Legally Blonde: Believe in yourself, you’re more valuable than you think.

“When a blonde sorority queen (Elle Woods) is dumped by her boyfriend, she decides to follow him to (Harvard) law school to get him back and, once there, learns she has more legal savvy than she ever imagined (IMDb).”

Sure, Legally Blonde is comedic and entertaining but it also reveals valuable life lessons learned outside of the classroom; one of them being -- the power of belief.

In life and business, it’s essential to recognize your value and believe in yourself. Regardless of the circumstances you face, stay focused and committed to your vision even when others doubt your resolve.

When you’re running a business, there will be plenty of moments when things don’t go your way. But hang in there -- you are smarter and stronger than you know.

Good Will Hunting: Change is inevitable, growth is optional.

“Will Hunting, a janitor at MIT (and self-taught genius), has a gift for mathematics but needs help from a psychologist to find direction in his life (IMDb).”

Good Will Hunting suggests that there is a world beyond what we know. And all it takes for many of us to reach that world is a willingness to look beyond our inflexible barriers and think differently.

Discovering your direction in business and effectively utilizing your potential may seem impossible at times. Yet after innumerable iteration, customer validation (and with experience) you may find yourself on an entirely different path from where you began.

So be open to the process and willing to let your ideas live.

Rudy: Cancel out the noise and be extraordinary.

“Rudy has always been told that he was too small to play college football. But he is determined to overcome the odds and fulfill his dream of playing for Notre Dame (IMDb).”

Rudy, is a simple story about a guy with the deck stacked against him serving as a reminder that all too often people will suggest what you can and cannot do. But nonetheless it’s your responsibility to follow your dreams in the presence of setbacks, and never give up.

Have you ever been told your business idea wouldn’t work?  It’s a common cause of "idea fatality."  But regardless of what naysayers think – make your life and business extraordinary.

Social Network: Your biggest weakness can become your strength.

“Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking website that would become known as Facebook, but is later sued by two brothers who claimed he stole their idea, and the co-founder who was later squeezed out of the business (IMDb).”

It’s hard to say if art truly mimics life in this case, but the movie suggests that “Zuckerberg becomes a billionaire by creating a social network platform based on the premise of people wanting to make connections… while he himself is unable to make any sort of genuine human connection.”

The premise is simple and applicable to every business. We (entrepreneurs) exist to solve problems and fulfill a need … even our own.

If you’ve been struggling with trying to find the perfect business idea start by taking stock of the challenges you’ve faced. More than likely, there are others with similar pain points seeking a “better way” of doing things. Give it to them.

The Graduate: Don’t limit yourself with obligation to fulfill the expectations of others.

“Recent college graduate Benjamin Braddock is trapped into an affair with Mrs. Robinson, who happens to be the wife of his father's business partner and then finds himself falling in love with her daughter, Elaine (IMDb).”

“Ben, through living a lifestyle imposed on him by his parents, is not allowed to see all there is to see in the world. His experience has been limited by feeling obligated to fulfill the expectations of his parents.” And expectations, even in business, can serve as a trap.

When you’re managing a successful company, others will (knowingly or unknowingly) impose their expectations upon you. It then becomes vital to set your own … this is why a company vision is important.

“A well-conceived vision consists of two major components: core ideology and envisioned future. Core ideology, defines what we stand for and why we exist. It is unchanging and complements the envisioned future. The envisioned future is what we aspire to become, to achieve, to create—something that will require significant change and progress to attain.”

Once you’ve developed your own expectations, you can unshackle yourself from the burden of another’s.