5. Premium Rush
Although not really a work-centric fim, this is a story about a hero, a villain, and a bike. It is also about choosing to do what you love even if that means earning less. Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a law graduate who has put off taking the bar exam because he could not bear to enter the humdrum life of the legal profession. He finds meaning and purpose working as a thrill-seeking New York City bicycle messenger.
My favorite line: (from Wilee) “I like to ride. Fixed gear. No brakes. Can’t stop. Don’t want to, either.”
4. The Pursuit of Happyness
This is the real life rags to riches story of Chris Gardner (Will Smith). He was a homeless salesman turned into a successful broker. After his wife left him when he failed at his business selling bone-density scanners, he worked his way hard until he became a broker at Dean Witter.
The unusual spelling of “Happyness” on the title comes from a mural that Gardner sees on the wall outside the daycare facility his son attends. He complains to the owner of the daycare that “happiness” is incorrectly spelled as “happyness” and needs to be changed.
My favorite line: (from Chris) “Don’t ever let somebody tell you, you can’t do something. Not even me. Alright? You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you, you can’t do it. You want something? Go get it. Period. “
3. The Social Network
This is the film adaptation behind today’s social media giant, Facebook. This is how Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) created it, talking about the struggles as a startup and making a few enemies on the way. He got sued by the Winklevoss twins from stealing the idea from them and later on, Eduardo Saverin (Zuckerberg’s college bestfriend) possibly due to his stake getting diluted to virtually nothing.
My favorite line: (from Mark) “I think if your clients want to sit on my shoulders and call themselves tall, they have the right to give it a try but there’s no requirement that I enjoy sitting here listening to people lie. You have part of my attention. You have the minimum amount. The rest of my attention is back at the offices of Facebook where my colleagues and I are doing things that no one in this room including and especially your clients are intellectually or creatively capable of doing. Did I adequately answer your condescending question? “
2. Wolf of Wall Street
Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) went from being a nobody to a somebody after learning the ropes of Wall Street. It shows pouring the amount of perseverance to achieve success. It also shows how business cultures are created in fast-growth companies, both the negative and positive aspects.
My favorite line: (from Jordan) “Let me tell you something. There’s no nobility in poverty. I’ve been a poor man, and I’ve been a rich man. And I choose rich every f**king time.”
1. The Intern
This is the story of 70-year-old Ben Whittaker (Robert de Niro), a retired executive from a phone book company who goes out of retirement to work as an intern for fast-growing e-commerce fashion startup. He directly worked with the founder and CEO Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). There is a lot to learn here and it shows that experience never gets old. There is a lot to learn from the wise.
My favorite line: (from Ben) “You’re never wrong to do the right thing.”
Again, this is just my list. Feel free to share your favorite films about motivation, work, and just getting up everyday to go to work.
Anything I missed? Feel free to share with us your favorites!
