I’ve said it before and I will say it again, Entourage is by far my favorite television series of all time. There are some close seconds and thirds, but we can save that for another time. I probably re-watch the series in its entirety multiple times a year. I find the story fascinating. The way the characters and situations they are going through change throughout the series is awesome. Granted, I am not an aspiring Hollywood actor, living in a mansion with 3 of my best friends, but I have pulled a lot of great lessons and parallels from the show that I find to be true. Here are the top 5 lessons that speak to why Entourage is one of the best tv shows about sales:

1. Your Support System Is Everything

Vincent Chase would be nothing without his “entourage”. His best friend is his manager, his brother is his go-to chef, and his other friend, Turtle, does the driving.  Throughout the series, each of these characters tends to venture out and find their own success, but at the end of the day, it’s always about the family. It is often Turtle who is driving Johnny Drama to his auditions. Eric is always making sure Vince is where he needs to be. And Vince, well… I think Vince does enough for the other guys. The point is, no matter what you do, or what you are trying to achieve, the success rate is always higher when you have a team there to support and push you. Whether it be a co-worker, manager, mentor, spouse, parents, your dog, or you name it, your support system is what is going to help you get through the lows, and even better, there to celebrate with you during the highs.

2. There Are Going To Be Highs And Lows

What a perfect segue. Without giving away too many spoilers, the main character goes through a number of “ups and downs” throughout the series. And I love it. Highest grossing movie in the country one year, to an embarrassing premiere at the Cannes film festival in the next. Issues with behavior and drugs come into play and even a stint in rehab. Okay, maybe there are some spoilers, but if you are reading this without even seeing the show, shame on you. The point is, no matter what you do or what you are trying to achieve, you are going to run into the ups and downs. A cliché in sales is that it is a rollercoaster, and it sure can be. My advice on surviving the downs? Focus on what motivates you to work so hard for the “ups”.

3. It’s All About Who You Know

It is crazy the number of celebrity cameos throughout the show. Some examples include Snoop Dogg, Mark Wahlberg, P. Diddy, Mandy Moore, and Kanye West. If you notice, the guys are often out and about, running into an endless amount of “A-list” celebrities in the Hollywood hills. Vinny’s agent Ari, well he knows everyone, and he never shied away from that in regards to getting things done for his clients. For example, the guys were SOL when it came to grabbing a last-minute flight to a film festival in season 4. Then what happened? Kanye to the rescue. Nowhere for them to stay while filming a movie in Malibu? No problem, Vinny just borrowed Jessica Alba’s beach house as they became friends from a movie they did together in a previous season. Get out there. Meet new people. Meet a LOT of new people. You never know who you may need to call on for a favor down the road.

4. Be Humble

Okay, admit it. You wanted to sing, “sit down” after reading that. But one thing you will notice that is a constant throughout the series is Vinnie’s ability to never let success go to his head (not counting season 7). As mentioned earlier, it’s always about the team. Finding the best house for him and his boys. Making sure Johnny isn’t being forgotten about in the agency. In fact, there is one episode where Vinny won’t take a phone call from Ari (which by the way, was a call to go over a multi-million-dollar movie offer) until someone from the agency got Johnny a job. Every time he gets a big check, you can bet the next scene is Vinny taking his boys out to buy something “sick”. He prides himself on doing what he has to do, supporting those that support him, and just keep moving forward. I think the ability to give back is the best way to show how truly humble and appreciative you are.

5. Remember To Have Fun

I mean, that is why this show is so great. It is fun. Whether it is taking time to celebrate, relax, or take a risk, make sure you are having fun and enjoying yourself. It is easy to get burnt out from the daily, weekly, monthly grind. It is important to enjoy yourself. Take that vacation. Buy that car. Go see that concert. Hey, if you are in a position to even have the option to do any of these things, then you must be doing something right! As mentioned earlier, one of the best parts of a solid support system is having a crew to celebrate with. Whether that be your friends, your spouse, your kids, whoever. Sometimes the best way to celebrate is to go home, sit down, and just let out a huge sigh (of relief). Keep your eyes on the celebration at the end of the month, and I promise that will help you get through the grind of the day. We all get one crack at the game of life. Make sure you are doing it right!

DM