My 6 favorite movies about Total Rewards

Directed by James Foley and written by David Mamet (the same guy that wrote the stage play of the same name), this is arguably the best film ever made about how to run a regional real estate sales office, with Alec Baldwin helping you through your ABCs and your AIDAs.

Against a rainy neon backdrop, we learn about the importance of good quality lead flow, the runs of bad luck that plague sellers, the role of strong first-level sales managers, the purpose of sales ops, and receive a masterclass in sales by Al Pacino (and a disasterclass by Jack Lemmon).

The movie about working at a software company in the 90s that we never knew we needed. Now I can’t imagine a world without it.

In Mike Judge’s adaptation of his own cartoon series, he lays bare the complex relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic components of reward, the dangers of under-valuing employee engagement, work-life balance, a good-quality Swingline, and the critical role of technology in the work space.

How times have changed and also…kinda…not.

Don’t forget to file your TPS reports.

Now, I wouldn’t necessarily take this film as any kind of moral compass. Whatsoever. In any capacity. Ever. But, if nothing else, Jordan Belfort knew how to sell and DiCaprio knows how to act.

Moral questions aside, we learn how to close, the importance of supply and demand, unorthodox approaches to talent acquisition, and an excellent strategy for ordering martinis at lunch.

Pick up the phone, and start dialing.

I can’t say too much about this one without spoilers but if you find yourself in a moral quandary at work, this could well be the movie for you.

Adapted from Grisham’s novel, this follows the story of a young talented lawyer (Cruisey) making tough decisions for his career and his family. It’s a modern Machiavellian parable on the dynamics of power with a lot at stake. I’ll say no more.

Am I the only one that still enjoys a good 90s thriller?

Is there a better way to understand the stock market than having Margot Robbie explain it from a bathtub while holding a glass of Champagne? No. No there is not.

Equity is a perilously complex area and can easily trip up the best of us. Adam McKay’s adaptation of the book by Michael Lewis on the 2008 financial crisis can teach us a thing or two (and is certainly more entertaining than trawling Investopedia).

This remake by Ben Stiller tells us that happiness can come from unexpected places – so long as we are looking for it. Walter is good at his job but he is unmotivated, has no career path, and a change in ownership threatens the culture of his company.

Sometimes we need to get out of our comfort zones to fully appreciate life.