[SPOILER ALERT] The post is dark and full of spoilers. Continue reading at your own risk if you haven’t read the books or watched the show ‘Game of Thrones’ yet.
Game of Thrones is an American fantasy drama series based on the book series ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ written by George R. R. Martin. It’s a saga of seven kingdoms, set in the mediavel periods, with zombies (the White Walkers) and dragons. It broke the world’s piracy record with 18 million illegal downloads when the first episode of Season 5 aired in 2015. Apart from spectacular visuals, gripping storylines, and unpleasant wedding ceremonies, Game of Thrones is a religion for all. We at The Hacker Street are no different. We follow it religiously for all the business and entrepreneurship lessons we learn from it. Here are some of the best ones picked out for you.
“Winter is coming” – House Stark
Be prepared for tough times. One never knows what the future holds. Alliances change, power struggles continue. Anyone can be at the top. Being able to adapt to the situation is the most essential. Being prepared means to plan and strategize ahead. If you have a well-laid out plan, minimal changes and innovations depending on the state of affairs is an easy task. Increased competition, declining demand and cheaper products are just some of the white walkers on the horizon that can destroy your business no matter how successful it is.
“A Lannister always pays his debts” – Unofficial motto of House Lannister
Deliver what you promise. Your customer base expects something out of you, and if you fail to deliver on that promise, you not only lose customers you also lose the trust and confidence of many others. Prior assessment of your assets is absolutely necessary when making a deal. If you decide to breach a contract due to unforeseen circumstances, be certain that you can bear the cost. Because reputation for honesty once tainted, cannot be regained. Going back on what you promised could lead to a “Red Wedding” in your startup too. As Lord Varys says, “There is no creature on earth half so terrifying as a truly just man.”
“Family, Duty, Honour” – House Tully
Come what may, your family, your team always comes first. The entire series of Game of Thrones is about how one family wants to defeat another and take control of the Iron Throne, and that is only possible if they stick together. A startup goes through a lot of ups and downs but sticking with your team throughout the entire journey, putting loyalty, sincerity above all else, is how you’re gonna get through it all.
Take the example of House Targaryen. After the death of Mad King Aerys, his son, Viserys, and new born daughter, Daenerys, were forced to flee across the Narrow Sea. They stood by each other all those years with the common goal of winning the Iron Throne back.
“I’m no ordinary woman. My dreams come true.” – Daenerys Targaryen
Conviction. Daenerys, the mother of dragons, was left with nothing but a horse, a few bloodriders, a knight, and some loyalists of her khalasar after the death of her husband. From that, she became a queen gaining control over Astapor and Meeren, ending slavery wherever she went. She dreamt of gaining control over the Iron Throne of Westeros, and Meeren is but a small step in that direction. She knows exactly what she deserves and will do anything in her power to get it. As a leader, you cannot doubt or be swayed by other’s choices or comments. You have to make them yourself, and stand by them. As Tywin Lannister says, “The lion doesn’t concern himself with the opinion of the sheep”
“Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder” – Petyr ‘Littlefinger’ Baelish
As Littlefinger points out, your true character shines out in times of adversity. When all is going smoothly is easy, it is most easy being a leader, but when chaos reigns, that is when true leaders rise. Effective leaders use challenges to foist them higher and are never thwarted by them. As Littlefinger further highlights, “Many who try it fail and never get to try again. The fall breaks them. And some are given a chance to climb; they cling to the realm or the gods or love. Only the ladder is real. The climb is all there is.” Leaders don’t stop because of the fall. They continue to climb.
“The man who passes the sentence, should swing the sword” – Eddard Stark
This was one of the first lessons on Game of Thrones by Ned Stark to his son, Bran. Thankfully we are not taking any lives here, but you might have to pass judgements that affect other people’s lives. Having to fire, or reprimand someone are not easy tasks, but if you don’t have it in you to do it yourself, then perhaps they don’t deserve to be fired. As he further says in the show, “If you would take a man’s life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.”
“Any man who must say, I am the king, is no true king” – Tywin Lannister
What if Mark Zuckerberg had to go into office everyday and remind his employees who the boss is? Or Steve Jobs? Or even you, for that matter? A true leader will never have to assert himself as the leader. It will be evident from his actions and his behavior towards his work and his employees. As Lord Varys once told Tyrion, “Power resides where men believes it resides.” If your employees trust in you, believe in your leadership, and are motivated to work under you, your company can reach heights you never even imagined.
To conclude, Game of Thrones gives us many valuable lessons in business, leadership and strategy. Be prepared for change, know your worth, have a solid strategy, pay your debts, keep your commitments, and don’t be afraid to correct course!
