I started thinking about and writing this article before the premier of the final season. Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver on the character development and story telling that does the rest of the series justice.
As a matter of fact, because I was writing this article I had to go back and rethink character arcs and plot points that further pissed me off with the series finale.
With that said… I am going to IGNORE everything that happened in season 8. SO, here we are. I thought about scraping the article entirely but on second thought I want to imagine what could have been.
I am sure I’m not alone in that.
With the end of the final season of one of my (and let’s face it, everyone’s) favorite shows I was thinking about who would be the best real estate investor, if they weren’t all battling for a throne.
I started the thought experiment favoring Petyr Baelish, aka Little Finger.
Businessman, master of coin, highly intelligent, and expert persuader. His scene with Sansa explaining his crystal-clear vision of sitting on the throne with her by his side was a tour de force of the intensity and focus that had him climbing the ladder of chaos he created. However, no one trusted Little Finger (or they shouldn’t, right Ned Stark?). Eventually, the backstabbing and treachery will sink future prospects to create partnership and make deals.
I also favored Tywin and Tyrian Lannister.
Both exceedingly knowledgeable in the laws and finances of Westeros, former Hands of the King, and well connected. Indeed, the Lannister name is permanently tied to their enormous wealth. Famously, “A Lannister always repays his debts”. When your family name depends on your ability to honor your loans, it is not a bad motto to brand future business. The Iron Bank is certainly happy with Cersi and willing to lend!
Still, there is more to a real estate investor than intelligence, charm, and money. Although, those things certainly help.
However, more than anything else, it is the mindset to succeed and ability to work with others. In this entire colorful, eccentric, and impressive cast of characters, who is the most driven, mentally strong, staunchly principled, and inspirational leader?
Joffery Barateon.
I’m just joking!
The true answer is of course, Daenerys Targaryen, First of Her Name, Breaker of Chains, Mother of Dragons… you know the rest. The thing is, if she wasn’t so busy fighting for a stolen kingdom she could be building her own REI empire.
Castles must rent out for a pretty penny right?
You see, it is Dany (before the show writers destroyed her character) that possesses what I believe is nearly the perfect combination of mindset, morals, and track record of “accomplishments” to make her our star example.
Mindset
“I am no ordinary woman. My dreams come true.” – Daenerys Targaryen
Season 2 Episode 6
Let’s of course start with mindset.
More than anyone in the show she has total and complete, unwavering belief in herself and her mission.
This is true even though she should have absolutely none!
- Her father was literally infamously insane.
- Her family was completely murdered except her manic brother.
- She started the show in complete exile from the continent she was meant to rule with no parents, no friends, no allies, and as a bargain chip to a warlord.
That deck is stacked against anyone. Despite all that she managed to turn it around by finding the right opportunities and people.
Furthermore, the principals that she leads with are uncompromising. It would have been easy to just ignore slavery as part of the culture. It would have been easy to sway from the goal of the Iron Throne and stay in Essos where no one could possibly challenge her. She would have been safe there with wealth and power secured. Instead she made a name of herself as the Break of Chains.
It wasn’t just smart effective branding either, when the tough and unpopular decision points came she did not back down, even if it was the more popular choice.
People Skills
Who else in the GoT universe has as many high quality advisors as Dany?
Even the various throne sitters had inept small council members more interested in themselves then the mission. Dany’s people serve her differently.
They come from multiple walks of life from former slaves (Missandre) to formerly esteemed members of great families (Tyrian and Jorah).
They have skill sets from fighting, to espionage, to speaking multiple languages.
She has surrounded herself with people who are better than her in specific and important areas where she hasn’t had the experience to form her own wisdom.
That is a smart leader.
But is she a pushover? No! She has the ability to disagree and make her own decisions after listening to various points of view. Throughout all of that she can still admit when she is wrong, ask for help, and learn.
No one is perfect, but this isn’t about being perfect, it is about being better. Who else in the show has people as dedicated to the cause as Dany’s?
The northerners get angry at Jon Snow every time he makes any sort of decision. The Lannisters switch sides all the time. Almost everyone else faces betrayal and broken alliances. I am having flashbacks to the Red Wedding.
Yet, anyone that comes into contact her Dany is her ally forever. Even those that were initially sent to spy on her, kill her, or compete with her for the throne.
She earns their trust and respect.
Look at the difference of approach between Daenerys and her brother Viserys when she was with the Dothraki. Viserys was demanding, entitled, and would never have been a leader. What did Dany do? She learned the language, made allies, surrounded herself with tutors, and won over Khal Drogo. Even after Drogo’s death she won influence over the Dothraki and got them to cross the Narrow Sea for the first time ever.
“I will answer injustice with justice.” – Daenerys Targaryen
Season 4 Episode 4
Daenerys is the show’s penultimate leader, a black hole of charisma and purpose that focuses her will to meet her singular objective. All this, done with unwavering self-belief.
Creative Problem Solving
Daenerys is constantly finding solutions that surprise even her wise advisors.
For example, look at the way that she obtained the Unsullied as an army. She negotiated with the masters, hiding her knowledge of the high Valerian language to her advantage. The price was that of her dragon. What did everyone around her say? No don’t do it, the deal is dead.
Instead, she manipulated the situation so that she keeps her dragons, vanquishes the corrupt slave master, freed the Unsullied, and still convinced them to fight for her.
Everyone else was thinking is this a deal? She was thinking, how do I make this a deal? She saw the options presented and created her own.
“Our fathers were evil men. All of us here. They left the world worse than they found it. We’re not going to do that. We’re going to leave the world better than we found it” – Daenerys Targaryen
Season 6 Episode 10
More solutions come in the form of alliances. Needed more soldiers, Dorn joins in.
Needed a fleet to move the newly acquired and expanded army, the Greyjoys join in (and promise to stop pillaging the mainland).
Dany made it to Westeros with a diverse and expansive army, a powerful fleet, three dragons, and advisors that were former enemies. All from nothing. These things happened because she made hard decisions, followed through, and solved problems.
Courage
Finally, Daenerys is brave.
Investing in real estate isn’t life or death level courage, but there is an element of bravery in REI and business.
It takes courage to make decisions and follow through. The future is always unsure.
Throughout the series Dany has been put in compromising situations and persevered by continuously leading her followers. She has stepped outside of her comfort zone to grow and develop as a leader.
Not only that, she leads from the front, albeit usually on top of a dragon. Still, how many times has she put herself directly into the battle to support her troops against the Lannister army, the White Walkers, and Cersi’s troops?
There were setbacks that should have been the end of her story.
- Her husband and first love Khal Drogo dying
- Their unborn son dying
- Her dragons Viserion and Rhaegal dying
- The Iron fleet destroyed and Dorn’s Sand Snakes and Eliyria Sand dying
- She was literally, magically trapped in the House of the Undying
She has heart. She’s even eaten a heart!
Feelings of insecurity for losing the Throne to Jon Snow and spiraling into the Mad Queen aside, Daenerys is a winner.
She has her character flaws and imperfections like everyone else, but she has been through a great ordeal.
“I spent my life in foreign lands. So many men have tried to kill me. I don’t remember all of their names. I have been sold like a broodmare. I’ve been chained and betrayed, raped and defiled. Do you know what kept me standing through all those years in exile? Faith. Not in any gods, not in myths and legends, in myself. In Daenerys Targaryen” – Daenerys Targaryen
Season 7 Episode 3
In the end what we have to learn from her is that when chasing a focused and grand goal the journey itself can highlight and strengthen our best qualities, but only if we continue to work on ourselves, our network, our business, and our mindset.
And as long as we don’t loose our cool…
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