Ask any bloke if he’s a fan of Ari Gold and the answer will be something along the lines of, “Bloody oath, yes.” Only after diving deep all eight seasons of Entourage for this article did I realise the man is actually a solid prick, quite often way past the point where it’d be funny in real life.
That being said, Ari Gold’s straight shooting tactics gets results. There’s something we can all learn from Tinseltown’s hot shot agent, and even incorporate within our daily grind when it comes to business and negotiation.
Know your worth and don’t be afraid to walk away
Never tell someone what they think they want to hear before you know what they want to hear. If you make an offer, stick to it until you get a response. Don’t jump on silence with a backtrack. “Silence is fucking golden,” the man himself once said.
Pay respect where respect is due
In this case, do what Ari didn’t in his interaction with Lloyd – recognise hard work and loyalty, paying back where it’s due. If someone comes to you asking for a promotion, the ball is in their court. If they present their case with well-founded evidence, take it under genuine advisement. Don’t blow them off or they might be out the door before you know it.
Sometimes the status quo needs a shakedown
You’ll never get away with this tactic outside of Hollywood, but it’s a good reminder that sometimes even the best office environments need a reshuffle. We’d recommend taking Ari’s approach and then toning it down by approximately 110% – or you may find yourself on the receiving end of a class action lawsuit instead of at the head of a board table.
Be prepared to take advice from anyone, even your subordinates
While you might think you have the experience – and you likely do – always be prepared to consider a fresh perspective. Even if it means getting back to the basics, and hearing it from someone who’s standing where you once stood before all this. Sometimes your experience might actually be clouding your own judgement – take the necessary advice on board.
Do whatever it takes to close the deal
Those who go the extra mile get the job done – those who go the extra mile gets the job, period. It’s really that simple. And you just might be surprised with how it all pays off one day.
