THIS WONDERFUL LIFE BACKSTAGE GUIDE 15 Your employees are going to make mistakes — and you might have to be the one to put out the fire. Although Uncle Billy is incredibly devoted to George and has faith in him, he's not the most attentive, and his memory leaves a lot to be desired. These issues lead Uncle Billy to accidentally hand Mr. Potter the newspaper in which he's wrapped the $8,000 he was supposed to deposit from the Building and Loan. Uncle Billy feels awful, but ultimately, it's George, as the director, who becomes desperate, ends up with a warrant out for his arrest, has to beg Mr. Potter for help and debates ending his life for the insurance benefits. Each of your employees will bring strengths to the table, but all of them are human. And in today's business environment, you'll inevitably be held responsible not just for your own actions, but for theirs too. Before you apologize or let anybody go, think about the broader implications of your decision and whether you truly did contribute to the problem. Wherever you can, learn from the errors of others. Integrity and loyalty are linked. With George in trouble over the missing $8,000, his wife, Mary (Donna Reed), tells his friends in the community what's happening. They congregate at the Bailey house, and because George has a history of conducting himself with integrity, they rally behind him as loyal friends. They donate more than enough to cover the $8,000, and George's ordeal is over. Conducting your business with integrity is foundational to building a level of trust that is essential to building your brand. The more openness, honesty and appropriate assistance you offer to your customers, the more likely they are to become loyal to you and stick with you when times get tough. “It's a Wonderful Life” is a classic because it highlights the deep value of friendship and individual influence. But it is framed around a very contemporary big-versus-little business conflict. It's the ideal film to watch not only when you need a personal pick-me-up, but also when you need hope that your company beats the odds. (from Inc.com) Thomas Mitchell as Uncle Billy in “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) The final scene of “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)