Home Alone was released 25 years ago - here are 25 crucial business lessons you can learn from Kevin McCallister and the rest of the Home Alone crew. From setting objectives to research, branding to taking on your competition, there's a great amount here to help improve your effectiveness.

1. 25 crucial business lessons
you should have learned
from Kevin McCallister

2. #1BE CAREFUL
WHAT YOU WISH FOR
HOME ALONE
“I wish my family would disappear …”
BUSINESS
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
Whether it’s looking at another job or being
envious of a competitor, look for the positives in
your current situation before acting with haste.

3. #2FOCUS ON A
CLEAR OBJECTIVE
HOME ALONE
“And that’s the one Marv, that’s the silver tuna”
BUSINESS
Always focus on a clear objective.
Know what you want to achieve and don’t allow
other distractions to get in the way.

4. #3RESEARCH YOUR
TARGET MARKET
HOME ALONE
“"You're taking a trip to Paris? … Excellent!”
BUSINESS
Insight can often be overlooked, but you stand a
far better chance of succeeding if you understand
your market, your customers, and your
competition.

5. #4UNDERSTAND THE
MOTIVES OF OTHERS
HOME ALONE
“Don’t worry about your home
– it’s in good hands”
BUSINESS
Unfortunately politics does exist in business, and
other people do often have ulterior motives.
Whilst they may appear to be helpful, be aware of
other things they may want.

6. #5SOMETIMES YOU
NEED THE STICK
HOME ALONE
"You're the only one acting up.
Now get upstairs."
BUSINESS
I’m a big believer in the carrot method to motivate
people. But it doesn’t always work. Sometimes
you need to use the stick so that people know
you expect better.

7. #6BE ON TIME
– ALWAYS
HOME ALONE
“We slept in!”
BUSINESS
When you’re late, everything else in your
performance suffers. Make being early your new
‘on time’, whether it’s that an important interview,
a business meeting, or your next presentation.

8. #7CHECK, CHECK
AND CHECK AGAIN
HOME ALONE
“Heather, do a head count”
BUSINESS
Whether it’s the latest quotation you’re putting
together for your biggest customer, the new
marketing brochure, or the contract for your
newest employee, make sure you check it
properly – even the smallest mistake can be
costly.

9. #8GO OUTSIDE YOUR
COMFORT ZONE
HOME ALONE
“I'm eight years old. Do you think I'd be here
alone - I don't think
so?"
BUSINESS
The best way to learn is by doing. And although it
can sometimes be daunting, that means pushing
yourself so you’re outside your comfort zone.

10. #9DON’T BE AFRAID TO
TAKE CALCULATED RISKS
HOME ALONE
“WOAH ………….”
BUSINESS
Yes there are many times when you should play
the percentages, but there are also times when
you should take calculated risks. That doesn’t
mean throwing caution to the wind (although
there are times that works too!), but taking a
chance when you think the percentages are on
your side.

11. #10TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR
APPEARANCE
HOME ALONE
"I took a shower and washed my hair with
adult formula shampoo which
I never did before but sort of enjoyed”
BUSINESS
Research suggests that people take your
message in based on 7% of what you say, 38%
on how you say it, and 55% how you look when
you say it – and that includes your appearance!

12. #11DEMAND QUALITY
IN EVERYTHING
HOME ALONE
“Is this toothbrush approved by the
American Dental Association?”
BUSINESS
Whether it’s a product you’re sourcing from a
supplier, some new equipment for your
boardroom, or a new vehicle for your fleet,
demand the highest quality possible.

13. #12PERCEPTION IS
GREATER THAN REALITY
HOME ALONE
"Did they come back?"
BUSINESS
Sometimes the real story doesn’t matter - the
real thing to be concerned about is how your
customers perceive you and your business.

14. #13ALWAYS BE
PREPARED
HOME ALONE
“Get the hell outta here.”
BUSINESS
It may be to avert a potential threat when it rears
it’s head, it may be to take advantage of an
opportunity when it arises, but always be
prepared. Always have your ‘elevator pitch’ ready
just in case you meet that customer you’ve been
trying to get in front of.

15. #14DON’T PANIC IN
TIMES OF CRISIS
HOME ALONE
“Dad, can you come here and help me?”
BUSINESS
Panic does not help. Instead, remain calm and
deal with the situation you are faced with. Keep a
cool head and weigh up your options. Act
decisively and quickly.

16. #15TAKE TIME TO
UNDERSTAND PEOPLE
HOME ALONE
“There's a lot of things going around about me.
You don't have to be afraid.”
BUSINESS
The only way to motivate individuals effectively is
to understand what makes them tick. Understand
them properly and you’ll find it that much easier
to motivate them.

17. #16BE KIND TO OTHERS
HOME ALONE
“I’m sorry, did you say you could help me?”
BUSINESS
If you believe in karma, you’ll believe in helping
others. You never know when you’ll need a
favour so make sure you take every opportunity
to help others. After all, they’ll remember you for
it, and be more likely to help you if, and when you
should need it.

18. #17USE EMOTION
HOME ALONE
“I'm begging ... from a mother to a mother ...
please!“
BUSINESS
Whether it’s making a sale, delivering a
presentation, or negotiating a business deal, you
can’t rely on statistics and numbers alone. You
need to use emotion to have the best impact
possible.

19. #18HAVE A PLAN
HOME ALONE
“"This is my house. I have to defend it!”
BUSINESS
No matter what you’re trying to achieve, make
sure you have a plan. Develop it properly, write it
down, and monitor your progress against it.

20. #19STAY ONE STEP AHEAD
OF YOUR COMPETITION
HOME ALONE
“When those guys come back, I’ll be ready!””
BUSINESS
If you’ve researched your competition (see #3)
you’ll know how you can exploit their weaknesses
and stay one step ahead of them. Keep your new
product developments secret until it’s time to
launch and have them playing catch-up.

21. #20DON’T UNDERESTIMATE
YOUR COMPETITION
HOME ALONE
“Hello …”
BUSINESS
Whilst you can try to stay one step ahead
of your competition, be careful you don’t
underestimate them. Give them the merit
they deserve and don’t underestimate
them.

22. #21SOMETIMES YOU
NEED TO IMPROVISE
HOME ALONE
“I'm going to feed you to my tarantula.“
BUSINESS
Even if you have a solid plan (see #18),
realise it won’t always go as you want it to.
Sometimes you need to improvise to be
successful. Plan for the unexpected, have a
Plan B, and improvise if things don’t go
according to plan.

23. #22PERSEVERE
HOME ALONE
“You guys give up, or are you thirsty for
more?!”
BUSINESS
Even if times seem tough, and even if thinks
aren’t going as you’d like them to, persevere
and don’t give up easily. Some of the
greatest achievements have come through
adversity.

24. #23REALISE YOU CAN’T
ALWAYS DO IT ALONE
HOME ALONE
“What are we going to do with him, Harry?"
BUSINESS
Don’t be too proud to ask for help. There are
always people who can help you achieve your
objective. Build a strong network so that help is
easier to find when you need it.

25. #24ALWAYS THINK OF
YOUR BRAND
HOME ALONE
“All the great one's leave their mark.
We're the Wet Bandits”
BUSINESS
Every time your customer interacts with your
brand, they are either confirming or
changing what your brand means to them.
Take every opportunity to strengthen that
brand perception.

26. #25SOMETIMES PEOPLE
ARE MORE READY
THAN YOU THINK
HOME ALONE
“"You went shopping?"
BUSINESS
You may not feel that employee is ready, but
sometimes giving them that extra responsibility is
what helps them to grow and develop into a
valuable member of your team.

27. For more lessons from the movies, visit:
www.80from20.com