By Charlotte L. Hanna CCO/CMBS GLOBAL

Watching the movie The King’s Speech, one could not help but see the many similarities between the struggles of the royal family and small business owners. In fact, in one scene, soon to be King George VI (Colin Firth) states of the monarchy, “We are not a family, we’re a firm.”

While it would have been easier on second son George had his older brother Edward VIII, the immediate heir to the throne upon the death of King George V, been willing to fulfill his role, the country of England may have actually benefited from George VI being in the position instead, in the face of WWII. His affirmation of Anglo-French solidarity, formation of a close friendship with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, support of the leadership of Winston Churchill, and visits to his armies on various battlefronts, made him an important symbolic leader of the British people and provided them cause for unity during wartime.

King George VI struggled with stammering, and as a result, felt inadequate to lead his people, initially. He focused on this speech impediment and ignored the other qualities he possessed. He felt inferior, lacked self-confidence, experienced fear, and did not welcome the idea of becoming king, as a result. [Read more...]