If you played video games in the 1990s, you probably remember the game Tomb Raider and it’s main character, the adventurer Lara Croft. The games spawned a couple of popular movies with Angelina Jolie playing the role of the adventurer/archaeologist Lara Croft. A reboot of the Tomb Raider movie recently came out with Alicia Vikander in the role of Lara Croft. The character is the fiercely independent daughter of an eccentric British adventurer who goes missing. The orphaned heiress picks up where he left off, and goes in search of lost treasures. She is sort of like a female Indiana Jones. She is a character who is physcially fit, knows how to fight, knows what she wants and how to get it. She is what many would consider a “badass”. She is a character, also, that can teach many of us some useful lessons. Businesses can even learn a few things from her about being a “badass”.

1. Skills
Lara Croft is very well skilled. She has trained in archery and boxing, as well as in guns. She’s physically fit, able to climb, swim, etc. She is also well educated. She has all the skills she would need to go adventuring, and she knows when and how to use them. Businesses should be just as well versed. They should have the appropriate knowledge to help the business succeed, and employees who are skilled in different areas to help the business grow.

2. Determination
Lara is a very determined lady. She knows what she wants and will do whatever she has to, whether its a treasure she’s after or proving whether or not her missing father is alive or dead. Business leaders need to have the same determination, to know what they want and where they want the business to go, and do what they need to get there.

3. Decisions
Lara used to have trouble making decisions. During boxing training, she’d have trouble making decisions and taking the fight to her opponent. Her trainer taught her that she needed to make decisions and make things happen. She took that lesson to heart. Business leaders need to do the same. They need to look act their situation, assess their options, then make a decision and act to make things happen. That is what a leader does, after all. He leads.

4. Tap out
Sometimes in a fight, Lara would be pressed to the point of whether she could continue to take the hits or whether to tap out, and she’d chose to tap out. Leaders sometimes have to make the same decision in challenging situations, such as foreclosing or firing an employee. There are many factors that can come into play in decisions like this, such as ethics, morals, buisness directions, etc. Making the hard decisions like this – whether to keep taking the hits or to tap out – shows a leader’s strength.

5. Innovative
Lara is often innovative. For example, when working as a bike courier, she decided to join in a risky game where she would be the “fox” that others would chase. She spied an opportunity to hitch a ride on a firetruck to throw the people chasing her off her trail. Business leaders need to be innovative as well to help their businesses grow. And if there are risks involved, to be afraid to take the risks. The benefits would no doubt be worth it.

6. Don’t fear failure
Lara is a girl who doesn’t let failure get the better of her. If she falls, she gets back up and tries again. She at times gets beaten to the point that others would give up. But not her, and that fact is inspiring. Business leaders need to be the same. Don’t be afraid to fail. Learn from your mistakes and failures and get up and try again.

7. Learn courage
At the beginning of the video game, Lara’s ship sinks and she is washed up on the shore of an island. She’s terrified, but chooses to move forward. Throughout  the story, she continues to make brave choices, and as she does her courage grows while exploring the strange island. Business leaders need to have the same bravery and make courageous choices to help their business grow and succeed.

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