Successful Startup 101 Magazine - Volume 2, Issue 1 Read online

January’s Must See Movie For Entrepreneurs: The Wolf Of Wall Street

  The new year has finally arrived and with all of the exercise resolutions, business goals and exciting new adventures in place for 2015, it’s still just as important to take some time to yourself, sit down, and enjoy a good movie.

  It’s true; while The Wolf of Wall Street film was most notoriously known for its use of inappropriate language, this movie can have a significant impact on any entrepreneur who decides to watch it.

  The Plot

  The movie starts out displaying the typical life of the average employee. Jordan Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, finally reaches his goal and receive his broker's license. To his dismay, he begins working on Wall Street on the well known 'Black Monday' in 1987 - in other words, on the day that stock markets all over the world crash and lost an abundance of value in a short amount of time.

  This simply won't work for DiCaprio. Like everyone else, he has big dreams and wants to provide a satisfying life for him and his wife. As he looks through newspapers in search of a job, he finds an investor center that is hiring. To his surprise, upon his arrival, he finds himself in a less-than-suitable place of employment that hardly even looks like a legitimate business.

  Fortunately for DiCaprio, his mentor from his previous job has provided him with the cutthroat skills necessary to make serious money, branch out to start his own business with his best friend, played by Jonah Hill, and launch one of the biggest firms ever.

  Though his firm is extremely large and successful, DiCaprio knows his way around a good lie and is referred to in the movie by Forbes Magazine as a "Sleazy Robin Hood." He does whatever he needs to do to make a sale, including lying and deceiving to anyone - even big names such as Steve Madden, the infamous shoe designer.

  While his love for money, drugs and women is eventually what leads him to lose everything, including his freedom, he succeeded in achieving his dreams and is even given a reduced sentence for his compliance with the FBI.

  Why You Should See It

  You’re probably thinking that Jordan Belfort is one of the worst role models a person can have and, in a way, you’re right.

  It's true - Belfort is a sleazeball and does a lot of inappropriate and illegal things to get what he wants. While your goals and tactics may severely differ from Belfort's, your motivation and extreme passion should not.

  To be successful, you need passion. You need to have a goal and strive for it. If your only goal is money and power, the chances that your business will fail are high. If your goals are to have a positive impact on the world and do what is necessary to benefit the population, with an intense passion and doing what is necessary, you will succeed.

  The Wolf of Wall Street shows how an egocentric entrepreneur takes his unemployment and turns it into a billion dollar company and while his tactics are frowned upon, his desire to succeed is something to take note of.

  If you’re looking for the positives in the movie, at least take away this:

  * To be the best and have a successful business, you must know the best way to do things.

  * Assess the way you pitch your sales. The scene where Belfort is teaching his friends about sales and requests for one of them to "sell him this pen," is an extraordinary scene on how to change your sales pitches to benefit you.

  * Continue to motivate your team. In the movie, Belfort holds two meetings a day and keep his employees motivated by message of inspiration, incentives and more.