Harry Potter And . . .

The plot: Harry goes back to Hogwarts and competes in the Triwizard Tournament.

Business lesson No. 7:Entrepreneurs triumph over big corporations. Anne Warfield, a business coach, professional speaker and owner of Impression Management Professionals in Minneapolis, thinks that business lesson is the most important in the books. "No matter how inconsequential we think we are, we can have a powerful effect," she says. "What's important is getting the tools to develop that potential in ourselves." Harry does just that at Hogwarts and winds up besting Lord Voldemort.

Business lesson No. 8:Adequate funding is essential. Invest wisely. The money Harry inherits from his parents and saves along the way allows him to provide money when George and Fred Weasley need financing for their magical joke shop.

Who'd have thought? Harry Potter may not grow up to be an entrepreneur, but he's already a venture capitalist.

This article was originally published in the February 2001 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Harry Potter And . . ..