Scary Movies aren’t for everyone, but I have always loved them. It makes no sense why I love them. As a child and now as an adult I am incredibly easy to scare. To this day I will jump out of my skin if someone comes up and surprises me. And yet as a kid, I insisted my 11th birthday party be Scream-themed.
Scary movies are chock-full of powerhouse women overcoming the impossible, and in-turn many spooky movies offer great lessons we can all apply in business and in life. But just in case you aren’t the kind of person who had a Scream-themed 11th birthday party, here are some business lessons without the jump scares:
Always be a Team Player. (IT, 2017) When push comes to shove and you’re battling a project of epic proportions (or, you know, an evil clown in the sewers), there’s power in numbers. If everyone plays their part and communicates, there's no problem you can't handle.
Don’t run and hide from your problems. (Ready or Not, 2018) Your problems will always catch up to you, whether it be a regulation and compliance issue, or a new husband who’s family is in a diabolical cult (let's hope that's not it though). When times get rough, you can only run out the clock for so long. You have a much better chance of succeeding if you face things head on with wits and strategy. After all, sometimes the only way out of something is straight through it.
Some risks are not worth the money. (The Amityville Horror, 1979) If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. It can be tempting to take what appears to be a phenomenal deal, but sometimes those slashed prices were slashed for a very good reason.
There’s no shame in calling in the experts. (Poltergeist, 1982) (Jaws, 1975) (The Exorcist, 1973) No one expects you to know everything about everything. Even the most seasoned of CEOs probably don’t know how to get rid of a poltergeist, take down a great white shark, or perform an exorcism. And that’s fine. If wouldn't perform an exorcism on your own, don't do taxes on your own. Experts are available to us for a reason.
Learn from your predecessors. (Scream, 1997) Everyone wants to be an original, but it would be silly not to learn from those who came before you. If someone forged a path first, study it. You don’t have to be a copycat, but you could learn great things simply by paying attention to those who did it first.
Always check references…thoroughly. (The Omen, 1976) First impressions are a big deal, and you learn just as much from someone’s energy as you do from what they say in an interview. But what happens when that’s not enough? What happens when something gets missed? Something BIG. When you’re an entrepreneur, it probably won’t be a crazy nanny who thinks your kid is the antichrist, but it could very well be something that has a massive and lasting impact on your business. Check those references. Every last one.
Trust your gut. (Rosemary’s Baby, 1968) Sometimes you just know when something isn’t right. Do your research and seek advice from others, but that feeling in your gut is there for a reason. Trust it.
Wishing all of our favorite entrepreneurs a very Happy Halloween!
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