The opportunity to learn from other people's experiences is extremely important, regardless of your field. As an aspiring entrepreneur, understanding the nuances of the business world without making the same mistakes can save you time and money and give you peace of mind.
One way to do so is by watching TV shows that offer lessons and perspectives on entrepreneurship. We already listed a bunch of reality shows in our Shows (Un)Like Shark Tank article. Here are some more options on the best shows for entrepreneurs you can watch.
1. Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a comedy series that follows a group of tech entrepreneurs as they navigate the competitive world of, you guessed it, Silicon Valley. The show is full of insights into the startup culture and the challenges that come with it. It especially hits the bullseye with its emphasis on notions like innovation, teamwork, and risk-taking.
2. Billions
Foresight and the ability to adapt are two crucial skills for any entrepreneur. Season that with the ability to make tough decisions and take calculated risks, and you get a magic formula for success. Billions offers all these and more.
It’s a drama series that follows the high-stakes world of hedge fund managers and their legal adversaries while highlighting important lessons in leadership, strategy, network building, and risk-taking and teaching you a thing or two about these.
3. The Mind, Explained
Netflix’s The Mind, Explained is a thought-provoking docuseries that examines the intricacies of cognitive function and its impact on our behaviors and judgments.
Business success hinges on understanding consumer needs, and what better way to gain insight into these needs than by delving into behavioral patterns? Although not geared specifically towards entrepreneurs, this series offers invaluable psychological insights that could prove instrumental in making informed business decisions based on data about consumer behavior trends.
4. Halt and Catch Fire
Halt and Catch Fire by AMC offers an exciting account of engineers and entrepreneurs who strive to introduce an unconventional computer during the 1980s. The talented actors execute their roles flawlessly while keeping you on the edge with their trials and triumphs.
Following Startup's footsteps, Halt and Catch Fire is all about navigating new territories within rapidly changing industries. It also shows how endurance, foresight, and persistence prove beneficial amid setbacks.
5. Chef's Table
Chef's Table is a Netflix series that profiles different chefs and their unique approach to cooking. While the show may not be strictly about entrepreneurship, it still offers valuable lessons in creativity and innovation. It has interesting insights on taking risks, experimenting, and offering unique value to customers — it might also make you drool a little. You’ll see that you can reverse mistakes, sometimes even turn them into opportunities, if you think outside the box.
6. Undercover Billionaire
Undercover Billionaire is a reality TV show that follows successful entrepreneurs as they attempt to build a new business from scratch with just $100 in three months. Although some criticize the show for being unrealistic, once you filter out the obvious made-for-television drama, Undercover Billionaire provides a roadmap of the basics of entrepreneurship. You learn about the process of getting and allocating resources, the required attitude, the importance of taking risks at the right time (and stepping down when necessary), and showing perseverance.
7. Succession
Succession is a drama series that follows the Roy family, owner of a global media and entertainment conglomerate, as they deal with succession planning and internal power struggles. There’s a lot to take in from this show on notions like leadership, family business, and corporate culture.
The show paints a nuanced portrait of the challenges of managing personal and professional interests in family-owned businesses and teaches you about the value of a strong corporate culture.
The first thing you’ll notice about Succession is the negative impact a toxic work environment can have on employee morale and productivity. The show really underscores the importance of aligning company culture with business objectives and developing a positive work environment. PS: You won’t like any of the characters, but that’s the point.
8. Dirty Money
Dirty Money – an engrossing Netflix documentary series – explores the dubious maneuvers employed by profit-obsessed corporations. This show offers riveting insight into corporate malpractice, ranging from corruption to deception, with far-reaching implications for people everywhere.
By highlighting unchecked corporate power and demonstrating how such conduct leads even dominant companies down the path of decline, this program prompts us to scrutinize the ethics of big business ever more closely.
Ready for the real thing?!
9. The Pitch
Although these shows offer valuable insights on how to start a business from scratch and keep it running, their main purpose is entertainment, not education. It’s important to note that you can't climb the mountain of entrepreneurship just by watching actors portray someone else's entrepreneurial story.
If you're looking for real-world examples of people in the trenches, building their companies right now, you will learn way more from The Pitch Show. It features startup founders pitching their business ideas to a panel of REAL startup investors, not reality TV stars.
This podcast has invaluable advice that you can't find in a fictional show. So, if you want to learn from the experiences of others and avoid learning things the hard way, give The Pitch a watch on YouTube or your podcast player of choice.
