I recently re-watched the Oscar winning film, “The Artist.” Having grown up watching classic Bollywood films (I’ve seen many black and white films with my parents when I was younger), “The Artist” caught my attention immediately. As I watched the film, I picked up on many lessons from the main character, George. The movie showcases his turbulent career during the changing world of Hollywood in 1929. Without spoiling the plot, here are a few lessons that I think anyone can benefit from:
Let go of the ego
As humans we’re often threatened by failure and afraid of taking chances when we’re already seeing success within our comfort zone. In the film, when the main character, George, refuses to accept that the ‘talkies’ will soon take over the silent era of film – it is his ego that takes over. He didn’t want to accept that the times were changing.
In life we come across many situations that we don’t want to accept, but no matter what, leave the ego at the door. An ego can give you false perceptions of yourself and make you turn away from people who are closest to you. The key to success is staying humble.
Don’t be afraid of taking risks
We’re allowed to make mistakes and we should always take the opportunity to learn from them. A quote that summarizes this well is, “The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.” This stands true for everyone. In the film, George, hits rock bottom after his failed movie attempt. He took a risk, but he didn’t rise from it immediately. The lesson here is: don’t be afraid of taking risks. You will fall, but the real treasure is rising and become a stronger person from it.
Pay attention to change
A great lesson the film provides is that changes are happening all the time. George initially didn’t accept that moviegoers wanted to hear sound. He refused to be a part of talking films, which ultimately led to his minor decline. The industry moved on without him. The lesson here is: pay attention to the changes around you. You have to observe and listen to what your customers are saying.
Never give up!
The last but perhaps more important lesson is: never give up! The world is your oyster. Reach for the stars. I could go on with cliched phrases, but ultimately it is up to you to make it happen. George, had given up. But with the help and support of his friends, he was able to get back up on his feet and enter the movie industry again. Don’t give up on yourself and your dream. No matter how defeated you feel, there’s always a way to come back up and win again.
Image courtesy of Wikipedia.
