When we think of sales-oriented movies we quickly name Glen Gary, Glen Ross, Boiler Room, and Wall Street. These toxic masculinity-driven movies illustrated the now not so popular hard knocks, snub nosed, manipulative sales practices taking place on sales floors and executive offices across the business world. These movies have been used as learning tools for salespeople for the last 2 decades. However, if you have been in sales long enough and you have done the professional and personal work to develop your ability to be a better salesperson, you will know that many of the qualities and skills one needs to develop go far beyond the snub nose close the deal as fast as possible strategies romanticized about in the aforementioned movies. Taking a closer look at some nonsales movies that you should be watching will provide valuable lessons to grow not just as a sales executive but more importantly a better human being. Warning: Spoiler alerts!!!! Rocky: Rocky is a classic sports film that tells the story of an underdog boxer who achieves incredible success through hard work, determination, and resilience. Besides the actual film being a great watch for salespeople, the background story of the making of the movie could get an article onto itself. While it may not seem immediately obvious how this movie relates to sales, there are several valuable lessons that salespeople can learn from Rocky. Besides the actual film being a great watch for salespeople, the background story of the making of the movie could get an article Perseverance: Rocky Balboa's unwavering perseverance is one of the key themes of the movie. Sales can be a challenging and competitive field, and rejection is a common occurrence. Rocky's ability to keep pushing forward despite obstacles serves as a powerful reminder for salespeople to never give up and to keep working towards their goals. It has been studied and widely accepted that success not just in sales but many endeavors we take on are achieved by those of us with grit and perseverance. Preparation and Training: In the movie, our protagonist is given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take on the world champ Clubber Lang, played by Carl Weathers. Rocky dedicates himself to intense training and preparation before his fights. This emphasizes the importance of honing one's skills, product knowledge, and understanding of the markets. Salespeople can learn from Rocky's commitment to continuous improvement and understand the value of investing time and effort into their professional development. Setting and Pursuing Goals: Rocky sets a lofty goal for himself by aspiring to fight the heavyweight champion of the world. The importance of setting ambitious goals in sales and constantly pushing oneself to achieve them can not be undervalued. Sales professionals can learn to dream big, set clear objectives, and work hard to turn their aspirations into reality. Building Relationships: Throughout the Rocky series, the protagonist forms meaningful relationships with his trainer, friends, and romantic interest. Sales success often relies on building strong relationships with clients, understanding their needs, and providing value. People will more likely buy from people they know and like. It’s important that we go into every interaction putting the development of our relationship with prospects first, and do it genuinely. While Rocky is a fictional character in a boxing movie, the underlying themes and lessons can be applied to various aspects of life, including the sales profession. By watching Rocky, salespeople can gain motivation, resilience, and inspiration to overcome challenges, work hard, and achieve success in their sales careers. The Miracle Worker: The Miracle Worker is a powerful and inspiring film that portrays the story of Helen Keller, a deaf-blind child, and her teacher, Anne Sullivan played by Ann Bancroft. As with Rocky, it may not appear immediately relevant to the sales professionals the valuable lessons that they can learn from this movie. Effective Communication: The movie showcases the incredible efforts of Anne Sullivan to teach Helen Keller how to communicate despite her disabilities. Communication is a fundamental skill in sales, and watching how Anne uses patience, creativity, and persistence to break through Helen's barriers can provide valuable insights for salespeople. It emphasizes the importance of adapting communication techniques to connect with clients effectively and overcome obstacles. Empathy and Understanding: "The Miracle Worker" highlights the power of empathy and understanding. Anne Sullivan demonstrates deep empathy for Helen's situation, and this empathy allows her to connect with Helen on a profound level. Salespeople who can empathize with their clients' needs, challenges, and desires are better positioned to provide tailored solutions and build strong relationships. The movie reminds sales professionals to approach their clients with empathy and understanding to foster trust and rapport. Overcoming Obstacles: Helen Keller faces immense challenges due to her disabilities, but through the guidance of Anne Sullivan, she learns to overcome them. Sales is a field that presents endless obstacles, such as rejection, objections, and competition. "The Miracle Worker" illustrates the power of perseverance, determination, and resourcefulness in the face of obstacles. We can draw inspiration from Helen's journey and apply those lessons to our own professional challenges. Adaptability and Creativity: Anne Sullivan demonstrates adaptability and creativity in her teaching methods, finding innovative ways to help Helen understand the world around her. In sales, adaptability and creativity are crucial when approaching different clients, understanding their unique needs, and finding creative solutions to meet those needs. Let’s remember to think about solutions differently, be flexible, and adapt our strategies to connect with clients effectively. Transformation and Growth: "The Miracle Worker" showcases the incredible transformation of Helen Keller from a frustrated and isolated child to a confident and capable young woman. We should draw inspiration from this transformation and recognize that personal growth and development are essential in our own professional and personal journeys. The movie encourages individuals to embrace a growth mindset, continuously learn, and evolve their skills to become better sales professionals. Shrek YES SHREK!!!! Besides being one of my favorite movies of all time, "Shrek" is a delightful animated film that has many lessons and themes us salespeople can learn from and be inspired by. Embracing Uniqueness: "Shrek" celebrates individuality and teaches the importance of embracing one's unique qualities. In sales, it's crucial to differentiate oneself from competitors and stand out in the marketplace. By watching Do you embrace your unique strengths, and personality to build authentic connections with your clients and prospects or do you present an image of what you think the world wants? Challenging Stereotypes: The movie challenges traditional fairy tale stereotypes by portraying Shrek, an ogre, as the hero. We can learn from this by questioning preconceived notions and not making assumptions about prospects or clients based on appearance or background. By challenging stereotypes and treating each individual with respect and open-mindedness, salespeople can foster better relationships and understand the unique needs and preferences of their customers. The Power of Authenticity: Shrek is unapologetically himself, and this authenticity shines throughout the movie. In sales, authenticity is crucial for building trust and rapport with clients. By being genuine, honest, and transparent in their interactions, salespeople can create stronger connections and establish long-lasting relationships based on trust. Teamwork and Collaboration: Shrek demonstrates the power of teamwork and collaboration. Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona work together to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. Sales is often a team effort, involving collaboration between sales representatives, managers, and support staff. By watching "Shrek," salespeople can be reminded of the value of teamwork and the importance of collaborating effectively with colleagues to achieve shared objectives. Sense of Humor and Resilience: "Shrek" is known for its humor and witty dialogue. Sales can be a demanding and challenging profession, and maintaining a sense of humor and resilience is essential. We should learn to approach challenges with a lighthearted perspective, use humor to build rapport with clients and develop resilience in the face of setbacks or rejections. Life is Beautiful: "Life is Beautiful" is a profoundly moving and powerful film that tells the story of a Jewish father who uses humor and imagination to protect his son during the Holocaust. While "Life is Beautiful" is a deeply emotional and tragic film, it imparts valuable lessons about resilience, effective communication, relationship building, finding purpose, and empathy. Resilience and Optimism: The protagonist in the film displays remarkable resilience and optimism in the face of extreme adversity. The sales profession comes with endless ups and downs, rejections, and obstacles. "Life is Beautiful" can inspire salespeople to maintain a positive outlook, persevere through difficult times, and find creative solutions to overcome challenges. Effective Communication: The film highlights the power of effective communication, even in the most difficult circumstances. The main character uses humor and imagination to shield his son from the horrors of the concentration camp. In sales, communication skills are vital for building relationships, understanding client needs, and effectively conveying value propositions. "Life is Beautiful" reminds salespeople of the importance of clear, compassionate, and creative communication. Relationship Building: The father-son relationship in the film is incredibly poignant and showcases the power of love and connection. Sales success often relies on building strong relationships with clients. We as salespeople oftentimes forget the importance of nurturing genuine connections, understanding clients' emotional needs, and going above and beyond to provide exceptional service. Finding Meaning and Purpose: The film delves into the themes of finding meaning and purpose even in the midst of tragedy. In sales, it is essential to have a sense of purpose and belief in the value of the products or services being offered. "Life is Beautiful" can inspire salespeople to reflect on their purpose, embrace their role in helping customers solve problems, and find fulfillment in making a positive impact on others' lives. Empathy and Compassion: The father in the movie shows amazing empathy and compassion of towards his son and wife. As said earlier, Empathy and Compassion are an intricate part of developing positive relationships. Do you have a non sales movie that you think all sales people should watch? Send me an email and I will include it in a follow up article.