By now, you’ve most likely heard of, or seen the viral Netflix show, Squid Game, if not, you’re probably among the very few people who haven’t seen it. Squid Game has since become one of the most-watched shows of 2021 and Netflix’s biggest series.
The series, set in Korea, showed how 456 individuals in debt competed in children’s games (with a dark twist of killing those who lose at every game) with the prize being a lot of money.
It is a compelling story of survival. At the same time, Squid Game offers some significant business-related insights.
There is something to learn from the conception of the story to each of the episodes of the limited series. These four (4) lessons will not only help you excel in your business but also in life.
1. All you need is one ‘Yes’
This is encapsulated in the story of how writer, Hwang Dong-hyuk had the script for Squid Game for over 10 years but was rejected by studios, investors and actors. He had nothing to his name, he even had to sell his laptop due to financial struggles. All he needed was one “yes” and he got it from Netflix.
Hwang’s once rejected script has now gone on to become the number one show in different countries of the world, it is indeed a global phenomenon.
2. Allow your business to sell itself: Squid Game had virtually no press or publicity before its release unlike other big Netflix shows, but it managed to rise to the top. The show publicized itself in the biggest way possible.
Once you get the chance to showcase your business, bring out the very best. If people like your idea, they will refer others to buy what you sell.
Ads and campaigns will make your target customers aware of your product or service but the strategy that will turn things around is a referral.
3. Learn from those who are experienced: One of the games played in the show was the tug of war where competitors had to form a team of 10.
While some were happy with the makeup of their team, others weren’t. some thought that having females or older people with no physical strength meant that they were going to lose the game and die but Gi-Hun and his team had an even better strategy, all thanks to II-nam. The elderly character had played the game a lot as a child and he knew the best way to win the game even without a team comprised of able-bodied people.
In the game of tug of war, Oh Il-nam, player number 001 coaches the team on how to win, stating, “All you need is a good strategy, combined with good teamwork.”
Many believe tug of war is a game of strength when it’s in fact a game of strategy. When building your team, depending on the role, it could be better to employ someone who is more compassionate than somebody with all the skills and certifications. You could have a team full of graduates from Ivy leagues schools and end up in a bad place because they lack the key elements necessary to achieve set goals.
4. Data doesn’t always show what consumers want
Is this point a bit tricky for you? It doesn’t always help to follow and depend on historic data to tell what’s next. The needs and desires of consumers change without warning and doing business in this century, means you always have to be on your toes, be innovative. Consider taking calculated risks when drafting your marketing and communication strategies.
With Squid Game, the boundaries of entertainment were stretched. The way people view and interact with content is on a different level. The regular has gone out the window and now is the time to be daring. When you have a really strong concept, fresh, with highly interactive points, you can go viral just like that! That’s free marketing and publicity that a campaign can’t beat.
You must have heard this a million times, but now is the right time to think outside the box, grab attention and become visible!
What lessons did you learn from Squid Game?
