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PLSO May June 2016

The Oregon Surveyor | Vol. 39, No. 3 4 FROM THE PLSO OFFICE Surveying the Game of Thrones „ Aimee McAulie, PLSO Exec. Secretary If you live and breathe on this planet, you have heard of Game of rones. You’ve either watched the medieval themed, oen gory highfantasy television series on HBO or read the books it’s based on, A Song of Ice and Fire, by George R.R. Martin. Right about now, you’re thinking – okay, where the heck is Aimee going now? Well, bear with me. I thought about writing an article on renewal season, which is now by the way. I thought about telling you about all the great benets of being a member of PLSO, whether tangible to you or not. I thought about going into how our lobbyist Darrell Fuller is always on the watch for legislation harmful to the profession, how you can save a ton of money using your Oce Depot member purchase card, or that it’s important to be a part of a professional community that you can count on. I thought about all those points, but I’ve decided to talk about Game of rones instead. One, because season six has started o with a bang (hint: e Red Woman – no wonder she’s never cold in that gauzy dress) and two, because there are always lessons to be learned from a world seeping in strategy. Now, I’m going to trust the world of surveying isn’t quite as complex or full of intrigue and deceit as the fantasy realm I’m referring to – even when Right-of-Entry, hydrography or prevailing wage get discussed. And if you know nothing about this series, I ask that you keep reading. ere’s still a little nugget in this discussion for you too. So, what lessons could we learn from Game of rones that apply to our professional lives? Strength in Numbers It’s always important to know who your allies are—even when you disagree. Playing the long game might not always be appreciated, but knowing that you’re on the same side is important. e show’s powerful female lead, Daenerys Targaryen started out as a lonely girl forced into marriage to a war lord by her power hungry brother, but she soon learned that being a part of something larger would help move her along the path to becoming e Mother of Dragons—conqueror of nations. She trusted and learned from her mentors, became a leader in the community and a force to be reckoned with, and by the way, her brother met a terrible fate. Never treat your allies poorly. It doesn’t end well. Network, Network, Network Sometimes the most powerful people are not the ones you see on the throne. ey are the ones you come to for information. Lord Varys, also known as the Master of Whispers on the King’s Small Council, was born a slave. His strength was in the vast network he built. Let’s be honest, we all hate the idea of networking, but it really is important to know who people are in your professional community. You may have a common goal or mutually assist each other in getting a project done. One of them may even give you a job. Be Adaptable ings change, whether we want them to or not. at’s a fact. Whether it’s public perception, work place demands or technology, you have to be adaptable. Arya Stark is a perfect example of this. Her life began as a high-born lady, soon exiled and learning things she never imagined she’d need in life to survive. In fact, right now she’s a blind street urchin learning how to ght with a stick using her other senses. Life is full of surprises (hopefully not quite that surprising but you never know). Survival requires adaptation.


PLSO May June 2016
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