Learning from The Fast & The Furious Franchise
Charity Fundraising offers a myriad of Silent Auction Items for your non-profit’s next event. One of which are signed posters of popular celebrities and artists.
“Popular” is no exaggeration when it comes to the Fast and Furious Franchise. In less than 20 days, Furious 7, the latest installment of the Fast and Furious franchise, has sped through $1 billion at the global box office. Furious 7 is officially the fastest film to make $1 billion.
Bolstered by strong reviews and a farewell to the series pillar, Paul Walker, who passed in 2013, this movie has been breaking records left and right and has already made more money than every other movie in the franchise, which have averaged $396.7 million each.
Here are three ways the non-profit industry learn from this box-office stopper:
1) You got to put in the effort.
Paul Walker, the lead character of the series, died in a single-car accident in 2013 before the completion of the Furious 7. But stepping up to the task of reworking the plot of the script of the film and by using CGI and old clips, the creators gave an emotional closure where the cast bid a moving farewell to Paul Walker. At the time of Paul’s death, with a half-created movie on their hands and no main character, it may have been easier for the creators to cut their losses and move on to the next project. Yet they persisted in their endeavor and there is no question it paid off. Putting in the effort is something we can all learn from. When the going gets tough for an auction event or a reaching out to donors, throwing in the towel isn’t the answer. Starting over may not sound good either, but finishing strong is more important than all the bumps and obstacles you find in the journey.
2) People want to do something for reasons that are bigger than them.
After a six movie series, fans of the Fast and Furious franchise have fallen in love with the main character, Brian O’Conner, played by Paul Walker who, subsequently, is equally as loved. Going to this movie for fans of this man and the character he played was more than passing the time on a weekend. The relationship and connection fans feel to their heroes on the screen is powerful. It is a relationship that is built on admiring and relating with the character, and praising the man who is acting the role. It is a relationship built on time – Six movies worth of time! The fans of the fast and furious franchise have come out to enjoy and support Walker’s last acting accomplishment, to say goodbye to their beloved character, to do something for a reason bigger than their own entertainment. Finding followers who feel the same way about your non-profit is when your organization will gain that kind of power as well; maybe not on a $1 billion scale, but nonetheless, power that will propel you to making a difference for your cause.
3) Drastic change (and loss) does not mean the end.
Life changes, organizations change, people change – that is a part of life – that doesn’t end our purpose, it only changes the way in which we achieve our purpose. Although the movie series mainstay is gone, fans are not done with the franchise – they want more movies. In the same way, when drastic changes come to your non-profit organization, adapting is not impossible. If your end purpose is the same, no amount of change can shake you, it only changes your strategy.
