What a Spider-Man Movie Can Teach You About Your Business

I like movies, and I like seeing them in a great theater. Most of all, I enjoy sharing that experience with my family. “Spider-Man: Homecoming” gave me the perfect opportunity to have it all in one fun evening.

I didn’t expect to like the movie as much as I did. As I began wondering why it was so enjoyable, I came to two conclusions. First, it was just so much fun. Second, it surprised me without shocking my system. But how is this silly kids’ movie applicable to your business?

Let’s talk fun. Surely, you’ve heard the cliché that if you don’t love what you do, you won’t succeed. Well, it’s a cliché for a reason; it’s true. I believe that most of us start out loving what we do, but along the way, life happens, and eventually we forget what attracted us to our careers in the first place. “Spider-Man: Homecoming” reflects that concept in the form of a modern superhero movie. I’ve seen more over-the-top action movies in the last 20 years than I can count. I like these sorts of movies, but there have been so many lately that I’ve started skipping those that look like the same-old same-old based on their trailers.

Spidey’s latest big-screen adventure is different, and it offers three lessons any business would do well to learn.

Avoid preconceived notions

What sparked my interest in the new Spider-Man flick was Spidey’s surprise appearance in “Captain America: Civil War.” My gut reaction was, “Wow, that’s just a kid!” Also, the actor was one I’d never seen; he was fresh. Now, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man gets our full attention in his own stand-alone movie. This setup made it easy for me to buy his character and get immersed in the story.

Be your true self 

The hero in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” feels real and totally in touch with today’s world. He’s not last century’s Peter Parker, the old-fashioned newspaper photographer; he’s an up-and-comer with an internship at Iron Man’s Stark Industries. Parker has a cellphone and uses it all the time. His friends look real. His dream girl is a beautiful junior who’s not only older than him but doesn’t even know he exists — or does she? It all feels real. And while we’re on the topic of “real,” I think I heard more exclamations of pain — “Ouch!” “Oo!” “Ugh!” —  from this superhero than from any other. When Spidey gets banged around, it hurts. Does Captain American ever say “ouch”?

Surprise yourself and others

Don’t get me wrong, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” follows a standard superhero script formula, but there’s still room for surprise. The trick the movie pulls off is that the surprises don’t jolt you into a different movie or genre. Instead, the screenwriters came up with a plot twist that caught me totally off-guard. I won’t ruin the movie for you by revealing it, but it put me right on the edge of my seat. For me, the unexpected turn of events elevated the experience of watching the movie from plain-old fun to amazingly entertaining.

So the next time you’re wondering how to accomplish the next steps on your business agenda, take a page from Spidey’s (comic) book:

• Avoid preconceived notions.
• Be your true self.
• Surprise yourself and others.

And if you need some creative design, photography, videography, or web development to spring your next surprise, remember to call Ridpath Creative.