10 Business Lessons We Learned From The Mother Of Dragons

Khaleesi has a burning desire to win in a man’s reality. She takes up her very own alliance, first by building a trusted internal circle of counsels and after that by winning over armies of loyal soldiers through empathy and sympathy. By releasing them from slavery and addressing their needs, she satisfied her own. There was an article I read in Medium in 2014. And I feel inspired and compelled to elaborate and cite some examples from my first-hand experiences. Because I agree that we can also apply what Daenerys did, in business.

#1: YOU ARE YOUR OWN BRAND.

Discover what separates you from others around you, and what makes you unique. People will not forget you if you separate yourself from the crowd.

 

#2: KEEP YOUR PROMISE.

No one wants to find out that all they were promised were an empty vault. Like, if you say that you can complete a project in 45 calendar days, make sure that the project is complete on or before. Customers always look at results. Not how many hours or days you work on a project.

 

#3: GUARD YOUR ASSETS.

If you have anything half as significant and valuable as dragons or dragon eggs, you need to protect that sh*t. In case of a crisis, have a Plan B, and let people know what to do should the worst happen. But even in your darkest moment, believe in your capacity to get through the obstacles stronger and more sure of yourself.

 

#4: SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO GO IN STEALTH MODE.

Be very observant with people you are dealing with and keep a low profile if you have to. Never assume that everyone will respect you (also applies to entitled, power-tripping clients, so always be vigilant and stand your ground, or move on to another project). Not everyone is a right-fit to work with you. Remember, anyone’s entitled behavior is not a reflection of your business, service offering, team or expertise.

Also, never 100% rely on your people to do a great job on your behalf, because sometimes, they’d be the first to betray you. Always do a check and balance with the people you work with so you won’t end up burning your operational funds. Firing . . . or burning underperforming workers alive (you can fire clients too if their taking a toll on your mental health), however, is not recommended . . . anyhoo, not literally. But always have your documents ready such as a “Release, Waiver and Quitclaim” before firing anyone. Once all your legal documents are secured, by all means . . . Dracarys!

 

#5: BUILD A SOLID REPUTATION.

Even if you have dragons, people will still demand that you demonstrate results. Make sure you have a strong notoriety before you start making demands. I don’t have any dragons in real life, but I believe I do (in my mind) #mindset. I’ve got a big vision and knowledge bank that’s even bigger than my actual bank account. And I’m still currently building my network of very important contacts who will help me grow and bring my vision to life and help me achieve my goals so I can crush my enemies #justkidding.

 

#6: MOVE ON.

Regardless of what happened in the past, that’s exactly where it is now. You will experience a wide range of character-forming battles, yet the best way to get what you want is to desert the past. Now and then it means saying goodbye to lost family and loved ones, other times it means surrendering everything familiar and risking it out there in the big, frightening world. This is very hard to master. Whoever you are who’s reading this who don’t know me personally, you probably have no f*cking idea what I’ve been through and how much I’ve lost. I’m not just talking about money or belongings, but also loved ones. It was hard for me to move on and forward from the pains of the past — not until I knew what I really want in life.

 

#7: BE CAREFUL OF TRUSTING ANYONE.

Once you’ve built your brand, people will be occupied with what you bring to the table. Swindlers might use sweet talk, bribery, or outright lies, and even f*ck with you — figuratively (but sometimes literally), just to get a piece of YOU (Agh! Men. Typical). Protect your assets well and don’t sign or agree to anything until you understand completely what you’re consenting to.

 

#8: NEVER DO IT ALONE.

Surround yourself with smart, trustworthy people who think like you, have faith in you and what you stand for. People with more experience are often glad to give counsel or support. The Mother of Dragons knows her limitations and admits to herself that she needs wisdom from people who know better. Tyrion has one of the best minds in the world and he could help reduce the weight on Daenerys by giving her viable guidance for decision-making and ruling. Wouldn’t you love to meet people just like you who don’t want to compete, but instead help each other out with their business goals or building an empire?

 

#9: WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, REMEMBER WHAT YOU’VE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR.

Daenerys might have it worse than you, yet we all have times where our failure seems so great, to the point that we question if we’ll ever have the courage and strength to try again. Take time to reflect, rethink your goals and priorities, and remember how far you’ve come. Then try again.

And last but not the least . . .

 

#10: SHOUT THIS OUT LOUD — WITH CONVICTION!

Only when no one’s looking coz they’ll think you’re crazy . . . but it’s really up to you. Hehe.

 

Are you excited for the House of the Dragon Season Premiere?

 

Coz I certainly am! It’s gonna premiere on August 21st in the US and August 22nd in the morning here in the Philippines. I can’t wait to see what happened to House Targaryen 200 years before the events in Game of Thrones!

Originally published on March 16, 2015. Edited and republished on August 21, 2022.