Scaling a business can be quite intimidating for many people. It requires the ability to implement efficient systems necessary to streamline growth, all while hiring and training new employees in a timely and uniform manner, to ensure every facet of the company runs smoothly during the growth period. Michael Barayev has successfully done this with his sales and marketing company, Barayev Marketing, to over 150 full-time employees, while generating multiple 7 figures in profits in just 3 short years.

He comes from modest beginnings and spent years as a door to door sales agent before starting his sales company. Barayev has overcome many challenges in his life, both personal and professional. His resilience has allowed him to become a revolutionary figure in the sales industry, and he is now focusing his efforts on training and coaching other entrepreneurs and business owners on how to grow and scale their own businesses, through his program “Barayev Bootcamp”.

To give you a glimpse of Barayev’s mindset, here are 5 Hollywood sales movies he recommends every entrepreneur make an effort to watch.

1. The Founder

A biographical film that details the story of Ray Kroc, who began his career as a door to door salesman and ultimately founded the McDonald’s fast-food empire. The story details Kroc’s journey and the many challenges and rejections he faced along the way. The film is an excellent example of what can be accomplished through hard work, determination, and persistence.

2. Inception 

A classic science fiction film that features a thief who steals information from the subconscious minds of his targets. The idea extractor, as he is known, is the most wanted man in the world for industrial espionage. He receives an offer to have his criminal record erased in exchange for his services, but this time it is the inception and implantation of ideas, not extraction. 

The takeaway here is that positive ideas implanted in the mind will almost always produce positive results. Your actions, as well as your results, are a direct representation of the kinds of thoughts you “implant” into your mind.

 

3. Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street is a famous biographical film that recounts the rise and fall of Jordan Belfort. The world-renowned director Martin Scorsese shows how Wall Street can be a direct reflection of American hustle and spirit, but also the dangers that can come along with newfound extreme wealth. It is a warning tale of what can happen when success turns into greed, and ultimately spirals into crime and debauchery.

4. War Dogs

Opportunity is everywhere, and Efraim Diveroli sees opportunity in supplying the U.S. government with weapons to fight the war in Afghanistan. He brings in his friend, David Packouz, and they quickly start earning big money by becoming international arms dealers. They exploit the government’s initiative that states private businesses can bid on army contracts. It all starts well and they are living the high life but they soon realize they’re in over their heads after they secure a $300 million deal. This puts them in a tough spot and they begin doing business with some unsavory characters in order to deliver on that deal, and end up in a world of trouble.

War Dogs tells the true story of two men getting ahead of themselves when the big bucks start rolling in. It serves as a cautionary tale to entrepreneurs who choose money and power over ethics.

 

5. Limitless

Imagine being able to utilize the full power of your brain. Humans only use 10% of their brainpower but through a fictional nootropic drug, NZT-48, Edward Morra was able to fully utilize his brain capacity. Before his ex-brother-in-law gives him the drug, he is a struggling writer, but after, he is able to complete his book, invest in the stock market, win at poker, and completely turn his life around.

While a nootropic drug is perhaps not the best route, this film shows just how much potential we hold within ourselves, and also how much potential is wasted. 

 

While ultimately your own experiences and interactions will help guide you on your path to success, there are undoubtedly some lessons that can be learned through others’ successes or failures, even in the form of Hollywood blockbusters. Barayev encourages entrepreneurs to seek out inspiration everywhere. Viewing these films together with your team could be an excellent, thought-provoking team activity.