What if I told you I'd learned an important business lesson from The Sopranos? (It doesn't involve "justice", don't worry.) And another from The Simpsons?
I contend that it goes to show not only that the Thomas Carlyle quote, "Every man is my superior in that I may learn from him" may still hold water but that it can extend to popular TV shows, old movies, your mother-in-law and so on.
Here are two offbeat tidbits I've picked up along the way.
Tony Soprano's therapist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi, counseled Tony as he was losing "cred" with his guys: "People only see what you show them." For a manager, an entrepreneur, or a person on an important sales call, this is good stuff. Display your best attributes, focus on making a good impression, and leave your insecurities in the car with your MacDonald's wrappers. Remember that not everyone needs to know all the baggage you have stored here and there.
In a fantasy Simpsons episode in which Homer believes he's sold a company to Bill Gates, the alleged Gates takes over by invading Homer's office with a bunch of thugs, wrecking the place and kicking Homer out. "Gates" explains by proclaiming, "Oh, I didn't get rich by writing a lot of checks!" So true. Forget the old "you have to spend money to make money." Actually, you have to MAKE money to make money. (Skip using the thugs, though, if you will.)
So think again the next time you speculate that a sporty new Jaguar will sort of magically-actually make you richer rather than just making you LOOK richer.
(Ohoh, but going back to the Sopranos, couldn't that be a good thing?) With that, I'll retreat and argue with myself a little.
Happy summer, and promises for a weightier entry the next time. And please share any wisdom you've picked up from unimpressive sources!
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