How to Be a Boss: 16 Tips from Veep

  • 4 minute read
Selina points in agreement/happiness on her campaign plane.

So you wanna be a boss. Netflix andchillwill yourself to get off the couch already.How to Be a Boss (According to Your Favorite Shows)is your excuse to binge all the TV you want. It’s career inspiration, right?

Big dreams don’t always work out as planned. Over the course of her ascension from VP to president to whatever it is that happens afterward, Selina Meyer has had to work around fairweather allies, a team consistently on the verge of combustion, and an ex-husband who only ever seems to get worse. But where some of us would abandon all hope, President Meyer and those she’s forever entwined with refuse to take no for an answer. And as a result, we’ve gotten to watch seven seasons of ambitious,resilient, and crafty characters endure the worst Washington has to offer—all while somehow leveling up in the process.

Of course, we'd never advocate (literally) taking a page out of President Meyer's book, nor should we scream obscenities in the general direction of those offering us a tea. But ifVeep’s taught us anything, it’s that adult working life and getting through the day can sometimes feel like those moments where you’re clutching your phone while playing down a mild heart attack to ensure your enemies don’t have any fodder with which to drag you down—whether you’re embedded in politics or just trying to pay your phone bill. Unless you’re Ben—then you’re likely reading this while holding an oversized insulated mug. (I am Ben.)

Here are 16 rules on how to be a boss according toVeep, the best show ever (about the worst parts of politics).

1. Surround yourself with a team ofhard-working geniuses.
Richard, Amy, Marjorie, Kent, Dan, and Ben strategize in Selina’s office.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
2. Or, if you don’t have one of those, aligning with an overeager, well-meaning former head of communications will do.
迈克McClintock watches Selina give an address.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
3. Use powerful andenduring alliancesto your advantage.
Kent and Ben observe Selina’s inability to give a campaign speech.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
4. And distance yourself from the opposite.
Dan and Amy talk about the future as Amy debates whether she should keep Dan’s baby.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
5. Recognize those you can’t live without.
Richard Splett celebrates the highs of politics while working on both Selina’s and Jonah’s campaigns.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
6. And be well-aware of your enemies.
Presidential hopeful Jonah Ryan stands with his advisor and also his wife/half sister.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
7. Ensure your slogans are direct—and to-the-point.
Selina unveils her “New. Selina. Now.” campaign slogan.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
8. And then point a lot to, um, emphasize your point.
Selina points in agreement/happiness on her campaign plane.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
9.Appear vulnerableonly to those you can really trust.
Selina allows Marjorie to remove the lint on her chest.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
10. Despite the demands of your professional life, prioritize your family.
Marjorie and Catherine Meyer cradle their son/Selina’s grandson on the campaign plane.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
11. Use fashion to convey a message—like that you should be president—or as a cry for help after shifting alliances to work with the worst people.
Amy Brookheimer works on Jonah’s campaign in his kitchen.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
12. Ignore the criticisms of your enemies, especially when their strategies are nonsensical.
Jonah Ryan delivers a campaign address.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
13. Andstay cool, calm, and collectedwhen dealing with the pressures of the media.
Richard is faced with questions about a political scandal he accidentally helped expose.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
14. But don’t let your guard entirely down, lest you be sidelined by a life-shattering revelation.
Selina is confronted with yet another surprise while on the campaign trail.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
15. Of course, keep friends close—and those rapidly ascending the ladder even closer.
Dan finds himself under the employment of congressman Richard Splett.
Colleen Hayes/HBO
16. And remember to celebrate small victories whenever you have them.
Dan finds himself under the employment of congressman Richard Splett.
Colleen Hayes/HBO

Words byAnne T. Donahue
Feature image byJustin M. Lubin

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