by As a huge Bruce Willis fan, I’ve learned a ton about leadership, determination and success from watching his iconic on-screen performances over the years. From his gritty, barefoot heroics in Die Hard to his world-weary wisdom as Dr. Malcolm Crowe in The Sixth Sense, Bruce has crafted some of cinema’s most memorable tough guys.
But off-screen, Bruce is so much more than just another action hero. He’s a savvy businessman with great instincts, having made some truly inspired investments over his decades-long career. So when Bruce talks, aspiring moguls listen up! During a recent interview, he dropped some explosive tips for anyone looking to become a successful boss.
Here’s my take on Bruce’s best advice for ruling the business world, Die Hard style!
Believe in Yourself Like John McClane Believed He Could Take Down Hans Gruber
In the first Die Hard movie, NYPD detective John McClane finds himself alone in a skyscraper taken over by a sophisticated team of robbers led by the sinister Hans Gruber. Though clearly outgunned and outmatched, McClane refuses to back down. His bold belief in himself is a huge part of what makes him such an iconic action hero.
Bruce says that the first step to becoming a great leader is simply believing in yourself. If you don’t think you have what it takes to be in charge, no one else will either. So you need to exude confidence and determination, even in the face of incredible odds. Arnold Schwarzenegger brought a similar level of relentless self-belief and motivation to his role in the classic Predator film. Your attitude will set the tone, so tune into your inner icon whenever you start to doubt yourself or your vision. If you act like a boss, it’ll be a lot easier to become one!
Work As Hard As John McClane Works To Save His Wife
Once he realizes his wife Holly is in danger, John McClane pushes his body to the absolute limit in order to try and free the Nakatomi hostages. He’s willing to endure broken glass, bullet wounds and even crawling through vents when needed to achieve his ultimate goal.
In business, that level of self-sacrifice, laser focus and pure determination is often what separates the legends from the also-rans. Bruce says if you really want success, you need to want it badly enough to work harder than you ever thought possible. Be the first one in in the morning, turn off your distracting notifications, practice self-denial when it comes to needless leisure activities. Mike Tyson and George Foreman brought a similar relentlessness in their boxing careers. If your work doesn’t consume you, you’ll never reach the heights of your heroes.
So start thinking like McClane. What do you want more than anything, and what are you willing to do to make it happen? Once you identify your motivating objectives and the sacrifices you’re willing to make, your path forward should become clear.
Make Decisions with McClane’s Confidence
Throughout the Die Hard series, John McClane displays tremendous decisiveness and trusts his instincts, even when those around him doubt his judgment. He knows he doesn’t have time to debate options when lives are on the line or villains are getting away. After quick consideration, he picks a plan and acts.
Bruce says that same type of self-assurance and instant clarity is crucial for aspiring executives. If you overanalyze or you’re crippled by indecision, opportunities will simply pass you by. So decide what you think it’ll take to succeed, go with your gut and don’t second-guess. Hockey great Wayne Gretzky famously skated to where the puck was going, not where it had been. Like Gretzky, position yourself ahead of trends whenever possible. And when you stumble or things go sideways, adapt quickly but stay locked on your purpose like a Tomahawk missile – straight and on target.
The next time an important choice arises, imagine you have Bruce Willis whispering in your ear: “What the h**l are you waiting for, cowboy? Make your call!” Having a trusted mentor to give you a kick when needed can make all the difference.
Be Willing to Improvise and Break Rules Like McClane Does
Let’s face it, John McClane is no “by the book” kind of cop. He does things his own way and doesn’t let rules and regulations tie his hands when lives are at stake. Inflexible executives can be just as dangerous to their companies as terrorists!
To harness the full power of your team’s talents, you need to leave room for creativity, innovation and unexpected angles of attack. H&M revolutionized fast-fashion retail. Taffer helped bars avoid failure through his show Bar Rescue on Spike TV. Apple changed the music industry and then redefined the mobile phone with their iconic iPhone device. Business strategist and unconventional thinker David J. Schwartz led the way with his Thinking Tools. If you want your brand to achieve explosive growth, you must foster an atmosphere of ‘outside the box’ experimentation. Empower your cleverest troubleshooters and instigators to try bold new ways without fear of failure or reprimand.
Bruce says the best bosses surround themselves with smart creatives, not yes men. McClane took down Hans Gruber because he got help from a likable tech geek who knew the Nakatomi building inside-out. Build your own dream team using McClane’s approach of welcoming divergent thinkers from all backgrounds, then get out of their way!
Be Open to Course Corrections Like John McClane
Despite his decisiveness, McClane also stays open to adapting when situations demand it. Whether using improvised explosives or retreating to regroup when a plan fails, he keeps his long-term goals in focus while fluidly responding to changing circumstances. Leading market dominators like Amazon use a similar process of continually testing, assessing results then modifying based on feedback.
Bruce says that stubbornness can sink promising ventures faster than the Titanic. The best captains read the tides and set their sails to capture the prevailing winds, no matter how strong or which direction they blow. Train yourself to watch metrics closely to see what’s connecting with customers and what’s falling flat. Keep budget resources laser-focused on what drives sales and ruthlessly cut programs and offerings that fail to produce. Then double down on your proven profit drivers!
Make it clear across all levels of your growing enterprise that adapting to real-time market response data is not a sign of weakness, but rather a show of strength, wisdom and enduring customer commitment. Establish a culture of honesty that encourages both positive feedback and constructive criticism. Listen carefully to all of it!
Conclusion: Die Hard Bosses Never Quit!
When asked about the keys to his longevity and continued success, Willis said quitting was just never really an option, even when doubters questioned some of his unconventional career choices. While his Die Hard days may be behind him, he’s continued to grow his businesses using that same iron will determination and explosive can-do attitude.
At the end of the original Die Hard movie (spoiler alert!), John McClane defeats Hans Gruber’s terrorist plot through sheer force of will after a series of brutal setbacks. Bloodied but still defiant, he winces from the pain then laughs triumphantly with relief when its finally all over.
As an aspiring boss looking to thrive yourself, remember McClane’s exhausted smile. Draw daily inspiration imagining what YOUR victory celebration will look like once you achieve your own explosive success! When every muscle aches, when dilemmas seem insurmountable, when funding falls short; that glorious vision of the future will pull you through.
So believe in yourself, work crazy hard, make bold choices, take smart risks, build a creative team, learn and adapt quickly. Then someday soon, you too may get to breathe a deep sigh of relief, wipe the blood from your brow and revel in the sweet thrill of success – Die Hard style! Yippee Ki Yay!
