Advice

15 work lessons from movies

By K Royal @HeartofPrivacy | Published January 14, 2024 | No Comments

Movies can have an huge impact on our lives.

I’m a big movie buff, but I am not good at remembering quotes, actors, or anything that it seems many others are good at remembering. However, there are some key quotes in movies that have stood out to me over the years – and they have had an impact on my professional life.

warning – these are not privacy-related. I have a whole series on privacy in movies, but that is not this. I have 15 of my top professionally-inspiring movie quotes. I started with 10, then it increased and I could do the special edition 5, but let’s not play games. There are 15. Let’s call it 15.

Starting at number fifiteen:

15. In times of crisis, the wise build bridges, the foolish build barriers. ~ Black panther

You can even build those professional bridges when there is not a crisis. Don’t wait. But look at it the other direction, when in crisis, don’t burn bridges.

14. Just keep swimming. ~ Finding Nemo

This quote from Dory has motivated children and adults alike. Its value shines brightly.

13. Don’t think. Just do. ~ Top Gun: Maverick

Now many of you may be thinking Yoda is more inspiring here Just do or do not. There is no try. I’ve heard that quote so often that it is more of a social mantra for geeks unite than it is for a professional lesson. When I heard this line from Maverick, I was hooked. Rooster couldn’t get out of his own head and just be the expert he was.

12. Why so serious? ~ The Dark Knight

This one has always been a favorite and I use it at work – although I don’t think I am very good at replicating it (I cannot do voices and faces except in my own imagination). I use it for the Serious Privacy podcast, too. Now, Joker may have meant it in a different way, true. I use it to mean there is always a bright side. You may have to consciously look for it, but always being a downer at work stinks. No one wants to be around chronic downers.

11. Hard work may not always result in success, but it will never result in regret. ~ Moneyball

This one stands on its own.

10. The greatest teacher failure is. ~ The Empire Strikes Back

Now this Yoda quote… yes. And it perfectly follows the one above on success not always being the result. The result has to be something and even if it is failure, it’s successful in the lesson that should be learned. Always find the lesson – it might be the bright side you need to look for.

9. By all means, move at a glacial pace. You know how that thrills me. ~ The Devil wears Prada.

More of a personal motivator for me because patience never has and never will be my strength. This quote serves two purposes: 1) it reflects how I tend to think – a project or task is moving so slow and that frustrates me; 2) that moving faster could be desired by others and I, myself, should pick up the pace; and 3) it’s so snarky that it shows me that speed may not be the best approach.

8. The only thing standing between you and your goal is the story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it. ~ Wolf of Wallstreet

Secret confession time: I haven’t actually seen this movie. My family keeps telling me not to do so – that I would not like the language. lol Like I don’t hear that language pretty much everywhere. I also don’t watch movies alone, except maybe “chick flicks” – which this is not. But the quote is brilliant.

7. What we do in life, echoes in eternity. ~ Gladiator

My favorite quote from Gladiator is when he reveals who he is. To me, that is also a key professional motivator, but I have been told it takes too long to explain that it means to be comfortable and proud of who you are no matter your circumstances. Know yourself, your strengths, and your mission. So… since that takes too long to explain, I’ll use this one in my top list instead.

Seriously though. What we do in life echoes in eternity. Right? So make sure we do something worthy of being remembered for the right reasons.

6. Your real strength comes from being your best you. ~ Kung Fu Panda 3

As stated above. In this movie and its predecessors, Kung Fu Panda’s strengths lie in what he saw as detractors – his panda weight, his food motivation, his sense of humor, his love. He learned that his greatest strength was being the best panda he could be.

5. It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great. ~ A League of Their Own

Love a challenge! Your expertise was not gained easily – you worked at it.

4. What? Like it’s hard? ~ Legally Blonde

On the other hand…. pish posh – easy peasy.

This line was about getting into Harvard law. It is hard and it was hard for her. Personally, this came out my first year of law school and I yelled at the screen when she got the 179 LSAT. I saw my Civil Procedure professor in the professor in the movie and learned later it was. The movie was based on my law school Arizona State University – and the character was literally based on my professor.

This is more along the lines of never let them see you sweat. Know yourself and your strengths, work for the goal, and pshaw, of course you get it.

3. A gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you’re not enough without one, you’ll never be enough with one. ~ Cool Runnings

This is my favorite movie of all time (and now I gotta go change my security question). If you are not worthy / not enough with the prize… it’s not the prize that makes you worthy. Earn it by becoming enough.

2. Puny god. ~ Avengers

We all put on our britches pretty much the same way – bottom up. Just because someone has a higher title does not make them a better person especially if you catch them monologuing (a la Incredibles). Respect where it is deserved, position, rank, person, title, whatever – but it does not make them a better person or professional, just one that has achieved that position, rank, title.

1. If you have a complaint, you come here and whisper it in my ear. ~ Kingsmen

A profound lesson. If you are unhappy about something, discretion is your best route.

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