This article was originally published on ComeRecommended.com.
Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks is the story of how the classic film Mary Poppins came to be. Since the film comes out on Friday, I thought it would be a good idea to go back and watch Mary Poppins.
Miss Mary Poppins is the perfect nanny, and the words of wisdom she shares with the Banks children are lessons we can carry with us even as adults. Who knew Mary Poppins gave us actual career advice? Here are five things we can learn about our careers from this magical nanny:
1. Strive to be practically perfect in every way. When Mary Poppins first meets the Banks children, she sizes them up with her magical measuring tape. Each kid has some room for improvement, but Mary Poppins is “practically perfect in every way.” She sets the bar very high for herself and strives to meet it. In your career, you should do the same. Always set new goals, both short- and long-term, and devise a way to reach them. Learn new skills, earn promotions, and never stop aiming for perfection. Sure, there will be some mistakes along the way, but the lessons you learn from those mistakes will help you perfect yourself in the future.
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2. In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. This is the opening line in the song “A Spoonful Of Sugar” and it is very important to remember for the rest of your life. Even if you have a career in something you love, there are going to be tasks you don’t enjoy. You have to learn how to make the boring, tedious things more fun. “You find the fun,” she says, “And snap! The job’s a game!” Whether that means singing while you work or making a game out of it, you can make any task more fun. When you’re having fun, that happiness will spread through the rest of your work. A spoonful of sugar really does make the medicine go down.
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3. Use your imagination. If you’ve seen Mary Poppins, you know a good portion of the film takes place in a fantasy world with a carousel horse race and dancing penguins. It seems silly, but Mary is trying to show the children the importance of imagination. Creativity can make you incredibly successful in your career. It can get you recognized or even land you a promotion. Always strive to be more creative throughout your career.
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4. Learn how to express yourself. It is incredibly important to choose your words carefully when communicating with others if you want to express yourself properly. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious is perhaps the most famous made-up word to ever exist, and it comes from Mary Poppins. The song goes, “You need to find a way to say, precisely what you mean.” Your words can have extreme consequences, so choose wisely. When in doubt, you can always use this one!
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5. It’s OK to move on. At the end of the film, Mary Poppins has succeeded in her goal of getting Mr. Banks to spend more time with his children. He is now much less focused on work and more appreciative of the joys in life. Since Mary has done all she can, she decides it’s time for her to leave the children behind. It can be scary to leave behind the comforts of a job you know you do well, but you need to evaluate it fully. If you believe you’ve accomplished all you can in a particular job, sometimes the best solution is to move on, and that’s OK. Have to courage to try new experiences and enter the unknown.
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Though Mary Poppins teaches very young children how to live, she also teaches the same valuable lessons to their parents and to us. If we remember to use our imaginations, make our jobs a little more fun, and strive for perfection, we’ll be better for it.
What other things does Mary Poppins teach us?