[cajobportal Insights] Movies -Takeaways for Life

The movies are 3 Idiots, The Pursuit of Happiness, 12 Angry Men, Office Space, Social Network and Up in the Air’

In the movie ‘3 Idiots’, when the irrepressible Rancho mocks at his professor with his definition of a book: \”Instruments that record, analyse, summarise… and explain information which are illustrative, non-illustrative, hardbound, paperback…,\” it emphasised the importance of ‘Jargon-free’ communication.

In the movie \”The Pursuit of Happiness”, the protagonist  Chris loses his house, goes to a motel, and eventually he ends up living in a homeless shelter. He and his son even spend a night in a subway station restroom. Life humiliates him. He tastes bitterness. He sells all his medical devices, but the IRS takes away all his money for unpaid taxes. He takes the final exam at the brokerage firm, he does his best, and he just needs to wait. No money, no other place to go, he just waits.

Then happiness flows in, he receives the great news. He gets the job, and all his problems end. The scene in the office where he is talking to the managers really moves you. One of the managers asks him “Chris, was it easy?” and he replies, “No sir, it wasn’t”. That part of his life is what he calls happiness.

Life will sometimes be tough. But after every dark night, the sun comes out resplendent.

Often a part of B-school curriculum, the HBS case study titled ‘12 Angry Men’ is based on the legendary Hollywood movie released in the year 1957.  In the courtroom, a jury of 12 men must decide on the guilt or innocence of the defendant in the murder trial.

Compressed into an intense and claustrophobic 96 minutes, the script and performances do a wonderful job of highlighting such crucial lessons on social interactions. The movie mimics and exaggerates the incredible power of the group in swaying our actions. Often many of us are influenced by those around. This explains why, when questioned on their choices, many struggle to define why they feel he is guilty – “I just thought he was guilty”. It is an inspiration when Juror #8 who had chosen to stand alone against the 11, very subtly wins the support of the rest and in such a soft and non-confronting manner, eventually meanders his way through a choice that dictates whether a teenage boy lives or dies.

 

Similarly, the movie ‘Office Space’ is a satirical take on typical work life in a software company and encompasses almost all HR issues. In fact the movie has been a personal favourite for many HRs around the world. There are multiple lessons that this movie imparts. But the major lesson is that ‘Life’s too short to work at a job you hate’

Peter Gibbons hates his job. Every day is a prison sentence. In fact, he confesses to a shrink that every day is the worst day of his life: He goes to an occupational hypnotherapist and the conversation that ensues is:

Peter Gibbons: So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that’s the worst day of my life.
Dr. Swanson: What about today? Is today the worst day of your life?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah.
Dr. Swanson: Wow, that’s messed up.

From working an office job, with a suit, tie, and business card, Peter eventually starts cleaning up on a construction crew. He’s happier with his hard hat and shovel, working in the sunshine, than he ever was in his grey cubicle.

While in the short-term, people can work for money. But in the long run, it’s simply not possible. Sanity isn’t worth a pay check.

Coming to ‘Social Network’, the story of Facebook and its creator Mark Zuckerberg. The film brilliantly weaves the life and times of Mark as a college student hacking his way into the Harvard’s student data file to get pictures for his website Facemash (then)-ultimately giving him an idea to develop the social media giant-Facebook.

For the HR, the lessons can be stereotyped ways of assessing a candidate simply on the basis of his CV is most likely to take you back to the wrong-hire loop.

Finally, the movie ‘Up in the Air’, is a lesson in what happens when you become your job. If you’re like Ryan Bingham, you end up a business vagabond, absorbed in the artificial status of frequent flier miles and hotel points, always skimming the surface of things. Through Ryan’s story, ‘Up in the Air’ shares wisdom for businesses and career-minded people