The year is 1942. The place is Princeton University As the recently released movie "A Beuatiful Mind" opens, we enter the world of John Forbes Nash, Jr. (played by Russell Crowe) ... an eccentric ambitious, handsome graduate student and math genuis.

From day one, John is manically obsessed with the desire to be "somebody" and to originate a truly revolutionary math theory for his dissertation. However, after months of grueling hard work, sleepless nights and sporatic eating, not only did John find himself empty-handed in original ideas, but also on the verge of jeopardizing his doctoral career.

In great despair, John escapes one day to a local bar. Unbeknownst to John,, a day that would change the entire course of his life.

Peer pressure to "score" with a gorgeous blonde ignited John's creative juices and his groundbreaking mathematical thesis of competition that annihilated 150 years of economic theory.

But that's just the "real" beginning of the story. For the next 2 hours of the movie, John Forbes Nash, Jr. captures our minds, our hearts and our psyches as he descends into a troubled, dark schizophrenic existence and, with unrelentless struggle and determination, eventually triumphs over his adversity.

His reward: a Nobel prize in 1992 for his discovery of "game theory" that has truly marked him as one of our century's great math minds ... truly "a Beautiful Mind".

How does this story relate to your business?

Plenty! The gems of wisdom from this movie are at the core of every great business success story. Let me give you 3 of those key lessons.

LESSON #1: "Our greatest mental demons will always haunt us, like parasites. Those who confront them and ignore them will triumph over any adversity and reach their desired destination."

In "A Beuatiful Mind," John Forbes Nash, Jr. is beseiged with uncontrollable delusions about being a top-secret enemy code-breaker. Delusions that eventually overtake his mind with crushing paranoia and drive him into a mental hospital.

With no medical or psychiatric cure for his condition, John finally realizes that the only way to overcome these persistent mental "ghosts" is to ignore them. The result: *he* controls the demons; the demons no longer control him.

As business owners, we are constantly besieged with similar mental demons ... inner messages like "can't," "don't," "shouldn't," or any other words that undermine ourselves or our efforts. Face the fact: these voices will never go away. But we always have choice how to respond.

COACH'S QUESTION: What is your choice? Are you going to let those inner demons run your business or ignore and triumph over them, as John Forbes Nash, Jr. did?

LESSON # 2: "Brilliant ideas and breakthroughs come not from hard work, force or efforting, but rather are the by-product of creative play, relaxation and 'out of the box' thinking."

John Forbers Nash, Jr. greatest achievement to humanity - his discovery of economic game theory - was not inspired by mental striving, obsessive focus or endless hours on the problem. Rather John's extraordinary breakthrough came while in a local bar, playing pool and focusing on other diversions.

As business owners and leaders, we are challenged by the same ... to achieve more, to be more, to have more. Yet, our greatest business breakthroughs come not from spending more time in our office or obsessing about our next goal or accomplishment. Our greatest breakthroughs happen when our minds are open, relaxed and in a creative, fun-filled peak state.

COACH'S QUESTION: Have you lost that spark in your business? Are you obsessing about a goal or challenge? How can you incorporate imore fun, creative stimulation or relaxation in your daily routine?

LESSON #3: "Behind every triumph and success story is a strong support system."

Even in his darkest moments of fear, anguish, self-doubt and despair, John Forbes Nash, Jr. has one redeeming strength in his life ... his wife. Through thick and thin, Alicia Larde stands by her man. She is his Rock of Gibraltor, even in times when John gave up on himself. She is "his reason," as John acknowledges while on stage in Stockholm, "for his receiving the Nobel Prize."

COACH'S QUESTION: Do you have a strong on-going support system - whether it be a coach, a mentor, a MasterMind group or partner - in your business? Who are your business confidantes who inspire you to new heights and assist you in your darkest moments? What can you do today to bring more support to you and your business?

P.S. If you have ever questioned to what heights you can impact the world, even with the greatest of challenges, go see this movie. Aside from being Oscar material, you will leave the theater a different person, with greater appreciation of your own "beautiful mind."

Denise Corcoran is a Master Business Coach, Strategic Consultant and Breakthrough Catalyst. Would you like to invigorate your mind, your business savvy and your creative juices with paradigm-shifting, breakthrough strategies and principles of today's superior businesses? Then subscribe to our monthly ezine - THE EMPOWERED BUSINESS^tm.