Lessons for 'Start-ups' from 'The Shawshank Redemption'

One of the most gripping movies of all time, with 7 Oscar nominations and befitting performances by Tim Robbins & Morgan Freeman.

Its a fantastic journey which has three characteristics:

1. It would take a really long time to complete. He has a feel for how long it would take - but he doesn't know that exactly. And that feel changes every day as well.

2. He can get caught at any point - in the beginning, in the middle, or at the end - literally on any given day until he is done - and if he is caught, all his efforts up to that point add up to nothing. The net effect of getting caught would be negative, in the form of additional punishment, added with absolutely no scope of receiving a parole thereafter

3. The end result is binary: If he gets caught, twenty years' effort adds up to nothing. On the other hand, if he succeeds, he can be a free man and live the rest of his life happily.

If you think about it, the exact same characteristics are shared by anyone working on a Startup (in addition to the fact that only fools would embark on a journey with these characteristics):

1. It would take a really long time to complete. You have a feel for how long it would take - but you don't know that exactly. Besides, this feel changes everyday.

2. You can fail at any point- in the beginning, in the middle, or at the end - literally on any given day until you are done - and if you fail, all your efforts up to that point add up to nothing. The net effect of a failure would be negative, in the form of lost investment, opportunity costs, and a bunch of significant 'could have beens'

3. The end result is binary: If you fail, you will feel that your efforts added up to nothing. If you succeed, well.....

It might be a strange observation to make from a movie about people serving life-terms in prison - but if you observe closely, the simple and most powerful message from 'The Shawshank Redemption' is this: 'Enjoy The Journey'.

Life lessons from Star Wars

'In a galaxy far far away.....'

As the world anticipates the return of Han Solo, let’s reflect on the wisdom of the Jedi, The Force, and the Sith Lord himself, in order to glean nine lessons Star Wars teaches us about life.

1. Commit to the life you want to live – and live it!

'Do or do not… there is no try.' – Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back

We can spend our entire lives debating this and that, frozen in fear, fighting uncertainty. However, in life, nothing is certain. We can either waste precious time in limbo or make a decision and stick with it!

2. Surround yourself with people who are supportive and believe in you.

'I find your lack of faith disturbing.' – Darth Vader in A New Hope

There is absolutely no reason to waste your time and energy on people who bring you down. Rather, fill your life with the believers and doers, people who inspire you and bring positive energy to your life. Otherwise, you may resort to the dark side…

3. Don’t lie to yourself. We usually already know what the right thing to do is.

'Already know you, that which you need.' – Yoda

Listen to your heart, The Force, and your conscience. Listen to that Yoda voice you hear as you fall asleep or the nagging thoughts that simply won’t go away. Though the road ahead seems perilous, the solution is within.

4. Don’t let impossible odds hold you back.

'Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1.' - C-3PO in Rogue One

'Never tell me the odds.' – Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back

Even if an asteroid field is hurling towards you and your odds of success are 3,720 to 1, don’t let this daunting ratio prevent you from following your heart.

5. Often success stems from overcoming failures.

'Strike me down and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.' – Obi- Wan Kenobi in A New Hope

Success cannot flourish without hard work. It is found only through trial and error, profound dedication, and the ability to see setbacks as stepping stones towards later victory.

6. Don’t let fear guide your life.

'Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.' – Yoda in The Phantom Menace

Fear cripples us from doing what needs to be done. It prevents us from becoming the people we’re meant to be. It isolates us from others and makes us scared of those we do not understand. Historically speaking, fear has fueled many wars, genocides, persecutions, and riots. Clearly, Yoda was onto something.

7. Humor goes a long way.

'One thing’s for sure, we’re all gonna be a lot thinner.' – Han Solo in A New Hope

When things get tough, it’s natural to freak out. However, freaking out isn’t the most productive or efficient way to solve a problem. Humor lightens the mood and allows everyone time to regroup and reassess the situation. It also keeps spirits high, enabling people to do what needs to be done. Plus, girls dig a guy who can crack a joke every now and again.

8. Our thoughts and actions impact our future.

'Always remember, your focus determines your reality.' – Qui-Gon Jinn in The Phantom Menace.

What we spend our days thinking about, and actively pursuing, directly affects our future (for better or worse). Considering this, we should invest our time and energy into the things and people we’re passionate about, and the dreams we have, rather than focusing on the negative or filling our lives with empty distractions.

9. Sometimes we just need to let it go.

'Let go of your hate.' – Luke Skywalker in Return of the Jedi

There is no room for hate, fear, and regret in our lives. Often, we just need to let it go so that we may finally be free.