17 Terrific Business Lessons From Kung Fu Panda

 

Do you have a favourite movie?  One that just makes you laugh out loud whenever you watch it?

Well Kung Fu Panda rocks it for me…in fact, my family have more fun watching me laughing at the movie than they do watching the movie itself.

The reason I love this movie so much is that there are some UNIVERSAL TRUTHS throughout the storyline…plus I’m a sucker for slapstick and great comedic writing.

When I last watched Kung Fu Panda I hit the record button and watch it later without putting the family through it one more time.

Five minutes in, I had to stop and grab my notepad and pen because I was struck with how many great business lessons are contained within this movie…I promise after reading this you’ll look at this movie again in a different light.

So here are 15 terrific business lessons gleaned from Kung Fu Panda - I encourage you to watch the snippets provided:

2. When you follow your PASSION, you will find your PURPOSE
3. Be PUNCTUAL – opportunities could be lost because of tardiness
4. Where there’s a will there’s a way – can’t get through the door, try pole-vaulting a wall instead…if you really want something, you WILL find a way
   WATCH THIS SNIPPET - Kung Fu Panda - Dragon Warrior Selection
5. Ignore those who try to quash your dreams – many will give you reasons why you don’t belong or why you can’t achieve what you want…ignore them and give it ALL YOU’VE GOT!
6. Comparing yourself to others only causes you despair
   WATCH THIS SNIPPET - Master Oogway's Awesome Saying
7. There is no good or bad, it is just news…the same with business. There is no failure…it is just results.  We often learn more from so-called ‘failures’ than many of our successes.
8. LET GO of the illusion of control
   WATCH THIS SNIPPET - Kung Fu Panda - Oogway Ascends
9. Find a MENTOR that can help you achieve your dreams
   WATCH THIS SNIPPET - Kung Fu Panda - Cookie Scene
10. At first it will be hard, then it gets easier with PRACTICE
    WATCH THIS SNIPPET - Kung Fu Panda - Shifu Training Po
11. Be UNIQUE…there is no-one else like you
12. CELEBRATE your achievements along the way
13. Keep FOCUS on your goals/dreams
14. To make something special you just have to BELIEVE it is special
15. There is POWER in believing in yourself
16. Focus on your STRENGTHS and use them to your advantage
    WATCH THIS SNIPPET - Kung Fu Panda - Po vs Tai Lung
17. BELIEVE in your inner Dragon Warrior

What was your favorite business lesson from above?  Have you ever been inspired in your business by a movie you watched, share it in the comments below.

Tamil Nadu Man Makes Patented Technology To Convert Banana Waste Into Ropes

TN School Dropout Developed A Machine To Convert Banana Waste Into Ropes For Bags And Baskets!

PM Murugesan, an inhabitant of Melakkal town in Madurai area, almost twenty years prior, figured out how to utilize the residual banana fibre to mesh them into ropes. These could then be utilized to make different items like mats, sacks, and so on.
The Beginnings

Due to his family’s poor conditions, Murugesan could not finish his education post class 8. He was forced to help his father in the fields as his family did not see much use in his education. He grew up seeing a lot of banana waste being generated around him, which got him thinking about ways to utilise them.

PM Murugesan with his processed banana fibre

It was 2008 when Murugesan, his wife, Malarkodi, and the other family elders started discussing utilising the banana plant waste. The idea struck him on seeing a banana thread being used to thread flowers to create garlands. The sheer difficulty in keeping the rope from breaking apart was a challenge to him. He used a machine that converted coconut husk into ropes for bananas, but it failed.

Using the failure as a crutch, he took that machine and modified it to work for bananas. Upon its success, he added a motor to make it work faster. Working it up further, he used bicycle wheel rims and pulleys to build a spinning machine. He ended up investing INR 1.5 Lakhs and built and patented this machine. He then went to the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) with his invention and they liked his machine and recommended other farmers in the area to use it.


Evolution Of Business

In 2017, Murugesan built up a mechanized rope making machine, in which dual functions could be performed of making the rope and interlacing/twining it together. Murugesan said that he was utilizing a hand-wheel component to make rope from the banana sheath, and that took five individuals for every wheel for the cycle, and each wheel yielded distinctly around 2,500 metres of rope. With the new machine, they produced on normal 15,000 metres utilizing one machine and with only four individuals in all.

   

Employees at work

They started with five people, which increased to ten, very quickly to twenty, and as of today, they employ over 350 people, with a majority of women in their ranks. Taking the decentralization aspect of a job into account, the work routine is very flexible as the women work from home, weaving new things that can also be coupled as gifts for their children while earning them a decent income. The company currently earns an annual turnover of INR 1.5 crores.
Accolades

He has won seven National Awards and several State Awards, which include the PMEGP (Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme) Award from Khadi and Village Industries Commission under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, National Farmer Scientist Award from Union Ministry for Agriculture and Best Entrepreneur Award from Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Jabalpur.

Despite these accolades, Murugesan feels the most satisfied knowing that he brought about an upheaval of his village and bringing them employability simultaneously.

Image Sources: Google Images

Sources: India Times, The Better India

How did Steve manage to “Think Different?”

 

Steve was a dropout, a rebel, but most importantly, Steve was FREE!

Steve enjoyed complete self-governance, total independence to be himself, and would never conform to or follow the crowd.

Steve was not a people pleaser. He was driven by his passion and vision, NOT by other people’s opinions.

Why don’t we have more Steve’s in the world?

Our Industrial Age educational system has one mission to accomplish:

STANDARDIZE!

The educational system tells us what to think, NOT how to think.

Indoctrination is oppressive, it kills creativity and innovation.

Indoctrination has been an effective way to mold people to fit the “status quo” and NOT challenge it.

Why doesn't the world see more creative geniuses?

Because we’re expected to follow the crowd.

To answer the question, what made Steve Jobs so special?

Steve was FREE from indoctrination!

Real education teaches you how to solve problems, how to create things, and most importantly, how to THINK DIFFERENT!

#BusinessSmart