The docuseries about Joe Exotic was released at the perfect timing and in that there is a lessons within itself. Whilst the hit Netflix show has been talked about across the world, there are money lessons that we can take from Tiger King and utilise in our everyday lives.
Start Small
Joe Exotic wasn’t always the Tiger King that people know him as. He was once a a normal employee at a pet store. This is where he started his love of animals. After buying the store with his brother, who then died, Joe used the insurance settlement and some money from his grandfather to buy the GW Zoo. From small saplings can grow large trees and this is a story which shows you need to work up the steps of the ladder.
Be Safe
One of the key things to do is to make sure that you’re always safe. Joe Exotic certainly didn’t in Tiger King and an employee’s arm was ripped off. However you work, wherever you work, you need to ensure you and your surroundings are safe. Insurance is also a great idea, as it not only covers you should something happen to someone working for you, if you’re unable to work due to an injury, you’ll still have money to pay the bills.
Keep Paperwork Up To Date
Theories about what happened to Carole Baskin’s second husband are flying around the internet. These are perhaps escalated even further by the fact she was his sole executor and there was only one copy of his will. If something changes in your life, you need to ensure your paperwork is up to date and filed properly. This could be a new mortgage, a insurance policy, a new child. Make sure you store your paperwork properly too.
Know Your End Goal & Focus On It
Lots of us have an end goal we want to work towards. In Tiger King, Joe is trying to run a successful tiger park. The music career and the political campaign, to name just two, get in the way. This is true in your life too. if you’re work for yourself you need to focus on the important part of it. You also need to focus on your savings should you want to save for a new purchase, such as a house or a holiday. Lose focus (even if it is due to an obsession with your arch enemy) and you’ll take your eye off that end goal.
Be Careful Mixing Money & Family
I’ve written before about mixing money with family. It can so often lead to a breakdown of an important relationship. This is so true in Tiger King as Joe Exotic’s mother faced financial ruin by supporting her son’s exploits. Families do want to support one another but not at the detriment of health and relationships. The help families offer should include being realistic and telling us when to stop, should we need it. Not funding pipe dreams.
Other Lessons
There are other lessons to learn from Tiger King too. These include being sensible with your financial risk, marketing yourself and having a grasp on your long term finances. Whatever box sets or TV series you are binge watching at the moment, there are lessons you can learn and take to your business and everyday life.
