Maybe you’ve spent the past few weeks enjoying an endless stream of Hallmark movies — or maybe that’s not your thing. Either way, these holiday comfort watches sneak in more than small-town charm and predictable meet-cutes. There are real business lessons beneath the twinkling lights and gingerbread competitions.
A post on the CO— blog says these holiday staples often feature challenges felt by many small businesses. From struggling Christmas tree farms to quaint bakeries on the brink of closure, these stories hit close to home for anyone who’s ever tried to keep a business going. In this issue of PromoPro Daily, we highlight the post and some business lessons from Hallmark’s festive films.
Create traditions that make your brand memorable (Christmas at the Plaza). According to the CO— post, this movie is about a historian who is tasked with creating an exhibit that honors the history of Christmas at The Plaza hotel. Jessica, the historian, is paired with Nick, the hotel’s decorator, for the project. After digging through boxes of Plaza history without any inspiration for the exhibit, Jessica is ready to call it quits. The post says her planned departure is short-lived when she notices a tree topper on a Plaza assistant’s desk and learns the hotel has had a different tree topper every year since 1907. The Plaza isn’t a small business, the post says, but it offers excellent branding around Christmas time that its visitors have come to expect.
Take advantage of opportunities that can beef up your resume (even if they are out of your comfort zone) (A Gingerbread Romance). In this movie, the CO— post says an architect is assigned to represent her firm in a life-sized gingerbread house competition. Hoping the project will boost her chances of running the firm’s new office in Paris, Taylor, the architect, agrees to enter the competition. After losing her baking partner, however, she seeks help from Adam, a dedicated baker and single father. Although Adam, who dreams of running his own bakery, is hesitant to join the competition, he finally agrees with persuasion from his daughter. Although you may not necessarily stumble into a Christmas-themed competition to boost your resume, the post recommends keeping an eye out for opportunities that can take your career to the next level.
Identify your strengths and capitalize on them (Coming Home for Christmas). According to the CO— post, this holiday film follows Lizzie, a down-on-her-luck art history graduate, as she takes a job as a house manager at the Ashford, a family’s estate in Virginia. Tasked with planning the family’s Christmas gala, Lizzie faces challenges from the grumpy heir, Robert, and his socialite relatives. Lizzie, however, actually finds herself enjoying — and succeeding at — planning the holiday gala. Through holiday traditions and festive cheer, Lizzie helps rekindle the family’s Christmas spirit. The post says if you identify with Lizzie, take some time to identify your professional strengths.
Hallmark movies aren’t just feel-good holiday escapes — they often provide inspiring tips for entrepreneurship and leadership. See what lessons you can spot if you tune in this week.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and yours! PromoPro Daily will be back in your inbox December 26.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: The CO— blog, which delivers actionable insights for business owners.
