(Spoilers from Season 8. Stop here if you have yet to watch it.)
I wrote this article some time back, for Mother’s Day, a day where we honour the importance of motherhood, but figured that we could all learn a few lessons from them. For the purpose of illustration, I used Daenerys Targaryen from the HBO hit series of Game of Thrones as an example.
Queen Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, is best known as the mother to 3 (or should I say 1?) dragons, as well as for her quest to conquer the Seven Kingdoms in the show.
Regardless of whether you are a fan of the show or not, we can all learn something from this character. You may not be the Mother of Dragons, but it does not mean you can’t possess her attitude. Think about it, she managed to build an empire out of 3 dragon eggs, talk about entrepreneurship.
#1: Be Confident
Daenerys has always known she was meant to be the Queen of Westeros, despite having fled the mainland at a young age. If she ever faces someone who doubts her legitimacy or claim to the throne, she always emphasizes her self worth and sees to it that they agree with her. As she rebuilds her kingdom at Dragonstone, she ensures that she is being treated exactly the way she deserves.
In one scene, Lady Olenna of House Tyrell was explaining to Daenerys that the Lords in Westeros “are sheep.” She then followed it with, “Are you a sheep? No. You’re a dragon. Be a dragon.” It is a blanket piece of genius advice that can be used in any situation, be it the fantasy world or the real one.
She poetically advised Dany to be confident and rule like the mythical, fire-breathing beast that she is. As an individual, it is important to speak up for yourself, especially if you feel like you are not being treated the way you should be. One should not be afraid of voicing out or standing up for what is right, even if that means raising up uncomfortable topics like ensuring a work dispute is handled correctly.
Should you find yourself having doubts about your abilities at work or facing obstacles in your personal life, just be a dragon.
#2: Expose Yourself to Different Things
Though she was initially forced to become the Khaleesi, she eventually grew to accept it and make an effort to learn their language and better herself, so as to blend in with them. This earned the respect of her subjects, who have since been loyal to her and followed her across the Narrow Sea to help her achieve her goals.
This showed us the importance of exposing yourself to the different things in life. When you open yourself up to new experiences and culture, you open up more opportunities. The more opportunities you have, the more chances you get at bettering yourself.
#3: Don’t Let Negativity Bring You Down
Back in season 1, young Dany was seen being manipulated and constantly berated by her power hungry older brother. She was voided of the ability to make her own choices, and instead, constantly being talked down to whenever she made suggestions or had questions. Her brother Viserys was constantly threatening violence against her if she did not follow his orders. “You don’t want to wake the dragon,” he’d tell her. We all know how that turn out for him.
To get herself out of this situation, she surrounded herself with positive influences. She started spending less time with people who made her feel less than she is (a.k.a. Her brother) and created a circle of allies, advisors and confidants. Several seasons later, we see proof that her support system has helped to propel her to success.
#4: Prioritise
When she was persuaded by Jon Snow to join in on the fight against the Night King, she agreed to it knowing that it is more important to ensure the survival of the Seven Kingdoms than to squabble over who holds the reins over it. Here, she’s putting her main goal on hold but it doesn’t mean she is giving up. She is simply prioritising her tasks which may help her in the long run.
Prioritising is an underrated skill in this day and age. While managing a long to-do list is tough, being able to see all the tasks and knowing which to complete first will help you to stay more efficient and manage yourself better.
#5: Don’t Give Up
The Daenerys Targaryen we see in the first season is drastically different from the one we see in the latest season. She has been through a lot and hence, mature in the process. Despite all the mistakes made along the way, she has never once given up.
Experts in the industry will tell you that grit and determination is the key to success and she has no doubt showed us that throughout the series. Her dedication to her goal is what makes her the likely victor in the journey she has embarked on.
