3 things Jurassic Park can teach you about how not to build a business

This year is the 30th anniversary of Jurassic Park first being shown in cinemas. While the film might have been a huge success with fans and saw encouraging ticket sales, the outcome of the theme park itself was far less positive, with very people making it out alive and a rampaging T-Rex now alone and in control of the park!

For all John Hammond’s good intentions in providing somewhere for children and adults alike to learn about dinosaurs and experience something nobody ever thought possible, it’s evident that they had not explored all the risks and potential downsides.

So, read on to discover the three things Jurassic Park can teach you about how not to build a business.

1. Businesses are likely to fail without comprehensive and carefully thought-out plans

John Hammond was an incredibly smart man. He had very specific ideas about what he wanted to do with the now ill-fated dinosaur theme park, and how to take advantage of travel and merchandise markets in the future.

However, while he had plenty of plans, he hadn’t taken into account SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely) targets. It was sadly inevitable that at one point or another public safety would be put at risk by safety inadequacies or just the sheer fact that dinosaurs were being kept captive.

So, it’s fair to say that Hammond hadn’t considered whether keeping potentially lethal (and incredibly smart) dinosaurs in small cages or pens was actually realistic or achievable.

When building a business, it’s essential that you have a well-thought-out plan and a structure in place. Knowing exactly what your targets are, how realistic and achievable they are, and the time it will reasonably take to achieve them will hold you in great stead for the future. Just don’t consider opening a dinosaur theme park…

2. Hiring the wrong people is a recipe for disaster

You need look no further than the events of Jurassic Park to see why hiring the wrong staff is a step towards failure.

Dennis Nedry was one of the most important members of the team, primarily dealing with security and the IT system. However, he planned to sell the park’s secrets to a competitor and even turned off the security systems while trying to make his escape. All this led to dinosaurs escaping and the death of various guests and staff in the park as a result.

Having a reliable and experienced team plays a vital aspect of any business’s success.

Without such a team to carry out tasks and implement your considered plans, even the biggest businesses can fail. It isn’t just experience you need, though; you need to make sure that the members of staff you employ have the kind and supportive personalities, matching goals and ethics, and dedication you need to make your business a success.

3. Over-extending yourself leads to problems

Promising much and delivering little or trying to achieve too much too quickly is always going to cause a business of any size problems. Just ask John Hammond.

Wanting to create a spectacular theme park unlike any other, Hammond ignored the sensible option of starting small and jumped straight in with a T-Rex, velociraptors, and a herd of Triceratops.

Even with the best will in the world and the highest quality safety mechanisms, it was always a strong possibility that one or more of these dinosaurs would escape, endangering the lives of everyone in the park.

If you’re starting a business, the wisest possible strategy is to start well within your limits and then, in the future, expand as your resources and capabilities grow.

Similarly, it’s incredibly important not to over-promise to your clients. Make sure that your clients know exactly what to expect, otherwise you’re only ever going to disappoint them.

Get in touch

We can’t tell you how to successfully run a dinosaur theme park, but we can guide you through the entire process of selling your business, from concept of sale through to completion. Email hello@melo.co.uk or call 0113 4656 111.