Why Tyrion Lannister is a role model for every entrepreneur
“When you play the Game of Thrones, you win or you die.” The stellar TV show Game of Thrones is full of witty one-liners and hard hitting dialogues that are impossible to forget. From among all the great characters of this show, one stands out more than any other when it comes to memorable lines, and that’s Tyrion Lannister. Now, what if I was to say that he is a potential icon for every real-life business leader? Believe me, his lines are worth understanding and their messages could be more than worth implementing in our mundane lives. In this article, we will seek out the relevance of his witty lines. Much gratitude is due to David Benioff and D B Weiss for their extraordinary and enchanting script writing for one of the most epic television series of all time.
“It's not easy being drunk all the time. If it were easy, everyone would do it.”
The dialogue every GOT fan recites. Some work looks so easy, but it is valued more when we do it. When you undertake complex tasks in your personal and professional life, it doesn’t mean the tasks that look easy necessarily are. We must be able to look beyond the obvious and appreciate the true complexity of every job. His ‘everyone would do it’ corresponds to ‘Not everyone can do it’. "Far too much has been written about great men, and not nearly enough about morons."
Every entrepreneur ought to know this line as it signifies the importance and inevitability of failure in our lives. When you read and study too much about winners and the triumphs of famous personalities, what you forget is their struggle through the journey.
"Let me give you some advice, bastard. Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you."
Do you think you had heard something like this before it appeared on Game of Thrones? Yes, it is very similar to ‘When you know what your weakness is, no one can take its advantage’. But the script writers have re-designed and curated it so well that this phrase of Tyrion’s went viral after the episode aired. Shouldn’t this be the motto of an ideal entrepreneur? Think.
"Every time we deal with an enemy, we create two more."
Entrepreneurs run into new foes every day, whom they have to deal with. It is often advised to avoid making enemies; this dialogue suggests creating more professional friends than foes. Tyrion is a wise character who recognises the smart moves to be taken in complicated circumstances.
“I try to know as many people as I can. You never know which one you’ll need.”
Entrepreneurs embrace this line as they interpret it in a practical way. Networking is of the utmost importance in business, especially in the startup ecosystem. New synergies and partnerships can often develop out of friendly conversation with one’s peers. The dwarf is known for maintaining dependable and mutually beneficial relationships.
“And a mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone.”
We have heard that Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and many other world famous entrepreneurs have the strong and irresistible habit of reading books. It is scientifically proven that the book reading makes a person smarter than the crowd. One should develop the habit of learning fresh things from quality books. Books are compared with a whetstone because, just like the sword, the mind gets blunt as time passes and so, it needs to be sharpened.
So, in conclusion, maybe Tyrion wouldn’t be the worst role model for entrepreneurs. It would be hard to find another so full of wisdom relevant to this field.
(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)