Find Your Center: Business Lessons From Rise of the Guardians

I absolutely luvs me some movies. Action, adventure, drama, comedy, the occasional chick flick…and yes, even musicals.

You would think, that as an author, I’d spend my spare time reading books. Truth is, I read all day long. I have information coming from all angles. Reading is rarely relaxing anymore. Reading requires too much focus, too many brain cells sometimes—especially at the end of a long day proofing your own 600 page manuscripts. Who wants to read after that?

Movies help me relax my mind and set it free, drifting on images, color, voices and music. Someone is entertaining me.

More than this, inspiration creeps in. With my subconscious floating along on a gentle visual wave, it picks up little sparks. Messages about life, business, ideas for new plot lines and characters. It’s a pixelated zone of zen-like bliss.

This is why I would argue HBO should be included as a business expense…although our accountant would most likely disagree.

Recently, I discovered Dreamworks’ Rise of the Guardians. This is a charming, well animated story of Jack Frost (voiced by Chris Pine, aka Captain Kirk) who is recruited as one of the mythical Guardians. The story starts with Jack coming to life and the Moon (Manny, the Man in the Moon) tells him he has a mission. Jack has no idea what that is, all he knows is it IS.

When your mind is quiet and you’re listening to the universe speak to you, you hear the most remarkable messages. This is what has carried Wendi and I through four years of business and four novels. That OMG Moment happened while watching Rise. One scene in particular made it all click. Check out the video where North (aka Santa, voiced by Alec Baldwin) talks about what his “center” is. Absolutely brilliant stuff.

After that, I watched this movie three more times, taking notes. What I have here for you today is a few helpful business lessons from Rise of the Guardians.

1. Finding Your Why. This is your center, your raison d’etre, reason for being. Creativepreneurs often have many, many skills and talents. They also have passion. The key is finding where the passion and skills/talents intersect. Not always easy, but always an adventure.
2. Don’t Forget the Kids. The Guardians had been working for kids for so long they forgot how to work with them. How does this apply to your biz? All too often we spend far too much time working for everyone else around us and neglect working with our Self. Keeping your business going is more than just minding the books and paying the taxes. It’s about YOU too. What do you need to keep going? A day out at the cafe? Meditation? Gym time? Fun time with family? Whatever it is that recharges those batteries, get out and do it.
3. Dreams are important. Keep dreaming those dreams and setting those goals. Don’t let your own personal Boogey Man tell you your dreams, or you, aren’t worth it.
4. Are you invisible? Nobody believed in Jack, he was invisible to the mundane world. Last week in our ezine, The Inspired Studio, we talked about hiding. If you want to make a name for yourself, you’re not going to get it if you hide behind your computer. Get out, meet people face to face. Go to conferences, visit local shops, join groups, talk to people, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS!
5. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. Yes, the Boogey Man exists, but we don’t have to be afraid of him. The kids in the movie discovered facing their fears wasn’t so bad after all. Take back your power, tell that Boogey Man to take a hike.
6. You are capable of far more than you realize. Jack learns he has an incredible power none of the other Guardians have and it surprises him. When we take action and just do what we naturally do best, that’s when we shine. When you find your “Why”, you find your own unique magic.
7. Strength in numbers. If you feel you have no support at all, think again. The Guardians found support within their team and on a deeper level, found support in the very people they served. Your clients, your audience, your fans are your strength. The more you give, the more you get in return and everyone benefits.

So what happens to Jack? He finds his Why…but if you want to see how, you’re going to have to watch the movie for yourself. Go ahead, grab the kids (human or furry), some popcorn and get lost with the Guardians for an hour or so. Then come back here and tell me what lessons you discovered. Unless you’ve seen it already. In that case, watch it again and start a conversation in the comments!