The Secret of My Success

The Secret of My Success

From Reel Sisters Rewind by Reel Sisters Rewind

March 1, 2026 · 52 min · Episode 75

About this episode

Amanda and Missy discuss the 1987 comedy The Secret of My Success and its reflection of 80s corporate culture.

Can ambition, a little charm, and a whole lot of hustle really fast-track someone to the top? In this episode, Amanda Stephens and Missy Washam rewind the 1987 comedy The Secret of My Success, the fast-paced corporate classic that captured the go-go spirit of the 80s. Starring Michael J. Fox, alongside Helen Slater and Richard Jordan, the film follows a recent Kansas State graduate who heads to New York City determined to make it big. When his dream job doesn’t exactly pan out, he takes matters into his own hands… and accidentally creates a double life inside a major corporation. Amanda and Missy break down the whirlwind plot, the mistaken identities, the boardroom blunders, and the romance that complicates everything. They explore how this film reflects the big-business energy of the 80s, the era of shoulder pads and skyscraper dreams, and why Michael J. Fox’s quick wit and undeniable charisma carry the movie from start to finish. From mailroom mix-ups to executive-level maneuvering, The Secret of My Success blends comedy and ambition in a way that defined a generation of “work hard, dream big” storytelling. Whether you watched it on VHS back in the day or are revisiting it now…

People in this episode

Hosts: Amanda Stephens, Missy Washam

Topics covered

  • 1980s comedy
  • corporate culture
  • ambition
  • nostalgia
  • film analysis

Keywords

  • The Secret of My Success
  • Michael J. Fox
  • 1980s
  • comedy
  • corporate
  • ambition
  • nostalgia

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kansas State, Reel Sisters Rewind, imdb.com, wikipedia.org

Books & works: The Secret of My Success

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