Billions: A Personal Perspective part 3
things I've learned from the show
Intro
At first glance, Showtime’s Billions seemed like another glossy drama filled with opulent lifestyles and cutthroat ambition. But the revealed itself to be something far more profound — it’s a captivating drama interwoven with interesting ideas and lessons.
While the show's witty dialogue and eccentric characters initially drew me in, Billions became an unexpected education.
It's the underlying exploration of valuable themes like strategic thinking, ambition, the power of mentors and lifelong learning that has left a lasting impression on me.
Game Theory vs Application
Billions, breathed life to complex game theory concepts. By weaving them into thrilling narratives through the characters’ strategic maneuvers.
Take for one, brinkmanship. It’s a concept from game theory where parties, in opposition to each other, escalate the threat of conflict right to the very brink of catastrophe to get the other side to back off.
Another model on escalating conflict is the chicken game. Where both players are about to crash into each other in a head-on collision, unless someone chickens out and swerves to get out of the way.
In season 6 finale, Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) as a hacker work against the clock to unlock Mike Prince’s bitcoin holdings. Chuck wants to stick it to Prince (Corey Stoll) for laundering money through Bitcoin and getting a case against him through dubious means.
Prince however, refuses to back down. Prince wants to escalate conflict further to stick it to Chuck who could be arrested for his extralegal methods. He lets his bitcoin vault timer run out, burning off a substantial amount of his wealth just to get rid of Chuck.
It was a gripping finale. Both sides were against the timer running down and waiting to see if the other will crack first and yield.
It was an AHA! moment. It made those ideas click. The show’s unique approach not only makes for an engaging story but also gave me a better understanding of these concepts.
Ambition - Aim High
The characters in Billions are exemplars to the transformative power of ambition and calculated risk-taking. They are masters of the universe. They dream big, and set audacious goals to propel them forward.
Yet, the show doesn't sugarcoat the realities of pursuing such lofty aspirations. Characters face inevitable challenges and setbacks. We also witness characters learn to accept that failure is not a roadblock, but a stepping stone to propel them forward..
For example, Prince's unwavering determination after losing the Olympic bid exemplifies this perfectly. Instead of shying away, looking for a place to hide and wallow in defeat, he uses it as a springboard. He set his sights even higher with his presidential campaign.
This portrayal serves as a powerful reminder: we all need ambition, a driving force that gives our lives purpose and direction.
Whether our goals are grand or modest, "Billions" encourages us to embrace them with courage and calculated risk. Taking action, even with the real risks of failure, is essential for growth and learning.
Mentors
While Billions often captivates with its high-octane power struggles, the show also highlights the transformative impact of mentorship.
Characters like Wendy Rhoades (Maggie Siff) serve as more than just shrewd advisors; they act as catalysts, unlocking the potential that lies dormant within others.
Additionally, the mentor-mentee dynamics on the show, like Rhoades with Kate Sacker (Dola Rashad) or Axelrod and Taylor Mason (Asia Kate Dillon) are case studies on the diverse and unconventional forms mentorship can take.
Good coaches can help you learn a skill and achieve objectives. Great ones, mentors proper, can help you see your latent abilities and empower you to achieve remarkable feats, exceeding even your own expectations.
Erudition - Lifelong learning
Besides being witty and eccentric in many ways, almost all the characters are well-learned and broad-based thinkers. They are erudite — meaning to have or to show great knowledge or learning.
Often, the characters can drop pop-culture references and use them to explain their reasoning via analogy. Or they could cite some obscure idea from seemingly unrelated fields — also known as lateral thinking.
Driven by an insatiable hunger for knowledge, the characters leverage their erudition not just to outsmart rivals, but to inform their decisions, strategies, and perspectives, approaching challenges with greater depth and creativity.
The lesson here is that intellectual growth, is not confined to our school days or academic pursuits; it's a lifestyle choice that may enrich our lives at every stage. It is inspiring to want to embrace this life of learning, to challenge ourselves and think beyond our current boundaries.
Outro
The show, to me, is more than just entertainment. It ignited a drive within me to constantly expand my horizons and embrace challenges. It has prompted me to reflect on what is required of me to achieve success and personal fulfillment. I am forever grateful for the unexpected wisdom gleaned from the captivating world of Billions.
I highly recommend Billions.
Read
This week’s post was inspired by Zan Tafakari‘s piece.
Some notes on mentorships:
for mentorships to work, you have to be a good student too.
you have to be good to your mentors for the relationship to work.
Watch
One favorite scene in Billions, breaking down an idea from game theory/poker using American Football.
Listen
Season 2 of Michael Lewis’s podcast is all about the role of coaches and how coaches are flywheels for ambition:
Great post Mo! I really enjoyed Billions too - a great show. So glad my writing inspired your piece :)