9 Career Lessons We Learned From Christmas And Holiday Movies

The More You Know

9 Career Lessons We Learned From Christmas And Holiday Movies

3:30 pm, November 28th | by Laura Donovan

There’s a lot to love about holiday films, but a less obvious upside is the number of career lessons viewers can learn from watching the movies. Robin Williams’s character realizes family comes before work in Hook, Sarah Jessica Parker figures out it’s not okay to take business calls when Christmas shopping with her boyfriend in The Family Stone, and more. Here are some key job messages to take away from Christmas flicks.

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1.Home Alone 2: Don't underestimate kids

<em>Home Alone 2</em>: Don't underestimate kids

The Plaza hotel employees in this film don't realize the mess they get themselves into when they try to keep an eye on mischievous Kevin McAllister. He outsmarts all the adults with his voice recorder and flees the hotel, causing his parents to scream at the workers for letting a child run off into the the city alone.

2.Elf: Don't try to take the easy route

<em>Elf</em>: Don't try to take the easy route

The Grinch-like dad in Elf wants to sell children's books with pages missing, as the kids supposedly won't notice, but that's the wrong attitude to take to work. Cutting corners isn't always the solution! It may come back to bite you later.

3.Home Alone: Don't try to bully airline employees

<em>Home Alone</em>: Don't try to bully airline employees

When Kevin's family flies to France without him, his mom is determined to get back to the states as soon as possible and attend to her son. Of course, all airline tickets back to the USA are booked, and no one at the airport goes the extra mile for her. The one who eventually gets her home is a guy in a band, not an airline employee, so don't be so quick to think an airport worker can save you in a travel crisis.

4.Just Friends: Your current success doesn't change the fact that you used to be a geek

<em>Just Friends</em>: Your current success doesn't change the fact that you used to be a geek

But who really cares?

5.Hook: Family comes first

After Peter Banning's kids are kidnapped, he realizes his high-profile lawyer job doesn't amount to much. He finally puts his family before his job and all is right in the world!

6.It's a Wonderful Life: The grass isn't always greener on the other side

<em>It's a Wonderful Life</em>: The grass isn't always greener on the other side

George Bailey can't seem to catch a break professionally or personally, so when he makes a wish to die, an angel shows him what life on earth would be like without him. And it's bleak. The struggling businessman sees that life is amazing after all, even if it gets him down sometimes.

7.Miracle on 34th Street: Fake Santas can be just as valuable as imaginary Santa

<em>Miracle on 34th Street</em>: Fake Santas can be just as valuable as imaginary Santa

A department store Santa changes the life of young Susan Walker in this film.

8.Christmas with the Kranks: Employees aren't beneath ostracizing those who dont want to celebrate Christmas or conform

<em>Christmas with the Kranks</em>: Employees aren't beneath ostracizing those who dont want to celebrate Christmas or conform

When Luther Krank decides to scrap Christmas for a year, all his neighbors and colleagues turn against him. He expected about as much from his neighborhood but not at work, so just know that the office may not always be a safe haven after all.

9.The Family Stone: It's not cool to make business calls whilst Christmas shopping

<em>The Family Stone</em>: It's not cool to make business calls whilst Christmas shopping

For starters, you're not giving the other person on the line your full attention. Secondly, it's impolite to your boyfriend (in this case, actor Dermot Mulroney) and the mall staffers.