25 crucial business lessons you should have learnedfrom Kevin McCallister

#1BE CAREFUL

WHAT YOU WISH FORHOME ALONE

“I wish my family would disappear …”

BUSINESSThe grass isn’t always greener on the other

side.Whether it’s looking at another job or being

envious of a competitor, look for the positives in your current situation before

acting with haste.

#2FOCUS ON A

CLEAR OBJECTIVEHOME ALONE

“And that’s the one Marv, that’s the silver tuna”

BUSINESSAlways focus on a clear objective.

Know what you want to achieve and don’t allow other distractions to get in the way.

#3RESEARCH YOURTARGET MARKET

HOME ALONE“"You're taking a trip to Paris? …

Excellent!”

BUSINESSInsight can often be overlooked, but you

stand a far better chance of succeeding if you understand your market, your customers, and your competition.

#4UNDERSTAND THE

MOTIVES OF OTHERSHOME ALONE

“Don’t worry about your home – it’s in good hands”

BUSINESSUnfortunately politics does exist in

business, and other people do often have ulterior motives.

Whilst they may appear to be helpful, be aware of other things they may want.

#5SOMETIMES YOUNEED THE STICK

HOME ALONE"You're the only one acting up.

Now get upstairs."

BUSINESSI’m a big believer in the carrot method to

motivate people. But it doesn’t always work. Sometimes you need to use the stick

so that people know you expect better.

#6BE ON TIME

– ALWAYSHOME ALONE“We slept in!”

BUSINESSWhen you’re late, everything else in your

performance suffers. Make being early your new ‘on time’, whether it’s that an

important interview, a business meeting, or your next presentation.

#7CHECK, CHECK

AND CHECK AGAINHOME ALONE

“Heather, do a head count”

BUSINESSWhether it’s the latest quotation you’re

putting together for your biggest customer, the new marketing brochure, or the

contract for your newest employee, make sure you check it properly – even the

smallest mistake can be costly.

#8GO OUTSIDE YOUR

COMFORT ZONEHOME ALONE

“I'm eight years old. Do you think I'd be here alone - I don't think

so?"

BUSINESSThe best way to learn is by doing. And

although it can sometimes be daunting, that means pushing yourself so you’re

outside your comfort zone.

#9DON’T BE AFRAID TO

TAKE CALCULATED RISKSHOME ALONE

“WOAH ………….”

BUSINESSYes there are many times when you should

play the percentages, but there are also times when you should take calculated

risks. That doesn’t mean throwing caution to the wind (although there are times that works too!), but taking a chance when you

think the percentages are on your side.

#10TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR

APPEARANCEHOME ALONE

"I took a shower and washed my hair with adult formula shampoo which

I never did before but sort of enjoyed”

BUSINESSResearch suggests that people take your

message in based on 7% of what you say, 38% on how you say it, and 55% how you

look when you say it – and that includes your appearance!

#11DEMAND QUALITY

IN EVERYTHINGHOME ALONE

“Is this toothbrush approved by the American Dental Association?”

BUSINESSWhether it’s a product you’re sourcing from

a supplier, some new equipment for your boardroom, or a new vehicle for your fleet,

demand the highest quality possible.

#12PERCEPTION IS

GREATER THAN REALITYHOME ALONE

"Did they come back?"

BUSINESSSometimes the real story doesn’t matter - the real thing to be concerned about is

how your customers perceive you and your business.

#13ALWAYS BEPREPARED

HOME ALONE“Get the hell outta here.”

BUSINESSIt may be to avert a potential threat when

it rears it’s head, it may be to take advantage of an opportunity when it

arises, but always be prepared. Always have your ‘elevator pitch’ ready just in

case you meet that customer you’ve been trying to get in front of.

#14DON’T PANIC IN

TIMES OF CRISISHOME ALONE

“Dad, can you come here and help me?”

BUSINESSPanic does not help. Instead, remain calm and deal with the situation you are faced

with. Keep a cool head and weigh up your options. Act decisively and quickly.

#15TAKE TIME TO

UNDERSTAND PEOPLEHOME ALONE

“There's a lot of things going around about me.

You don't have to be afraid.”

BUSINESSThe only way to motivate individuals

effectively is to understand what makes them tick. Understand them properly and you’ll find it that much easier to motivate

them.

#16BE KIND TO OTHERS

HOME ALONE“I’m sorry, did you say you could help

me?”

BUSINESSIf you believe in karma, you’ll believe in

helping others. You never know when you’ll need a favour so make sure you take every opportunity to help others. After all, they’ll remember you for it, and be more likely to help you if, and when you should need it.

#17USE EMOTION

HOME ALONE“I'm begging ... from a mother to a

mother ... please!“

BUSINESSWhether it’s making a sale, delivering a presentation, or negotiating a business

deal, you can’t rely on statistics and numbers alone. You need to use emotion to

have the best impact possible.

#18HAVE A PLAN

HOME ALONE“"This is my house. I have to defend it!”

BUSINESSNo matter what you’re trying to achieve,

make sure you have a plan. Develop it properly, write it down, and monitor your

progress against it.

#19STAY ONE STEP AHEADOF YOUR COMPETITION

HOME ALONE“When those guys come back, I’ll be

ready!””

BUSINESSIf you’ve researched your competition (see

#3) you’ll know how you can exploit their weaknesses and stay one step ahead of

them. Keep your new product developments secret until it’s time to

launch and have them playing catch-up.

#20DON’T UNDERESTIMATE

YOUR COMPETITIONHOME ALONE

“Hello …”

BUSINESSWhilst you can try to stay one step

ahead of your competition, be careful you don’t underestimate them. Give

them the merit they deserve and don’t underestimate them.

#21SOMETIMES YOU

NEED TO IMPROVISEHOME ALONE

“I'm going to feed you to my tarantula.“

BUSINESSEven if you have a solid plan (see #18), realise it won’t always go as you want it to. Sometimes you need to improvise to be successful. Plan for the unexpected,

have a Plan B, and improvise if things don’t go according to plan.

#22PERSEVERE

HOME ALONE“You guys give up, or are you thirsty for

more?!”

BUSINESSEven if times seem tough, and even if thinks aren’t going as you’d like them to, persevere and don’t give up easily.

Some of the greatest achievements have come through adversity.

#23REALISE YOU CAN’T

ALWAYS DO IT ALONEHOME ALONE

“What are we going to do with him, Harry?"

BUSINESSDon’t be too proud to ask for help. There

are always people who can help you achieve your objective. Build a strong

network so that help is easier to find when you need it.

#24ALWAYS THINK OF

YOUR BRANDHOME ALONE

“All the great one's leave their mark.We're the Wet Bandits”

BUSINESSEvery time your customer interacts

with your brand, they are either confirming or changing what your brand means to them. Take every

opportunity to strengthen that brand perception.

#25SOMETIMES PEOPLE

ARE MORE READYTHAN YOU THINK

HOME ALONE“"You went shopping?"

BUSINESSYou may not feel that employee is ready,

but sometimes giving them that extra responsibility is what helps them to grow

and develop into a valuable member of your team.

For more lessons from the movies, visit:

www.80from20.com