5 Game Of Thrones Lessons You Should Apply In Your Startup Life
Jon Snow, Ned Stark, Tyrion Lannister or Robert Baratheon! No matter who your favourite Game of Thrones character is, they all will teach you an imperative lesson which can be about life, success, sacrifice or startups!
The kaleidoscopic world of startups is no different than the abrasive world of the seven kingdoms where often a folly leads to horrifying beheadings. In startups, this slaughter might mean losing your market position, loss of profits due to lack of knowledge about the current trends or even incompetency of the hired team!
Here we’ve come up with a list of lessons that can help you take your startup to the next level. So gear up folks, winter is coming!
Please note – This entire article can prove to be a giant spoiler for those who haven’t watched the series.
1. Keep Looking For Opportunities
From season 1, Daenerys Targaryen has always been looking for opportunities that can help her to pursue her dreams. Well, she did have to endure a lot and also deal with an abusive brother and savage husband. But, she doesn’t get bogged down and knows how to play the game while maintaining respect. She also teaches us to embrace the messier parts of life sometimes to achieve our goals. Of course, we all can’t eat the heart of a horse to move an inch closer to our dreams but getting your hands dirty might sometimes reap lucrative results!
Also, she teaches an important lesson that an army (team) shouldn’t necessarily be led by slaves, fear and violence but team work and harmony!
2. Team Comes First
This is what the Starks teach us. Ned Stark’s family, including Jon Snow is ready to die for each other. When Robb learns of his father’s arrest, he calls his father’s bannermen together and moves south to retain the honour of his beloved father. Just like Ned’s family, if your team is ready to support you in all circumstances, it means you are on the right track, my Lord!
3. Be Careful About Who You Trust
Remember what happened when Ned Stark trusted Petyr Baelish blindly? It cost him his life! In your case, it could cost you your startup. Be extra careful about who you trust. All that Littlefinger ever cared about was power, even if it meant betraying the trust of Lord Stark and sacrificing his life to garner it! With the aim of setting up a puppet King and being the real power behind the throne, Lord Baelish sets up Lord Stark.
In your startup journey, you will meet many Littlefingers who will try to scam you left and right. Make sure you know their intentions and don’t end up getting duped.
4. Sometimes, you need to take the road less travelled
From watching her father die, getting separated from her family to fending herself in the big, cruel world, Arya Stark has endured a lot. But she remains strong and is ready to stand up on her feet and fight the world with her needle each time she falls down!
The same way, when you face failure in your entrepreneurial journey, you must look at things from a different perspective to find the right solution. 🙂
5. “In the Game of Thrones, you either win or you die!”
To make sure your startup doesn’t die and emerges victorious in the long run, avoid being like the Lannisters who aren’t aware of the happenings beyond their pretty castles.
So be prepared to fail many times over and confront your enemies in the battlefield with courage you GOT fan! 😉