Timeless Business Lessons from Beloved Literary Characters
Sometimes, we meet our business mentors early in life before we know what career or careers we will pursue. These mentors can be beloved characters in books, plays, and movies whose stories beckon us back to their pages or performances. Through their journeys and the mentors they encounter, they shape our understanding of resilience, creativity, and leadership. Three characters I consider long-time mentors are Jo March, the protagonist of "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott; George Bailey of "It's A Wonderful Life," based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" by Philip Van Doren Stern; and Jean Valjean, the protagonist of "Les Misérables" by Victor Hugo. My choice criteria are that I have read the book, watched the movie, or seen the play at least ten times!
Jo is one of my role models for creativity and determination. Like her, I have had a passion for writing since I was young. She is a heroic figure as we see her pursue her passion for writing, encountering many obstacles and overcoming societal norms. She has a strong sense of self-belief and an inherent drive to persevere. Jo also had a mentor, Professor Bhaer, who provided practical advice about her writing. As a result, she started to write authentically about her experiences growing up in a loving and supportive family. He helped her grow as a person, and Jo achieved her goals. In the end, we see her as a person who is set on achieving her goals and doing so because she opens herself up to guidance. Professor Bhaer becomes a mentor to anyone reading and loving the story of Jo March in "Little Women."
George Bailey's journey embodies the importance of community and responsibility. This way of thinking, working, and living might contradict a young person's sense of adventure and vision for their life. As a young man, George sacrifices his dreams for his responsibilities to everyone else. He never lets go of his dream to see the world and build buildings. A crisis and subsequent resolution bring him home, literally and figuratively. George has a mentor in Clarence Odbody, an Angel who longs for his wings. He helps George realize his true self, value, and the importance of his life to his family and community. I greeted George Bailey yearly over the holidays like an old friend or mentor. He showed me that life could be rough and call for personal sacrifice, yet to look around and feel joy in daily life. Our entrepreneurial journeys call for the same qualities George embodies.
I have loved musical theater since a young age. A group of neighborhood friends would act out and lip-synch along with "Carousel," "South Pacific," "Camelot," and "Fiddler on the Roof." I first saw "Les Misérables" thirty years ago as an adult. I never miss a production in Chicago. I've seen it at least ten times. It is a story of overcoming adversity, responsibility, and redemption. I listened to the soundtrack all through COVID. I have not read the book but have it on my TBR Classics list after I finish "The Count of Monte Cristo." Jean Valjean's journey provides many chances for redemption, which he embraces with various levels of earnestness throughout his life. He teaches us the power of charity, forgiveness, redemption, and commitment. He evolves, illuminating paths for my evolution. He is my most potent literary role model, whom I intend to sit with many more times. Jean had a mentor, Bishop Myriel, who played a critical mentoring role early in Jean Valjean's life. After Valjean is released from prison, the Bishop shows him remarkable kindness and forgiveness, offering him a path to redemption, effective leadership, and a new way of life.
Mentors appear in unexpected places and ways in our lives and business journeys. It is enriching to pay attention to their cues. They plant seeds in us that may not blossom for years or decades. Time does not diminish their impact; quite the opposite. Who are your timeless mentors?