So everyone geeks out over the Social Network. It's a great movie, and the number of people it has inspired to build great companies must be huge (plus the fact that it's sound track is killer doesn't hurt).
But I want to point out that an equally epic entrepreneurship movie came out three years earlier, which I think deserves just as much credit: American Gangster. While Denzel Washington might not have the awkwardness of Jesse Elsenburg that us layfolk so easily empathize with, or the fun drop-of-college-to-be-a-billionaire theme that is so inspiring, he pulls of the enterprising-underground-rags-to-riches-millionaire-entrepreneur perfectly.
When you look past the fact that the man is distributing drugs and see his pure enterprising talent, you have to admit, he is a legendary leader. Had he been creating a tech empire, I have no doubt that he would have been on par if not beyond Zuckerburg or Jobs.
The dude is fearless. He flawlessly demonstrates the ability to create a high-quality product and a widely-recognized brand. He delegates control and power to his employees, who execute his overarching vision. He allows nothing and no one to stop him, flying to the opposite side of the world to set up the supply chain that he needs.
Unlike Zuckerburg, who was a smart guy that got pretty damn lucky, American Gangster is a story about a man who apprenticed a business legend and successfully learned how to carry out his vision, surpassing even his infamous predecessor. Zuckerburg was an ambitious guy, but his enterprise landed right in his lap; Frank Lucas had a distinct vision and built it with no funding or guidance whatsoever.
This form of enterprising talent is rare, and it greatly inspires me. Obviously I have no desire to form a drug cartel, but I admit, I am tremendously inspired by the story of American Gangster.
Just sayin'
