Lessons ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Should Have Taught

I watched The Devil Wears Prada on a flight from Houston to London this week. The movie was enjoyable and frustrating. Like many Hollywood productions it devalued ambition and professional improvement. Being “true” and professional success aren’t incompatible. In fact you need to be true to yourself in order to really succeed. The movie tries to teach four lessons, all of which are wrong. Here’s the right way to go.

Don’t Fear Hard Work

In The Devil Wears Prada the main character Andy Sachs finds a demanding job with long and unsociable hours. She accepts this, works hard and tries to move forward. She’s constantly undermined by a slacker boyfriend and friends who make her feel guilty about making sacrifices to succeed in her job.

If you want to succeed you have to work hard, and sometimes you’ll have to make sacrifices. Develop a good work / life balance, but don’t feel guilty when you have to put in some extra hours.

Business Hours Aren’t The Only Time You Do Business

The social events of the fashion business in The Devil Wears Prada are correctly portrayed as important to Andy’s professional success. It’s only as she starts to succeed that she’s trusted to attend these networking opportunities. The movie portrays the events as shallow but networking opportunities are vital for freelancers.

Social events are one opportunity. How about getting a client from an unexpected elevator pitch? Or picking up business cards that other businesses leave at restaurants – potential clients for a web designer. Don’t force business into a social situation, but don’t be afraid of spotting an opportunity either.

Change Isn’t A Bad Thing

In the middle of The Devil Wears Prada, Andy has an epiphany. If she’s going to succeed in the fashion industry then she has to commit to change. She does so and the benefits are obvious. She clearly appreciates the change as well, and is happier and more motivated.

Andy’s friends see the change as a betrayal of her principles, and in the end the script concludes likewise. Change isn’t a betrayal though. Flexibility is vital to succeed professionally, changing to suit circumstance, learn new skills and address problems.

Never Be Ashamed Of Success

Andy Sachs is making a success of her career. Her friends are not. Her boyfriend is a slacker, with no ambition himself and constant complaints at Andy’s sacrifices. The movie concludes that he’s in the right and Andy’s in the wrong. That’s a Hollywood angle. Really it’s the slacker boyfriend who’s entirely wrong.

Never be ashamed of success, be proud. If you do good work, get a good contract, make good money then it means you’re doing something right. It doesn’t mean you’ve sold out, it means you’re good at what you do. Enjoy the benefits of your success.

Look For A Real Hollywood Ending

The real Hollywood ending is professional and personal success. The real Hollywood ending is three quarters of the way through The Devil Wears Prada, where Andy has overcome difficulties, learned new skills and achieved success. She’s a poised and confident woman despite friends who don’t care for her or her career, and try to hold her back. She’s has new contacts and new friends, and is on the ladder to greater professional success.

Aim for that Hollywood ending, and ignore the viewpoint that to succeed means to sell out. You’ll be happier, your family and friends will be happier, and you won’t have fallen into the trap of a false Hollywood morality tale!