Silver Screen Career Advice The Wolf of Wall Street

Silver Screen Career Advice The Wolf of Wall Street 2013s The Wolf of Wall Street chronicles the rise and fall of stock tycoon Jordan Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Belfort is able to start from humble beginnings and eventually lead a large stock trading firm on Wall Street. The story of his company provides some career advice, if youre able to ignore the disgusting and hedonistic practices. Belfort certainly doesnt deserve to be glamorized, but he was a charismatic  leader if not a despicable human being. While there is likely an even distribution of what to do and what not to do with Belforts company Stratton Oakmont, well break down the lessons learned below. Sheep in Wolfs Clothing From the very start its clear that Belfort believes in his own ability to be successful. Although he is certainly full of himself, confidence goes a long way. Its easy to fall into the trap of self doubt when applying for jobs or starting a new one. Being confident in your own abilities will ensure you perform at your highest potential. Belfort also made sure he looked the part. He bought expensive suits for himself and had his employees suits tailored. Dressing for success can make a big difference especially in an interview. Check out our write up on interview attire here. From the start its very clear that Belforts first few employees arent the brightest or the best. However, in a short time they are all making millions as his partners. How is this possible you ask? Training. With an extremely thorough sales script Belfort turns them all into sales professionals. Training can transform employees. If youre a manager make sure you have continued development embedded into your company. If youre an employee, dont pass up on any opportunities to better yourself. Company Culture Employee Motivation Part of the reason that Belforts employees are loyal is because of how he treats them. The employees are given options for internal growth, as well as generous compensation. While the compensation practiced by Belfort was mostly illegal, legal compensation works in practice as well. Consider giving employees an extra day off or perhaps a lunch out to motivate them. Small favors go a long way when employees know their superiors care about and value their contributions. A strong company culture can have a big influence on employees. Belforts company is also successful because he is a visible face to all of his employees. Many employees only see their immediate manager in a day. Even then, sometimes face to face communication is a stretch. Being a visible force in your employees work day is a powerful motivator if you are a charismatic leader. For all his successes however, its important to remember Belfort crossed the line on many fronts. Need for Greed Early on as a businessman Jordan Belfort  blurred the lines of what was legal and moral before fully crossing it later on when he started his company. He was only driven by his greed which resulted in him taking money from many customers leaving them penniless. This insatiable greed is what got him arrested and destroyed his home life. Its important to remember that money isnt everything, and having a good work/life balance is crucial. We hope you enjoyed our look at the insane yet interesting  The Wolf on Wall Street. While it does chronicle the rise and fall of a bad man, it does offer a few pieces of advice. If you have another movie youd like to see examined, please let us know in the comments.