HBO’s Game of Thrones has been treating the fans all over the world with interesting plots, intriguing twists, and heart-stopping scenes. There are the big characters who are the candidates for the Iron Throne: Jon Snow, Daenerys Targaryen, and Cersei Lannister. There are dragons, giants, dire wolves, and many other mythical creatures. Interestingly, you can also recognize different types of freelancers in the Game of Thrones as represented by:
Tyrion Lannister
“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.”
This freelancer knows himself very well. He is a strategist. He knows his strengths and weaknesses and uses both at his advantage. The Tyrion freelancer focuses in his strengths while he leaves his weakness as it is. He avoids whining about the skills, resources, and other endowments that he does not have. Rather, he maximizes his strengths to provide indispensible value that overshadows what he cannot do. He chooses his projects well based on what does best.
Lord Varys “The Spider”
“The storms come and go, the waves crash overhead, the big fish eat the little fish, and I keep on paddling.”
This freelancer knows who to work for. He is a floater. He works for one boss to another depending on the current work climate. The Varys freelancer values peace, harmony and working relationships. He is extremely loyal to the current client and will go the extra mile for him. However, once the “big fish eat the little fish,” or the client loses, he will move on to another boss. The client does not choose him; he chooses his own boss.
Ser Davos “Onion Knight” Seaworth
“I know the seas and rivers, the shapes of the coasts, where the rocks and shoals lie. I know hidden coves where a boat can land unseen.”
This freelancer is a master of one skill. He is hyper-focused. He avoids the jack-of-all-trades style of freelancing. The Davos freelancer continuously studies and improves his craft towards excellence and perfection. He knows every detail about this skill and makes sure that his skills are up-to-date. He does one thing, and strives to do it better than anyone else.
Bronn
“I’m a sellsword. I sell my sword. I don’t loan it out to my friends.”
This freelancer knows his worth. He is a businessman. He treats freelancing as a legitimate business that needs profit to survive. The Bronn freelancer values his hard-earned skills and reliable capabilities and considers them as a lucrative business. He constantly negotiates about salary not merely because he loves money, but because he values his resources (time, skills, and services) very well. He always mean business, literally and figuratively.
Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish
“Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder. Many who try to climb it fail and never get to try again. The fall breaks them. And some, are given a chance to climb. They refuse, they cling to the realm, or the gods, or love. Illusions. Only the ladder is real. The climb is all there is.”
This freelancer does not easily give-up. He is an opportunist. He knows that a freelancer should never be onion-skinned. The Littlefinger freelancer accepts that freelancing is a not a walk in a park. It could be messy, tricky, and cruel, but there are also (acceptable and unacceptable) ways to climb up. It can be difficult to work with him even if he is skilled and tries to be kind. He relies and trusts no one, but himself.
Jaqen H’ghar
“A man is not Jaqen H’ghar.”
This freelancer knows how to disappear. He is an illusionist. For some reason, he tends to leave the client hanging and disappears from time to time. The Jaqen H’ghar freelancer can be dependable at times, but unfortunately, most of the time, he is not as reliable. He changes his name, maybe his face too and moves on to freelancing with a new persona. He is either invincible or invisible.
Now that you have identified the types of freelancers as represented by a few characters in Game of Thrones, can you name what kind of freelancer you are or want to be?