The overall impression that this show has left in the hearts and minds of many is one that comes with the territory. It is very interesting to see the extent of how situations can change how a person deals with life, much less the effects it has – most which are never planned. Walter White did not set out to be a meth manufacturer, but the circumstances he found himself in gave him no choice.
If you want a crash course on being an entrepreneur and the challenges that come with being one, look no further than Breaking Bad. Easily one of the most popular shows in television history, it not only offers a glimpse into the life of drug addicts, teaching on drug addiction like drug and alcohol rehab resources PA but also the businesses that fuel the drug trafficking trade – and that is worth looking into (even if you are not a drug dealer).
It is important to have a product or service that stands out from the competition :
If there is an aspect that was helping Walter in the drug business, it was his insistence for perfectionism. That was the reason he made crystal meth that had such high quality – in fact, at a level of 99 percent purity, with a characteristic blue color.
That was the secret to his success, and he consistently delivered on his promise, leading him to work with more drug dealers that wanted his stuff. He even consistently reminds Jesse that the product they make will not be substandard, and he sticks to this rule.
As an entrepreneur, the key to having a successful business or brand is exactly that – making sure that the product or service you offer is of the best quality. You want people to spend money on your product, so make sure you are providing the best.
Taking control of distribution :
During the starting stages of a business, the entrepreneur does almost everything. This can be a good or a bad thing, depending on how you handle it.
Walter has the same situation on his hands. He has the knowledge of making the drug, but he does not stop there – he wants to have control of the distribution as well, therefore eliminating the cases of ‘middlemen’. Sometimes for a business, that is the way to go regardless of whether you are starting or at the advanced stages – a similar real-life situation being that of Apple Inc.
You need to be passionate about what you do :
Walter White was a very passionate man when it came to chemistry and teaching high school students the subject. It translated into his work of ‘cooking’ crystal meth – one could tell he had a deep understanding of what he was doing.
So many people are in jobs that they are not passionate about, and some entrepreneurs are unfortunately in businesses they do not enjoy. However, the secret to enjoying your work is to have a passion for it, and it will give you the drive to accomplish the goals you have set for your business and yourself.
Having a team is important :
No man is an island – and it applies to business as well. Running a business takes a lot of dedication and hard work, and it is very difficult to make it on your own.
The dynamic duo of Jesse and Walter teaches us the value of having a solid team behind you and your brand. The two individuals worked very well together, despite them having very different approaches to the business. That already teaches you that taking on the complete responsibility of operating a business alone is a huge task and you need some help.
Delegating tasks to others and holding each other accountable will help all the people involved to grow. This is similar to how these two pushed each other to get their responsibilities done.
The networks you gave are just as important as the product you sell :
Walter was a brilliant man with the best product – but he did not have the negotiation skills of Jesse. That means that he would not be able to succeed if it was not for the help of Jesse since his ability to network and build relationships was key to business growth.
The networks you have are vital to the growth of your business, and it will allow you to grow the business to the next level. You will need the right people to achieve this, so make sure you as an entrepreneur prioritize that aspect.
It is important to realize you have much in common with your competition and enemies :
In the series, Walter’s brother-in-law, Hank, is an agent of the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), who stops at nothing to arrest drug dealers and manufacturers. That puts him in direct opposition to the goals of Walter as well as the business itself. In addition, the introduction of Gus in the later episodes of the series posed a direct threat to Walter’s interests, since he is just as ruthless in dealing with competition as Walter is, and he even threatens to kill him at some point in the story.
All these threats, in addition to other problems that Walter faced throughout the series, made you realize that all these threats were mirrors of Walter’s character – ruthless, determined and dedicated to the goals they want to achieve.
Be patient with the people you are dealing with because it is essential to your growth :
There are business transactions you will not enjoy, and that is a guarantee you must live with as an entrepreneur. However, those uncomfortable choices come with the territory.
Some clients will annoy you, while others will be very difficult to deal with. The difference is that social preferences need to be kept aside when dealing with such issues, as they are more important at that moment – priorities.
Final thoughts :
You do not need to see Breaking Bad to get the important lessons it teaches you – it shows that most inspirations come from the most unlikely of places. His enterprise was illegal, sure, but the lessons he teaches are not, and they can truly help you to grow your business.
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