The 3 best career movies of all time

By Dawud Gurevitch, life coach and author of May the Source Be with You:  A Filmic Guide to Change Your Life, out November 30th, available on Amazon.

Movies entertain us, but they can also teach important career lessons. The films I talk about below are about some very successful people from different areas of business: politics, sport and music. Therefore, rather than attempt to provide an A-Z of business do’s and don’ts, I instead offer a perspective on some of the most important qualities and behaviours that these successful people have demonstrated in order to inspire, motive and empower you. 

Darkest Hour (2017): “Never, never, never give up.” (Sir Winston Churchill)

Multiple award-winning, Darkest Hour dramatises the story of how, as Adolf Hitler’s forces near the UK, it is up to Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman) to decide between negotiating peace or fighting against impossible odds. Whatever your perception of Churchill, I think he said many wise things that can potentially motivate you to keep striving despite any setbacks or limitations such as the quote above as well as the words, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Furthermore, as the Olympian and Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey said,

“Tough times never last but tough people do. You can achieve your ambitions if you just put your mind to it and focus. You need determination, drive, motivation and the ability to dig deep to overcome challenges. You need a strong work ethic. And you need to be prepared to do more than your rivals. Look to perform beyond your wildest dreams and anything is possible.”

Ronaldo (2015): “Talent without working hard is nothing” (Cristiano Ronaldo)

With unprecedented access into the inner circle of Cristiano Ronaldo and football, this astonishing, intimate and definitive biopic is the first official and fully-authorised film about one of the 21st century’s most celebrated figures in sport. Whether you like Ronaldo or football or not, I invite you to reflect upon his saying above as well as when he said, “I see myself as the best footballer in the world. If you don’t believe you are the best, then you will never achieve all that you are capable of.” 

So, are you currently utilising your own talents, gifts and abilities? Are you working as hard as Churchill, Dame Storey and Ronaldo who would tell you that you need to if you really want to make it? And are you prepared to make reasonable sacrifices in your personal life to get where you want to? If so, you are on your way. However, if not, I would suggest getting an inspiring mentor to support you in your continuing professional development.

Oasis: Supersonic (2016): “Don’t look back in anger” (1995 song by Oasis)

A revealing look at the meteoric rise to superstardom of the ’90s rock band Oasis, weaving never-before-seen concert footage with candid interviews and a firsthand account of backstage events. Oasis: Supersonic is interesting to watch and reflect upon for several reasons; for example, their platinum-selling song “Don’t look back in anger” can be interpreted as a song about overcoming one’s negative emotions such as anger, resentment and bitterness, and yet Liam and Noel Gallagher, the now former band’s sibling duo and staple members, have been estranged ever since Oasis was disbanded in 2009.

The lesson here is the importance of taking a long, hard, honest look at yourself to see if there is anything, or indeed anyone, that is eating away at you. Why? Because ignoring something as significant as a bad relationship with your business partner, romantic partner or sibling or indeed a bad ‘relationship’ with food, drink or drugs is self-destructive and not conducive to lasting happiness, fulfillment, inner peace and success. Take time to address these issues or seek professional help where necessary. 

Remember, although the world is full of struggle, it’s also full of examples of people overcoming it as the forementioned films demonstrate.

Finally, Liam Gallagher last month publicly offered an olive branch to his brother Noel. Let’s hope this year is the year they make peace and get back to business!

Article by Dawud Gurevitch, life coach and author of May the Source Be with You:  A Filmic Guide to Change Your Life, out November 30th, available on Amazon.