Rama’s SCREEN

I have a degree in business, does that make me an expert? I very much doubt that… because life itself is a never ending learning experience.
But it does mean that I know to a certain degree that business is not just about making money like most people would quickly assume.

Sadly, some business people do think that being in the business world is indeed about the money and anything otherwise but would be labeled as a sign of weakness. They truly believe that you have to be a jerk to become successful.

Business is not just about accounting, marketing or finance, it’s also about organizational behavior, how employers treat their workers, about a clear mission statement and a detailed strategy to reach the objectives, either quarterly or yearly.
One of the popular TV series today is The Office, although I thought the original British version was way more hilarious.
So I’m going to take a look back on some of the movies that have portrayed business what we can learn from some of these depictions.

CONTINUE READING…

* WAITING (2005)
My friend has worked in restaurant for a number of years in her life and unfortunately, she said that some of the things shown in this particular movie actually did happen in real life. If there’s a list of what-not-to-do in a place of business, this movie sure got all of them and more. Terrible customer service, bad management, unrecommended employee ‘relations’, are just some of the problems. It tackles the issue of advancement opportunity and the obstacles to achieve it.
My other friend is thinking of starting a restaurant and I told him that if his restaurant turns out to be like the one in the movie Waiting, then he can count me out.

* OFFICE SPACE (1999)
A funny take on the classic case of workers who hate their jobs and their supervisors and all of them are out for some payback. You’re only as good as the people you work with, and that includes the people that you have to answer to. I’ve seen people who are not happy with their work place but they’re still there day after day.

When you stay in one place for too long, you become that place. But what good can come out of feeling miserable every morning about what you have to do for the rest of the day?!
And if you’re a manager or in charge of a number of employees who will look up to you for anything. Don’t be the boss from hell. Because once you start to lose their respect.. you never know who might set his mind on burning down the building.

* NETWORK (1976)
There’s no business… like show business. I think those were my first words when I was a baby.
I kid… But the fact remains that whether we realize it or not, entertainment is all around us. It affects everything we say and do and come in contact with. We as humans get bored easily and entertainment is the perfect escape, a sweet release, a getaway. At the same time we are creatures of habit who will always find ourselves returning to the very same thing that entertains us to the bone.

This movie is a perfect example of how one network would do whatever it takes to get more ratings in the name of entertainment, to the point where it would lose its own soul and take advantage of another.

* BOILER ROOM (2000)
The main character in this movie wants to impress his dad who’s been harsh on him since he was a child so he takes on a job at a brokerage company. Lured with phenomenal pay and fast track to success he soon masters the art of sales. But he notices unethical business practices and other shady tactics. He finds that the job may not be as legitimate as it sounds.
Why do you go into business? For what purpose? If you’re doing it for all the wrong reasons then you’ll find yourself in all the wrong situations.

One of my friends once tried to convince me to join his business by showing me his sports cars and everything else he was able to do but I researched his business and it didn’t sound solid. It’s good to take chances but it’s not wise to take miscalculated risks. Be careful… Know what you are doing this for.

* WALL STREET (1987)
“Greed is Good” Gekko said, trading on illegal inside information is even better in his opinion.
Ethics, ethics, ethics, I say that three times just in case those who want to jump into the business world didn’t catch that the first time around.

The temptation of going to the top, the frustration of not being able to go there after so many years of hard work, the desire to do whatever it takes and not think of the consequences. Those attitudes are what give a bad name to the rest of us who are trying to do healthy, positive business.
Playing by the rules may not make you the most popular kid in the room but it will definitely keep you from getting thrown into jail for five months. You know who I’m talking about.