Entrepreneurial Lessons From the Movie ‘JOY’

‘You will never succeed at this and you might as well just declare bankruptcy!’ As an entrepreneur, have you heard these words spoken to you or to other entrepreneurs? This type of advice is not uncommon.

Being an entrepreneur is hard work. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it! I went to see the movie ‘Joy’ over the holidays and what a treat it was to witness the evolution of an incredible young entrepreneur. There were so many great lessons, both for life and for business. They were an unexpected treat for me – and I wanted to share the key points that I took away – and to encourage YOU to go see this movie sooner, rather than later.

Joy faced an onslaught of barriers, negativity, challenges and mockery as she attempted to launch her idea for a new floor mop. What I loved about the movie was that it is a true story – it is about real life – it is relatable to those of us in business.

SOME KEY BARRIERS:

Limitations: Whether or not to place boundaries on what is possible vs. impossible is a choice WE make. Joy recognized there were limitations and boundaries with respect to her invention; she moved ahead anyway. She was constantly bombarded with the limiting beliefs of others around her – NOT her own beliefs. She was very clear on what she wanted to take to the market and why. What limitations are you imposing on yourself? What limitations are you hearing from others and are you letting that hold you back?

Rationalization: Being tired, feeling sick, or having a bad day could be justification for lightening up on, or postponing a day at work. It could be the rationale for quitting or pushing off your goals for some time in the future. It could also be your motivation for turning things around, to overachieve despite your less desirable situation. You make the decision to either fall victim to outside circumstances or utilize them for your betterment. Joy had more than her fair share of ‘bad days’ – it was one hit after another. Any other person would have easily packed it in! Where are you letting minor illness or bad days influence your commitment to the work you know you are here to do?

Perception: Things do not always play out the way in which they were intended. Your goals will never fall into your lap. Rather, you need to go out and make them happen. You can either view the world as a scary, mysterious place, deterring you from your dreams and holding you down, or you can perceive it as a means of endless opportunity. Either way, your perception will hold true. When Joy was given the opportunity to have her mop sold on QVC TV and the host failed in his sales presentation – resulting in NO sales – she didn’t stop there. She knew the truth. She believed in her product. SHE went to the TV station and insisted that SHE be the one selling the mop on TV – and she was a huge success. Also of significant impact was the trip she made to Texas to meet up with a JV partner …….this scene alone had the theatre crowd cheering her on! You’ve got to see it to get it. Are you focusing on your fears and failures or keeping an eye on possibilities and opportunities?

Attitude Toward Failure: No one goes through life undefeated. As unsettling as it may be, our failure is what generates excellence. It is how we learn, grow, and better position ourselves for success. As entrepreneur and ex Patriots owner Victor Kiam stated, “even if you fall on your face, you’re still moving forward.” You have the option to let failure discourage and intimidate you, or further ignite your flame. Joy faced failure after failure after failure in the launch of hew new product. She prevailed. Her hope prevailed. She found a way up, down, around the failures and the obstacles. At the end of the movie, the lessons she learned are so very evident and powerful. Are you getting the lessons in your business experience?

Sacrifice: No achievement comes without sacrifice. Successfully working towards a goal requires that you give up the things that aren’t contributing to its outcome. This can be difficult, especially when you are forfeiting things that you enjoy. The extent to which you are willing to make such a commitment directly correlates to your success. It is your decision. Is your desire to win stronger than your desire to indulge yourself with the many temptations that surround you each day? Joy was at the very desperate end when it came to finances, health, hope, support and so much more. She sacrificed everything. Yet she prevailed. Are YOU prepared to do whatever it takes? Or are you bailing at the first sign of hardship?
Ability to Hold the Vision: There will be times, amidst your journey, when you reflect on your current status and see very little short term benefit. You will question whether your effort is in vein and whether the price of pushing forward is worth the cost. This is when, as an entrepreneur, you are truly tested. More than any other time, it is when you must have the strength and self-confidence to know that you can bring your vision to life; that the countless hours dedicated to your craft will pay off. Champions aren’t made on race day. They’re made every day leading up to the race, one step at a time. You just need to weather the storm. Are you weathering the storm? Are you expecting overnight success? Are you in for the long haul?
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It’s fascinating to me to observe and listen to entrepreneurs who are ready to pack it in at the first sign of a challenge. If there’s one thing I learned, and saw validated by this movie, it was the fact that challenges and setbacks are what strengthen us. We must prevail.

Many of you are getting ready to kick start the new year in your business. Do you have what it takes? Do you truly believe? Are you ready to persist?

It doesn’t have to be HARD. What worked for me and it can work for you, too – is to get a coach! Get into a high level mastermind. Surround yourself with people who are succeeding in business and who will support you. It makes all the difference in the world – and you deserve no less!