By Manny Roman, CRES
A few months have passed since the end of “Game of Thrones” (GOT) and the anxiety of its absence should have subsided by now. So, I thought I would use a few great quotes from GOT and apply them to business and everyday life. This will interest even the five of you who did not watch the series. Let us begin.
“You are an honest and honorable man, Lord Eddard. Ofttimes I forget that. I have met so few of them in my life.” He glanced around the cell. “When I see what honesty and honor have won you, I understand why.” True, honesty and honor seem to often be absent in people. Those who exhibit these traits frequently get squashed like a grape by those with greater power.
“Knowledge is power.” The rebuttal: “Power is power.” “Power resides where men believe it resides. It is a trick: a shadow on the wall. And a very small man can cast a very large shadow.” So what is power then? There is real power, granted power, perceived power, positional power and many others. We must know how to respond to each use of power and be aware of how we ourselves employ power.
“It’s hard to put a leash on a dog once you’ve put a crown on his head.” “There is a beast in every man and it stirs when you put a sword in his hand.” Power can be dangerous in the wrong hands and once given, may be difficult to rectify. Be wise when choosing where you will place your faith and granted power.
“The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword.” Have the courage to follow all your actions through to the end, even if that entails an unpleasant task. Don’t expect others to do your “dirty work.”
“How can a man be brave when he is afraid?” The reply: “That is the only time a man can be brave.” Courage requires that we confront unpleasant or threatening situations. It takes courage to run toward danger rather than from it.
“You want to lead someday? Then learn how to follow.” To truly understand that leadership is one person influencing another toward a common goal, one must first learn how to be influenced. Allow others to contribute to your unique skillset by being attentive and adaptable.
“A ruler who kills those devoted to her is not a ruler who inspires devotion.” When you lead people who are fully engaged in the goals and objectives of your organization, reward their loyalty by empowering them with purpose and autonomy. Don’t micromanage and kill creativity.
“People work together when it suits them. They’re loyal when it suits them. They love each other when it suits them. And they kill each other when it suits them.” In the end, everyone is in it mostly for themselves. People will always be asking, “What’s in it for me?” so find and push the right buttons.
“A man with no motive is a man no one suspects. Always keep your foes confused.” “Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder.” Be cautious when dealing with someone whose motives are unclear. I once was told by a man whose motive was unclear to me that there is profit in chaos. I did not understand at the time. It means that when there is much confusion, the shrewd will find a way to take advantage of that confusion, often at the expense of others.
“If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention.” “Sometimes there is no happy choice, only one less grievous than the other.” Business, and life, is a series of unavoidable choices and compromises. Being prepared and having a presence of mind will alleviate some of the rough spots.
“The more people you love, the weaker you are.” “Some old wounds never heal and bleed at the slightest word.” “The night is dark and full of terrors.” You can avoid a great deal of grief if you limit the number of people allowed to be close to you. Of course, this also means that you will be less loved and more likely to be disliked, lonely and reclusive. You will likely not be invited to the party.
“In my experience, eloquent men are right every bit as often as imbeciles.” “Turns out, far too much has been written about great men and not nearly enough about morons. Doesn’t seem right.” Whether book smart, street smart or smart aleck, everyone has the potential to bring value. One should not be disregarded based on things such as education, reputation and perceptions.
“That’s what I do, I drink and I know things.” “Everything’s better with some wine in your belly.” “It’s not easy being drunk all the time. Everyone would do it if it were easy.” Not sure what to say about this that will not sound like I agree. Especially since I do agree.
“And now my watch has ended.” I am done with this so “Valar Morghulis” and “HODOR!”