Popcorn & Profits
Movie: Erin Brockovich
Why Erin Brockovich Hits Home
I see a lot of myself in Erin Brockovich not because of the headlines, but because of the hustle between them. She didn’t have the perfect résumé. No polished elevator pitch. No tidy plan. What she had was grit. Instinct. And a refusal to sit down when she knew she was right. She moved forward not with privilege, but with persistence and a deep, almost irrational belief that she could figure it out as she went.
I know that rhythm. I’ve lived it.
As a single mother and business owner, I’ve built things mid-stride. I’ve made decisions with one eye on the numbers and the other on the school calendar. I’ve led meetings, closed deals, and rebalanced budgets while quietly carrying the weight of everything else. Like Erin, I’ve had to be my own backup plan. And through it all, like her, I’ve learned something important: showing up fully as you are isn’t a liability. It’s a superpower. Because here’s what makes Erin unforgettable she didn’t shed her femininity to lead. She leaned into it. The heels stayed on. The skirts stayed short. (I’m personally probably not going that short with my skirts, but more power to her!) The lip liner stayed loud. She didn’t shrink herself to fit the room; she made the room adjust. Her power wasn’t in performing masculinity it was in being undeniably herself. That kind of confidence that kind of clarity is something I hold close. Because strength doesn’t always wear a suit. Sometimes it shows up in heels, with receipts in one hand and resolve in the other. Sometimes it looks like being loud when you’re expected to be quiet. Beautiful when you're expected to be bland. Fierce and feminine and never apologizing for either. Erin reminds me that you don’t have to dull your shine to be taken seriously. And you don’t have to choose between softness and strength. You can be both, and win.
An outfit inspired by Erin Brockovich:
Top: BCX similar Petal and Pup
Skirt: Amazon Fashion / Norma Kamali
Belt: Vernoica Beard
Shoes: Revolve
Earrings: Tuckernuck
Cut to the Lesson:
1. Persistence Beats Credentials
Erin didn’t have a law degree or traditional background, but she outworked everyone. I don’t have my MBA. I have a a bachelors Electronic Media degree with a minor in Journalism. I’ve admittedly had imposter syndrom about it at various times over the years. Erin Brockovich is a good reminder, if you really want something, it’s not about titles, it’s about effort.
2. Listen First, Talk Second
She won people over not by talking at them, but by truly listening to their stories. I love the art of selling, and the first lesson I teach a new sales coaching client is to listen, not talk. It can seem quite opposite, especially when selling, to listen more rather than work to explain your product or services. Listening means the client is going to feel heard and build trust with you. It also means you’ll be taking the time to solve their actual problem, or identify if your solutions are a good fit for them.
3. Details Are Everything
She noticed things others missed (like weird medical records and utility reports). Because she paid attention to details nobody else was, her firm and clients were incredibly successful. The details matter, train your team to dig deeper. The answer and breakthroughs are often in the fine print. The small details also make the most impact. When you onboard as a client at Happy Medium, you’ll fill out a client onboarding form asking everything from your favorite drinks to how you prefer to be communicated with.
4. Take on Goliath
She challenged a billion-dollar company with just a legal pad and confidence. The just go for it attitude is necessary in business. Being scared can happen so easily if you overthink it all. Taking the first next step in a project will make it seem much less daunting. Having the confidence to take on the big projects means potential big wins. When I started Happy Medium, we placed media for a local car dealership in Des Moines, IA. Now we have global clients, scary, but good scary. So whatever is in your head, or the next big opportunity, just go for it.
6. Emotional Intelligence is a Superpower
She connected with people emotionally, not just professionally. Running a business likely means you’re also leading people who work for you. If I could go back in time and restart Happy Medium all over again, I would quadruple my work on my emotional intelligence as a leader. I was 27 years old when I started the company, so I probably had a lot of work to do on this in general. I’ve worked hard over the years to learn, grow and show up as a better mentor, leader, and support to my team and clients. The change has been drastic and I’m proud, but Erins ability to connect with people at an emotional level is what got that case done.
