1. Gladiator
Discover Life and Success Lessons From The Great Movie
YASH GUPTA
RAHUL VERMA
VIKRAM SINGH
UTKARSH GUPTA
SIPAK MOHANTA
PAWAN BHARAMBE
2. The plot revolves around Crowe portrays the loyal Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius, who
is betrayed when the Emperor's ambitious son, Commodus, murders his father and seizes the throne.
Reduced to slavery, Maximus rises through the ranks of the gladiatorial arena to avenge the murder
of his family and his Emperor. Here are 14 great lessons from Gladiator :
3. Maximus was a family man. He turned down the glory of being Emperor of Rome in order to
embrace the warmth of familial love. Although Maximus’ wife was brutally murdered, this did
not dampen his devotion to her. Throughout the film a romantic tension exists between
Maximus and the Emperor’s daughter. Yet Maximus stayed loyal to his dead wife and family
and turned down her advances.
Lesson # 1 : He loved his family and was loyal to them
4. Before Maximus became a gladiator, he was a loyal general in the Roman army. His men
respected and honored him greatly. When Rome falls into corrupted hands, he did not give
up on his country. Loyally striving to fulfill the dying emperor’s wish for Roman rule to be
restored to the people and the Senate, Maximus toils and sacrifices until the Republic is
restored.
Lesson # 2 : He loved his country.
5. In order to reach any goal, we must make sacrifices. In Gladiator, Maximus made the
ultimate sacrifice and died accomplishing his mission. Until the end, he keeps his goal in
mind and never deviates from the plan. At the end of the movie, when Maximus is lying dead
on the ground, we can say peacefully and proudly: “Maximus, mission accomplished.”
Lesson # 3 : He made many sacrifice.
6. In every battle, whether in war or in the arena, Maximus always defeated his opponent with a
combination of brute force and strategy. He was able to ignore pain to get the job done. He
never gave in to fear. While Maximus excelled at the martial arts, he did not revel in
bloodshed. He only fought when he needed to and in the service of a worthy cause.
Lesson # 4 : He could defeat anyone, yet remained honorable.
7. The biggest lesson in the movie is that Maximus is ready to die in order to accomplish his
mission. When you are ready to die to make your dream come true, then you will succeed.
It’s as simple as that. When you want something so bad that you are willing to die for it, then
you will get it. That’s exactly what the movie The Gladiator is all about. Maximus risks his
life in order to get revenge for his family.
Lesson # 5 : He had total commitment.
8. Gladiators create a vision. Having and communicating a clear picture of a future goal will
lead to its achievement. Dare to think great! Maximus helped his fellow gladiators see that
they could overthrow their enemies and survive the horror of the battles they were forced to
participate in.
Lesson # 6 : He created a vision.
9. Maximus focuses all his energy and efforts on a single goal. He wants to kill the Emperor of
Rome and get his revenge. He works hard and never gives up. He works with his friends
towards the same goal. He is a leader and leads by example. He is a perfect example of total
focus on the mission.
Lesson # 7 : He had total focus
10. When Maximus was a general and a gladiator, he fought up front where the firestorm was
heaviest. So does a good business leader. Working "in the trenches" shows that you're not
afraid to get your hands dirty, it helps you fully understand the issues your "soldiers" are
facing, and inspires loyalty in your troops.
Lesson # 8 : He led from the front, not dictated from the back.
11. Where would Maximus have been if he hadn't trusted his men to fight with him and cover his
back? Likewise, where would you be without your employees? While the gladiator leader
has the skills to draw people together, he doesn't hog the spotlight. He has care and
compassion for his team and wants every member to be recognized for his or her efforts.
Lesson # 9 : He knew there was strength in teams.
12. In the Roman Empire, gladiators were expected to die with honor. Refusing to lie down and
let one's opponents win was bucking the status quo. (And certainly, killing the reigning
emperor-however corrupt-simply was not done!) If a company does not examine its way of
doing things, if it does not push out its boundaries, if it never makes mistakes, it may
become road kill.
Lesson # 10 : He encouraged risk-taking.
13. Maximus had to think on his feet and refuse to give into terror and panic. He faced the most
formidable foes calmly and with focus. Business leaders must do the same. They must take
a position and defend it when things go awry. Being graceful and brave under fire is the
surest way to build credibility-a necessity for sound leadership.
Lesson # 11 : He kept his head in a crisis.
14. Essentially, a Roman gladiator was a fighting machine. To stay alive, his mind had to be
constantly on the upcoming battle. Business leaders, likewise, must be obsessed with
training and developing their people in good times and bad. People need and want to hone
their individual skills and "sharpen their swords."
Lesson # 12 : He prepared for battle 24 hours a day.
15. Maximus taught his men the lessons they would need to survive in their new role as
gladiators. In today's rapidly changing environment, leaders must also teach and train those
who may soon replace them. We are not necessarily talking about formal classroom
training.
Lesson # 13 : He was a teacher and mentor.
16. Maximus devoted time to his spiritual life. He prayed to his gods. He had no doubt that his
wife and son were waiting for him in the afterlife. Before each battle, Maximus would reach
down and run dirt through his hands. It was as if he was asking the gods to be with him
during the battle.
Lesson # 14 : He was in tune with spirituality
17. Remember how Maximus, the Russell Crowe character, rallied his men around him and led
them to victory, even in the face of almost certain defeat? Remember his "envision the goal"
technique for getting through the horrors of battle? Now, consider the leadership in your
own company. Any gladiators in the ranks? Are you a gladiator?
