If your office is anything like Zymplify HQ, then you’ll all be talking about Game of Thrones today as well. The much-anticipated series 8 of the world-famous series aired in the US last night, while UK viewers have to wait until this evening to see it on their screens.
Don’t worry, we won’t include any spoilers in this blog, but we will be taking a look at some business lessons we can learn from the famous HBO series.
But first, did you know Zymplify and Game of Thrones have something in common?
FUN FACT
Our head offices are situated right next to some of the famous landmarks used in GOT, which brings hundreds, if not thousands, of tourists to the North Coast of Ireland every year.
- Downhill beach featured in Season 2 as Dragonstone beach where Melisandre burned the effigies of the seven gods.
- Dunluce Castle was used for an establishing shot of Harrenhal in Season 3.
- Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and Larrybane Chalk Quarry, location of Renly’s camp in the Stormlands and the Iron Born Kingsmoot, where Yara and Euron made rival claims to the Salt Throne.
- Ballintoy Harbour, the location where Theon came ashore on Pyke Island, where Theon later rededicated his faith to the ‘Drowned God’, where Ser Davos seeks the help of Salladhor Saan for the Battle of Blackwater Bay, and where Gendry escapes Dragonstone in a rowing boat.
- The haunting avenue known as The Dark Hedges is where Arya and Gendry escaped King’s Landing.
“It’s hard to describe what Northern Ireland has meant to Game of Thrones because it’s so integral to it. I can’t imagine how we would have done it without it. This town and this country have given us so much throughout shooting the show,” said John Bradley (Samwell Tarly.)
“Not only the crew, and not only our amazing team here but also the people and the locals. They’ve been so welcoming, and we know that it’s been hard, making it so they can’t drive down roads for nine years. This place is going to mean something to us for the rest of our lives, and it feels right to tell them how much we think about them with an event like this,” said Jerome Flynn (Bronn) at the season premiere in Belfast last week.
So, what can we learn from GOT? We’ve put together our top five business lessons we can take from the series.
1. Say yes to more opportunities
Daenerys could have rejected the idea of becoming Khaleesi, but instead, she immersed herself into it. She took on a new opportunity and actively learned how to deal with it all in her stride. She earned respect from her peers, who then followed her across the Narrow Sea and helped her achieve her goals.
Daenerys’ experience can teach us to say yes and be open to more business opportunities. Instead of thinking about the risk, think about the benefits and how it might just help your business grow. When you open yourself up to new experiences and to working with people of different backgrounds like Khaleesi did when she was elected to work with Olenna Tyrell, the ‘Queen of Thorns’. Learn to say yes more.
2. Rank your priorities
Remember when Jon Snow convinced Daenerys to join him and fight against the Night King? She could have said no because they were both fighting to rule the Seven Kingdoms, but she said yes. Why? Because she knows that she could go back to it and that it was in both their interest to ensure the kingdom was safe from the Night King. She was prioritising her tasks in a way that helped her in the long run.
In business and digital marketing especially, you must know what your main priorities are. We all have ‘To Do’ lists the length of our arms, but some tasks need to be done NOW, while others can wait until later in the week or month. You should always prioritise your tasks in a way that will help you in the long run.
3. Always have your elevator pitch ready to go
Tyrion Lannister should’ve been killed a long time ago, but he always gets himself out of terrible situations. How? He’s practised his elevator so much that he can always convince his captors to let him go.
Make sure your sales team have their 60-second pitch on point and are ready to use it without any hesitation.
4. Know when to ask for help
Daenerys Targaryen has had a hard time – from growing up as an orphan to becoming the Mother of Dragons; she’s had it tough. But she’s never let it stop her from getting to where she wants to be. She knows how important it is to ask for help when she needed it.
With the digital marketing landscape evolving every day, it can be really hard to be an expert of everything. Businesses need to realise this, and it’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help from another professional. Whether you need to outsource marketing to someone who has more experience than you, or you need help with your SEO, don’t be scared to ask.
5. If all else fails, just get a dragon.
No one is going to say no to you in a business meeting if you’ve got one of these guys on your team.
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