16 Business acumen learned from Suits
Suits was like a box of chocolates. You had your favorites and then the ones you love to loathe. Mike Ross, Harvey Specter, Rachel Zane, Louis Litt, Donna Pulson, and Jessica Pierson made us believe there’s always happily ever after. Let’s see what else we learn from the hit series.
Number one: Don’t raise your voice. Improve your argument.
Harvey Specter has imparted some solid advice through his time on Suits. One quote attributed to him is “Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument.” This quote was originally said by Desmond Tutu. The quote continues with: “Good sense does not always lie with the loudest shouters. Nor can we say that a large, unruly crowd is always the best arbiter of what is right.” Tutu was a South African Anglican archbishop known for his opposition to apartheid in South Africa, for which he got a Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. And it was his father that shared this beautiful advice.
Number two: There’s always a choice.
There will always come a time when you feel like you’ve run out of options, or you can’t see the wood from the trees, and you don’t know which way is the right way. Harvey Specter says, “When someone points a gun at your face, you take the gun, or you pull out a bigger one, or you call their bluff, or you do any of 146 other things. There are always options.” It’s up to you to hustle and find them, even if at that point you’re mowing the lawn next door to get some extra cash, get out there and do something. But only you can make that choice. And if you think doing something unethical is your only way out, rethink things pretty quickly and see how crappy you’ll feel behind bars.
Number three: Mistakes are fine.
Everybody makes mistakes. They’re part of the course, but it’s how you handle those mistakes that make the world of difference. Let’s take Mike Ross, for example. He makes mistakes all the time. The first thing you’ll notice is he doesn’t point fingers and play the blame game. He acknowledges that he screwed up, and then he goes about fixing the problem. We are living in a time where we believe we need to be perfect, and mistakes are frowned upon instead of being a learning curve. Throughout history, highly intelligent people have made the most ridiculous mistakes, like the time Russia sold Alaska to the US for $0.02 an acre, thinking it was useless tundra. Or how about twelve publishing houses turning down J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter? Like author, keynote speaker, angel investor, and entrepreneur Tim Fargo said, “Success is normally found in a pile of mistakes.”
Number four: Anyone can do my job, but no one can be me.
Anyone can do your job, obviously, if qualified. I mean, we wouldn’t want to be sitting in a restaurant eating a supposed gourmet meal prepared by someone who’s never set foot in a kitchen before. Your role in your job is replaceable, but you are not. So believe in yourself and know your worth. Bring your real self to the table and don’t change because you believe circumstances force you to. If that’s the case, you’re not where you need to be.
Number five: Mentorship is important.
We are led to believe that upon graduation, we are ready for the working world, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Sure, we have the book of knowledge and a little practical experience under severely controlled environments, but what we don’t have is real-world working experience. And that’s when being an apprentice to a mentor like Harvey Specter made all the difference to young Mike. Thankfully, in law, mentorship is still alive and well. Law graduates enter as associates before they have to handle cases on their own. However, take a page from the cheat notes of Suits and embrace mentorship no matter what career you’re in.
Number six: Appearance matters a lot.
First impressions count, and even before you’ve opened your mouth to say something groundbreakingly profound, most people have already decided whether you’re worth listening to or not. While you might not judge a book by its cover, every one of us makes subtle judgments based on outward appearances. One thing Suits certainly drives home is how gosh darn sexy being dressed to the nines really is. The grooming of everyone in the office is completely on point. And while we ogle their outfits, we also have a whole bunch more respect for what they’re saying because of it. Take it from Suits and win the respect of the room before you even open your mouth.
Number seven: If you do something unethical, it’s always going to bite you in the future.
You might feel like you got away with something right now, but somewhere down the line, you can be sure your bad deed will come back to haunt you. Sure, it’s not uncommon in high-pressure, competitive environments for people to take liberties when it comes to ethics, but that doesn’t mean they don’t lose sleep over it and aren’t in constant fear it’s going to come out with the laundry.
Number eight: Sometimes you need to try the unexpected angle.
The best approach isn’t always the obvious one. Mike has a real knack for tackling problems he encounters in cases through creative means. He will look for exceptions in the law, examples in other cases that he can line up to his benefit, or witness testimonies no one else would have considered. Sometimes before you take the first solution to a problem, circle back around and see if there aren’t any other angles to pursue. Then you can also take your opponent with the element of surprise.
Number nine: When you’re backed against the wall, break the goddamn thing down.
Nothing stops Harvey, not even a lead-lined brick wall. You might think you have to overcome challenges in your way or solve problems, but Harvey just bulldozes right through them. Harvey Specter doesn’t like things that limit him, so when something restricts him, he breaks it down, and down it goes in a blaze of glory. He doesn’t let anything stand in the way of his smart and creative approaches to problem-solving. So next time you’re backed into a corner, turn around and make your own emergency exit out of there. The Specter way.
Number ten: If you cannot convince, provide something better.
Sometimes success doesn’t mean having exactly what your customer is looking for. Sometimes it just means showing them you understand their needs and you are willing to find a solution that addresses their concerns. Do your homework and find out what actually matters more to your client. You might assume that price is important, but in fact, they would pay anything to get their problem solved. Or perhaps you think that delivery time is critical when they will wait for quality. Whatever it is, if you don’t know what they need, you can’t help them out. And once you know what they expect, you might be able to offer them so much more. Sometimes, just the fact you’re willing to try to meet their needs is enough to win them over.
Number eleven: Just go out there and act like you know what you’re doing.
Fake it till you make it is still a real part of success. Anyone on the up and up will be a little out of their depth at times, and there will always be an element of faking it. No one epitomizes this trait more than Mike. Without a formal law degree, he continues to own it in and out of the courtroom with his mix of zealous confidence and cool approach. The truth is, with or without the degree, on a daily basis, most of us have no idea what we’re doing or what the next challenge is going to be. We’re all faking it for the most part and winging it for the rest.
Number twelve: Have fun and enjoy the ride.
We all have those moments when the overwhelm sets in and we can’t think of anything but the problems we are facing. Draw inspiration here from Mike. He always sets out to win. Losing just isn’t an option. But however the chips fall, he’s still enjoying the journey. He celebrates the victory, but doesn’t bemoan his failures. He loses, learns, and moves on with the knowledge of how to do it better next time. He gets that life is a balance of some easy and some tough stuff, and enjoying it all is what makes the process manageable.
Number thirteen: Love thyself.
In the words of Harvey, “Ever loved someone so much you would do anything for them? Yeah, well, make that someone yourself. And do whatever the hell you want.” Harvey Specter is unashamedly number one to Harvey Specter, and there is really no shame in this kind of mentality. It doesn’t assume you’ll be selfish. It just assumes that with the right faith and confidence in yourself, you can overcome any obstacle. And nothing can take that hunger away from you. That hunger could just be the thing that solves world hunger or cures cancer. So go forth and Harvey it up.
Number fourteen: Screw meetings. Just go find the person.
If Suits were based in your office, it would probably be the most boring show on Earth because most of the communication would happen via email and instant messaging. Thank God it’s not because the kick-down-the-door approach that Mike, Harvey, and the gang use makes it far more exciting. The truth is that it’s actually a far better way of doing things. Okay, maybe not kicking the door down. The Suits characters show no regard for the airs and graces of respecting people’s personal time and space, but rather walk in and get to the point rather than scheduling a meeting. It leads to far more candid and robust discussions that actually get to a point compared to endless group meetings that seem to always require follow-up emails to conclude. Next time you need an answer, maybe a little office ambush is worth a try.
Number fifteen: We go down together.
Loyalty and trust are at the heart of everything the Suits gang do. While their time is mainly spent trying to screw over opponents, there’s no doubt they would all lay down their lives for each other. The workplace politics might say otherwise, but the message here is clear. You have to be in it together to win it together. So make sure your team knows you have their back and know they have yours.
Number sixteen: Never give up.
Last, but certainly not least, is the message that has underscored every season of Suits. When it feels like you’re right at the end of your tether, like you have no way out, like you just can’t continue, don’t give up. Dig in deep and find that last nugget of hope and hold on. You never know what curveball of luck might come your way at the last minute. So just keep swimming.
There we go, top life lessons from Suits. We hope you’re a little more inspired and ready to take on the world, Harvey Specter style!
《金装律师》就像一盒巧克力，你有你最爱的，也有你喜欢讨厌的。迈克·罗斯、哈维·斯佩克特、雷切尔·赞恩、路易斯·利特、唐娜·保尔森和杰西卡·皮尔森让我们相信，总会有幸福的结局。让我们看看从这部热门剧集中学到了什么。
第一点：不要提高嗓门，提升你的论点。
哈维·斯佩克特在《金装律师》中传授了一些重要的建议，其中一句是“不要提高嗓门，提升你的论点。”这句名言最初是由德斯蒙德·图图说的。完整的引述是：“好判断力并不总是与嗓门最大的人同在。我们也不能说，一个喧闹的群众总是判断什么是对的最好的仲裁者。”图图是一位南非圣公会大主教，以反对南非种族隔离制度而闻名，他于1984年获得了诺贝尔和平奖。这句美丽的忠告是他的父亲告诉他的。
第二点：总有选择。
总会有时候你觉得自己已经没有选择，或者看不到方向，不知道哪条路是正确的。哈维·斯佩克特说：“当有人用枪对着你的脸时，你要么夺下枪，要么拿出更大的枪，要么叫他们虚张声势，或者做146种其他的事情。总是有选择。”你必须努力找到这些选择，即使在那个时候你在隔壁的草坪上割草以赚取一些额外的钱，出去做点什么。但只有你能做出这个选择。如果你认为做一些不道德的事情是唯一的出路，请迅速重新考虑，并想象在监狱里的糟糕感受。
第三点：犯错误是可以的。
每个人都会犯错误，这是过程的一部分，但你如何处理这些错误才是世界的不同之处。以迈克·罗斯为例，他一直在犯错误。你会注意到的第一件事是他不会推卸责任和玩指责游戏。他承认自己搞砸了，然后着手解决问题。我们生活在一个我们需要完美的信念中，错误被视为一种学习曲线而不是一种耻辱。纵观历史，高度聪明的人也犯过最荒谬的错误，比如俄罗斯以每英亩0.02美元的价格将阿拉斯加卖给美国，认为它是无用的冻原。或者十二家出版社拒绝了J.K.罗琳的《哈利·波特》。正如作家、主旨演讲人、天使投资人和企业家蒂姆·法尔戈所说：“成功通常是在一堆错误中找到的。”
第四点：任何人都可以做我的工作，但没有人可以成为我。
任何人都可以做你的工作，当然，如果他们有资格。我的意思是，我们不希望坐在餐馆里吃一顿据说是由从未踏入过厨房的人准备的美食。你的工作角色是可以替代的，但你不是。所以相信自己，知道自己的价值。带上真实的自己，不要因为认为环境强迫你而改变。如果是这样，你不在该去的地方。
第五点：导师很重要。
我们被引导相信一毕业就已经准备好进入职场，但事实并非如此。当然，我们有知识的书本和在严格控制环境下的一点实践经验，但我们没有真正的职场经验。这时，有像哈维·斯佩克特这样的导师对年轻的迈克来说至关重要。幸运的是，在法律领域，导师制度仍然存在。法律毕业生在独立处理案件之前会先作为助理律师工作。不过，从《金装律师》的经验中汲取教训，无论你从事什么职业，都要拥抱导师制度。
第六点：外表非常重要。
第一印象很重要，甚至在你说出任何深刻的见解之前，大多数人已经决定是否愿意听你说话。虽然你可能不会根据封面判断一本书，但我们每个人都会根据外表做出微妙的判断。《金装律师》无疑展示了穿着整齐多么性感。办公室里每个人的打扮都非常到位。当我们欣赏他们的穿着时，我们也对他们说的话有了更多的尊重。借鉴《金装律师》的经验，在开口之前赢得房间的尊重。
第七点：如果你做了不道德的事情，未来总会受到报应。
你可能觉得现在你已经逃脱了惩罚，但在将来的某个时候，你的不良行为肯定会回来困扰你。当然，在高压、竞争激烈的环境中，人们采取一些不道德的行为并不罕见，但这并不意味着他们因此而失眠，并且时刻害怕事情会暴露。
第八点：有时需要尝试意想不到的角度。
最佳的方法并不总是显而易见的。迈克非常擅长通过创造性的方法解决他在案件中遇到的问题。他会在法律中寻找例外情况，寻找其他案例中的例子，以便对自己有利，或考虑别人未曾想到的证人证词。有时，在你采用第一个解决方案之前，回头看看是否有其他角度可以探索。这样你还可以出其不意地打击对手。
第九点：当你被逼到墙角时，打破那堵墙。
没有什么能阻止哈维，即使是一堵铅砖墙。你可能认为你需要克服面前的挑战或解决问题，但哈维只是直接摧毁它们。哈维·斯佩克特不喜欢任何限制他东西，所以当有东西限制他时，他就会打破它。下次你被逼到角落时，转身自己开个紧急出口。斯佩克特的方式。
第十点：如果你不能说服别人，提供更好的东西。
有时成功并不意味着拥有客户真正想要的东西。有时只是意味着向他们展示你理解他们的需求，并愿意找到解决方案来解决他们的顾虑。做好你的功课，了解客户真正关心的是什么。你可能认为价格重要，但事实上，他们愿意支付任何费用来解决问题。或者你可能认为交货时间很重要，但他们会为了质量而等待。无论是什么，如果你不知道他们需要什么，你就无法帮助他们。一旦你知道了他们的期望，你可能会提供更多的东西。有时，单单是你愿意努力满足他们的需求，就足以赢得他们的信任。
第十一点：走出去，表现得好像你知道自己在做什么。
假装直到成功仍然是真正成功的一部分。任何在不断进步的人都会时不时地感到有点不知所措，总会有一定程度的假装。没有人比迈克更能体现这一点。没有正式的法律学位，他依然凭借自信和冷静的态度在法庭内外游刃有余。事实上，无论有没有学位，每天大多数人都不知道自己在做什么或下一个挑战是什么。我们大部分时间都在假装，并在剩余的时间里即兴发挥。
第十二点：享受过程。
我们都有那些被压得喘不过气来的时刻，我们无法思考除了我们面临的问题之外的任何事情。从迈克身上汲取灵感，他总是设法享受这段旅程。他庆祝胜利，但不抱怨失败。他失败了，学到了，然后继续前进，带着如何下次做得更好的知识。他明白生活是一些容易的事和一些艰难的事的平衡，享受整个过程使得整个过程变得可以管理。
第十三点：爱自己。
哈维说：“曾经爱一个人爱到愿意为他们做任何事情吗？是的，好吧，那就让那个人是你自己。随心所欲地做你想做的事情。”哈维·斯佩克特毫不羞愧地把自己放在第一位，这种心态没有什么可耻的。它并不假设你会自私。它只是认为，拥有对自己的正确信心和信念，你可以克服任何障碍。没有什么能夺走你的渴望。这种渴望可能是解决世界饥饿或治愈癌症的关键。所以勇往直前，像哈维一样做事。
第十四点：开会省了吧，直接找人。
如果《金装律师》发生在你的办公室里，可能会是地球上最无聊的节目，因为大多数沟通会通过电子邮件和即时消息进行。幸好不是，因为迈克、哈维和团队使用的破门而入的方法使其更加令人兴奋。事实是，这实际上是更好的做事方式。好吧，也许不是真正破门而入。《金装律师》中的角色对尊重别人的个人时间和空间毫无顾忌，而是走进去，直奔主题。通过面对面的方式，我们迅速解决问题，找到解决方案，继续前进。这种方法最大限度地减少了误解。电子邮件没有语调，容易被误解。即时消息是很好的交流工具，但如果我们不小心，它可能会导致更多的误解。面对面的交流不仅能更清晰地传达信息，还能更好地理解对方的情感。
第十五点：团队合作是关键。
虽然在《金装律师》中，大家的时间大部分都在尝试击败对手，但毫无疑问，他们会为了彼此赴汤蹈火。职场政治可能会让人觉得不是这样，但这里的信息很明确。你必须团结一心才能赢得一切。所以，确保你的团队知道你支持他们，他们也会支持你。
第十六点：永不放弃。
最后但同样重要的是，这条信息贯穿了《金装律师》的每一季。当你觉得自己快到极限，觉得没有出路，无法继续时，不要放弃。深挖自己，找到最后的一丝希望并坚持住。你永远不知道最后一刻可能会有什么好运降临。所以，坚持下去。
以上就是《金装律师》给我们的顶级人生教训。希望你能受到一些启发，像哈维·斯佩克特一样，准备好迎接世界的挑战！
