The Prestige and Entrepreneurial Obsession

Last night I went to see The Prestige with a group of my girlfriends. This was a nice departure from the usual “chick flicks” we see. I won’t give any spoilers here, because if you like “thinking” movies, you should go see this.

I was struck as I watched this, the competition between two up-and-coming magicians, that the movie paralleled an entrepreneur’s life. To become really successful in business, we need to be inventive and come up with the new thing that “wows”–that’s what differentiates us from our competition.

For example, right now, I’m thinking of what to write for my next book. What is going to be really unique and marketable? What is going to really benefit someone? You never stop thinking of your next move. Now in the movie, the characters became very devious and sometimes violent, and I can’t identify with that. But the movie definitely made me think. It took four of us discussing it over an ice cream sundae at Friendly’s to fill-in all the parts that confused us.

I also thought about how I can easily become obsessed with work. It’s on my mind all the time. Not client projects…but bigger dreams of where to take my business and how to get there. It’s nothing for me to have my laptop in front of me surfing bulletin boards and blogs when I watch TV at night. I “talk” to my professional contacts and other VAs more than my real-life friends. I spend more money on business conferences than I do on vacations. This reminds me to get out and go to dinner, a movie, and ice cream with my friends as often as possible. It’s refreshing to the soul. It’s far too easy to get wrapped up in your virtual, entrepreneurial world.

All that said, I wouldn’t change what I do for a thing. I never had even 25% of the passion for any “job” I ever held as I do for The Hidden Helpers. The flexibility is amazing. I can volunteer at my son’s school, I can put my boys on and off the bus, I can show them first-hand that they can start their own businesses and be successful someday, I get to travel to conferences and business meetings and meet some really interesting and inspiring people…it’s far more exciting than any “job” I’ve ever had. It’s not for everyone, but it “is” for me.