in the nick of time, with sufficient gold in the saddle bags, enough but not so heavy to compromise his escape. A good ending!

People often take the ultimate risk and rarely win. Greed takes over and core values are forgotten. Entrepreneurship itself means that a lot is at stake (both professionally and personally) so you have to think of the extent to which you are willing to sacrifice in the quest. Treasure here is only a metaphor, money, fame, power, and impact are all forms of treasure. As an entrepreneur, you should have a fair gauge on when to dilute and at what valuation, who should you ally with, when to sell the business, when to empower others, and when to share leadership — like a movie script wherein the writer can control the ending, are you in control of the startup script.

Cleopatra

Cleopatra is another movie I saw in the 1980s, released or rerun to popular demand in India years after its original release. The second English movie of my life; almost a decade after the first! Cleopatra did, unintentionally, give me a lesson or two in gracefully accepting defeat and living life on my terms. Cleopatra’s conduct was a powerful lesson in marketing and personal branding.

1. Making Great Connections – The Impact of Well Presentation

To win Caesar’s support, Cleopatra hides in a rug, which Apollodorus, her servant, presents to Caesar. He is immediately infatuated and declares Cleopatra as Egypt’s ruler.

When you need to meet someone, there is always a creative way to leave a lasting impression!

2. Vision Beyond the Horizon

By aligning with Caesar, Cleopatra gained control over the Egyptian kingdom.

There are many entrepreneurs whose vision and aspiration for world dominance are comparable to that of Cleopatra. And they might do well like her to be thoughtful about the best allies to help accelerate the probability of their success. (Cleopatra with Julius Caesar and then with Mark Antony).

The most important takeaway here is to ensure that you create a great first impression and that your outreach should match your aspirations.

3. Accepting Failure with Grace

The unexpected happens to disrupt the most perfect plans! After Caesar’s assassination, the entire scenario changes for Cleopatra. Cleopatra allies with Antony and marries him but he is overthrown by Octavian. She knows Octavian’s words cannot be trusted. She is said to have died of self-inflicted poison, perhaps the bite of an asp, a venomous snake.

Cleopatra leaves a valuable lesson on being graceful in defeat. She also gives a powerful message on how to be in control despite losing everything and how to decide your fate yourself. While death is a metaphor, companies and ideas don’t always achieve the vision for market dominance. While great endings are perfectly plausible, if fate so decides, we may fail to create defining companies despite a lot of effort. If it is to be, accept failure gracefully and control the situation at all times.

My Fair Lady

This wonderful musical is all about self-transformation.

1. The Power of Transformation – Having Adept Mentors

Professor Higgins, a scholar of phonetics, believes that the accent and tone of one’s voice determine a person’s prospects in society. The plot revolves around how Professor Higgins transforms Eliza from a flower seller to someone who could qualify as a duchess.

The story of Eliza teaches us that you needn’t be born with a pedigree. Entrepreneurs are a constant proof of this, transforming themselves from an ‘unknown’ to a ‘ brand name CEO’. Is there a Professor Higgins who can mentor and guide them? Perhaps, it is not one individual who looms large but mentors can definitely aid along the path to success.

2. Hard work and perseverance create winners

Eliza goes through many forms of speech training, such as speaking with marbles in her mouth. She makes little progress but she perseveres and trains hard. Just when she is about to give up, she finally gets it right and starts speaking with an impeccable upper-class accent.

Do not give up, use every resource at your disposal.

3. Treat occasional failures as minor setbacks and keep trying

As a test, Higgins takes Eliza to Ascot Racecourse, where she makes a good impression initially, only to shock everyone with a sudden lapse into a vulgar Cockney accent. Despite this setback, Eliza poses as a mysterious lady at an embassy ball and even dances with a foreign prince.

Every entrepreneur will face tough days. There will be times when you seem to do it all wrong, and the world laughs at you or rejects your idea. It is important to keep working towards your goal and have the courage of conviction.

While my world has evolved since the time I watched these movies, I must admit that it has been fun to go down memory lane and apply Life Lessons in Movies to my world today. Do you take away Life Lessons in Movies or have movies that left an early impression on you? Love to hear from others on this topic.