Although “Catch Me If You Can” is almost two decades old, it’s still a quality film, perfect for family movie nights. And the movie’s main character, Frank Abagnale Jr., remains one of the century’s most charismatic and intriguing on-screen and real-life characters. Abagnale is a con-man and check forger who is also considered one of history’s top imposters. Before he turned 21, Abagnale had successfully masqueraded as an airline pilot, doctor (even becoming Chief Resident at a hospital in Georgia), stockbroker, and lawyer, and even escaped from prison twice.
Make no mistake, underneath his seemingly limitless charisma, confidence, and intelligence, Abagnale is a con-man at his core. Despite his unscrupulous behavior, however, the character—perfectly portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio—can teach us quite a bit about skills that are valuable in both social and business settings.
Today, machines, computer technology, and the internet are drastically changing the job market, and the ability to communicate is almost more important than job-based skill sets. DiCaprio’s Abagnale teaches us that the most valuable workplace skills are communication-based soft skills, such as the ability to read people, confidence, dressing the part, and adaptability. You can learn the rest as you go.
Confidence is a Key Life Skill
Job interviews are notoriously nerve-wracking, but most of us understand that we need to at least appear confident when talking to a potential employer. Confidence is intrinsically tied to success. Fortunately, it’s also a skill you can learn, although confidence seems to come naturally to DiCaprio’s Abagnale.
In the film, Abagnale’s confidence only seems to falter twice, and each scene is entertaining and hilarious: Once, when he’s working in a hospital emergency room and sees a seriously wounded patient. The blood drains from his face and he fights the urge to vomit while also giving orders to ER personnel.
His other instance of lost confidence happens during a dinner exchange with his girlfriend Brenda’s father, a prominent attorney in New Orleans. Abagnale claims to be an attorney himself and tells Brenda’s family that he passed the Bar in California after attending law school at Berkeley. In an unfortunate coincidence, it’s revealed that Berkeley is the alma mater of Brenda’s father.
In the painfully awkward scene, you can almost see Abagnale’s confidence falter, but he doesn’t miss a beat, answering questions and effectively keeping the con alive. Later in 1967, Abagnale actually passes the Louisiana Bar Exam, even though he forged his law degree. Thus, until his con was discovered, 19-year-old Abagnale was considered a practicing attorney, since he had both passed the bar and had an (albeit fake) law degree. Legally, however, you can’t actually practice law in most states, including Louisiana, without going to law school, no matter how confident you are.
It’s Difficult to Fake Intelligence
Along with confidence, Abagnale also boasts a copious amount of brainpower. What’s more, his on-screen persona seems to have both high intelligence and street smarts. For what it’s worth, the real-life Abagnale doesn’t consider himself a genius, although he’s heard the word throughout his life. In a March 2019 interview, Abagnale told a reporter that he sees himself as an “opportunist” rather than a genius.
Abagnale’s personal opinion notwithstanding, it’s hard to deny that his intelligence was an integral component of his career as a successful con artist. In fact, part of his secret to success was his emotional intelligence. According to Western Governors University, emotional intelligence is defined as “the ability to be aware of, control, and express emotions.” It’s remarkable that Abagnale was able to successfully control his emotions at such a young age.
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Perhaps partially due to his intelligence, Abagnale also had an incredible talent for reading people. He could figure out what they wanted or needed to hear, and he used that information to his advantage. Abagnale also continued learning and honing his skills in order to become even more successful.
Unfortunately, his selfish and illegal misdeeds eventually caught up with him. In the film version of his story, Agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) tracks Abagnale to a small town in France, where he was subsequently arrested and flown back to America. Following Abagnale’s conviction, Hanratty visits him and asks for help with a case involving fraudulent checks, in a scene that’s deeply entrenched in reality.
The real-life Abagnale was indeed approached by the U.S. government in 1974 and took on an unpaid advisor role for a time. He eventually became a security consultant, permanently leaving behind his criminal ways to make an honest living in the U.S. workforce.
Adaptability, Dedication, and Other Important Soft Skills
The employment landscape has changed dramatically since the 1960s, when Abagnale was conning his way across the world. Yet in many ways, his story is a timeless tale of perseverance and how to use adaptability to your advantage. Therefore, “Catch Me If You Can” still teaches us a number of valuable business lessons, many of which are integral to success in the freelance and gig economy.
For instance, freelancing requires a heavy dose of motivational drive, which Abagnale possesses in abundance. You could also say that Abagnale is a dynamic hustler who marketed himself very well, which is another soft skill that’s essential if you want to make a living as a freelancer. Marketing yourself can be difficult, but it’s imperative that you take a page from Abagnale’s book and communicate with potential clients effectively and confidently.
Final Thoughts
The ability to sell yourself is paramount in the modern gig economy, and it’s a skill that seemed to come naturally to Frank Abagnale Jr. Yet salesmanship can be learned, and it’s only a small part of the big picture when it comes to job-related skill sets. Like Abagnale, you may find that success comes easier when you practice strong communication skills, project confidence, and adapt to challenges as seamlessly as possible.
– by Frankie Wallace
