I won't lie to you: being an entrepreneur is hard. And it's hardest in the early stages, when you're trying to build up your business, get clients, when every day feels like an uphill struggle. Your practical-minded friends and family members are likely to be least supportive during this time, which is ironic given that it's during this stage when you need the most support. (I was lucky in that I had a very supportive husband from the very beginning - but some of my other friends and family members were less than enthused about my plans to take Chelleline Cards full time.)
So where do you turn for support? I used a number of sources, from small business resources and blogs to personal development blogs to profiles of successful creative entrepreneurs. Although I'm not a fan of Apple (despite the fact that our family computer from when I was 7 to 17 - that is, from 1988 to 1998 - was a Macintosh), I found a lot of inspiration in Steve Jobs' 2005 commencement speech at Stanford.
Another source of inspiration and support was found in films, many of which were based off true stories, and several of which were quite visually stunning as well. I've included the five films that, for me, were the most inspirational in my development as a creative entrepreneur.
1. Fur "Fur" bills itself as an imaginative portrait of photographer Diane Arbus. The film starts out with Arbus as a frustrated, dissatisfied mother of two who spends her days assisting her photographer husband in his studio. At her husband's encouragement, she decides to embark on a personal photo project with a goal of shooting the neighbors, and becomes particularly intrigued by their mysterious neighbor upstairs.
The film is beautifully shot, each scene an exquisite work of art. If Arbus' journey doesn't inspire you, then the details will.
2. Eviga Ogonblick (Everlasting Moments). Based on the true story of Maria Larsson, a turn-of-the-century Swedish woman who wins a camera in a contest. During the course of the film, Larsson discovers and nurtures her skills in photography. Her growth as a photographer frequently interferes with her duties as mother and wife, and is made even more difficult by the lack of support from her drunk and cheating husband. As with Fur, this film is beautifully shot.
3.Coco avant Chanel. As the title would suggest, this film explores the early days of Coco Chanel, when she worked as a poor singer and seamstress and lodged with a rich older man. During her stay at this man's estate, a chance meeting with another man inspires her to design clothing and hats. This subtle, heartbreaking film is a stark reminder that everyone started from somewhere.
4. Finding Forrester. Although the film is about writing and not art, it's inspiring for all creative types. An inner-city high school student and aspiring writer finds a mentor in a reclusive author, played by Sean Connery. There's a brilliant scene with several voiceovers of Forrester giving advice to his protege, one of which is: "Write your first draft with your heart, and your second draft with your mind," something I follow to this day.
5. The Pursuit of Happyness. Based on a true story, this film takes us into the life of Christopher Gardner, a poor single father determined to work at an investment banking firm. He enrolls in their unpaid internship program, a 6 month program in which only one out of twenty interns is selected to work at the firm. Gardner must not only be at work all day, but he also has to take care of his son, work a part-time job in medical sales, and struggle with homelessness. It is a truly inspiring story of thinking outside the box and beating the odds.
What are some of your favorite inspirational films?
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