4 Movies That Teach You About Business

by Kevin Faber

Movies are meant to entertain, thrill and provide an escape. They can also be educational. From crime procedurals to movies about the banking industry, you may find yourself engrossed in both the plot and the ins and outs of these sectors. Read about four movies that both entertain and give insight into successful business practices.  

1. Moneyball

What makes a winning baseball team? This is exactly what Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics baseball team, sets out to answer in Moneyball. Beane (played by Brad Pitt) believes that a data-driven approach to recruiting players is the key to winning games. In the beginning, many doubt that his data-driven approach is going to work. However, with a winning streak and then securing the American League West title, he is proven right.

A data-driven approach is important not just for baseball teams but also for businesses looking to improve sales, productivity and customer relations. To assist your business with managing company data, look to Sales Force Automation.

2. Office Space

Most anyone who has worked in an office relates to Peter Gibbons's (Ron Livingston) job-related problems in Office Space. Gibbons looks to be going through the motions without any sign of actually enjoying his job. From passively agreeing to come in on a Saturday to work to a never-ending workload, it is understandable that he is not very enthusiastic about his job. 

After a bizarre hypnosis experience, Gibbons wakes up with a newfound sense of confidence and also a general lack of caring about his job. Not that a lack of caring is a good thing, but a sense of confidence in your abilities and ideas is important for entrepreneurs. Confidence puts others at ease and impresses upon them that you know what you are doing.

Another business lesson from Office Space is the importance of pursuing projects that interest and excite you. Gibbons is not passionate about his job and it shows. Decide which business idea or angle excites you. You work harder at something that you are passionate about. 

3. The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada is set in the fashion world with Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) working as a personal assistant for the editor-in-chief, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), of a high-end fashion magazine. Sachs commits to going above and beyond to meet the continuous demands from her difficult boss, including sacrificing both her personal life and relationships with other co-workers.

Letting a job ruin relationships and take over your life is not a healthy practice. However, this movie does illustrate a good point about working in business — most people get their start in entry-level jobs. Essentially, you have to soldier through less than desirable work assignments before pursuing your dream job or business passion.

4. Jerry Maguire

The energetic leading character, Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise), quickly sweeps you into the world of sports agents. Maguire works for a large sports management company managing professional football players. Maguire isn't happy with the company's approach to amassing a large client base where the individual needs of athletes get overlooked. He favors representing fewer clients in order to provide more hands-on support to each one. 

The management company doesn't take too kindly to Maguire's feedback and is fired. He then ventures out on his own and starts a sports management company. This is a big risk with no guarantee of success. He is banking success on his deep commitment to serving his clients better, which in the end, proves the right way to go. 

When it comes to business dealings, this movie teaches you that following your vision and doing what you believe to be right is better than sticking with the status quo. Sometimes, your vision involves taking big risks. But without big risks, there can never be big results.

When watching a movie, it is an added bonus that you come away with knowledge of a particular industry or business model. This can be especially helpful for those in the business world looking for pointers. From movies about office dynamics to the cutthroat fashion world, you are sure to take away a few valuable business tips.