Unleash Your Inner Dragon: Become Legendary

Every Sunday, I (along with millions of others) anxiously used to for await the newest episode of Game of Thrones. Whether you follow the series or not, one of the central plots revolves around a queen and her three dragons, long thought to be extinct.

Watching Queen Daenerys Targaryen ride into battle on a giant, fire-breathing dragon gave me chills and had me thinking to myself, “If only I had a dragon, I would be unstoppable.” I thought about how cool it would be to fly into any battle or conflict, admired by all and feared by those who opposed me. Wouldn’t that be a powerful feeling?

But here’s what I realized—there is a way to find and utilize dragons in real life. You ready for this? The dragon is you.

You’re a majestic dragon—or at least you possess the same abilities as a dragon. The question is, are you willing to step up in life and exude your dominance in your industry or passion? Still don’t believe that you’re a dragon? Here’s how you can unlock the inner dragon in you and leave a legacy.

1. Understand Everyone is Aiming For You

To become legendary, you must develop thick skin—dragon scales, per se. As you continue to evolve, grow, and succeed, others will begin to envy you. They won’t see all the years it took to gain the strength you have. They won’t know your trials. They’ll just see one thing: a threat.

In Game of Thrones, many armies saw the dragons in real life for the first time and immediately began building weapons to try and take them out. Enemies focus on the dragons because they pose the biggest threat. As you flourish in your life, you must understand that people will aim for you too. They’ll slander you, try to knock you down, and do everything in their power to discredit you. Accept it.

But like a dragon, don’t waste your time battling the small arrows. Don’t let yourself be affected by or give attention to things or people that pose no real threat. You’re far too valuable to waste time fighting them.

Action Step:

Reflect on your journey and identify any “small arrows” or petty challenges you’ve been facing. Decide which ones aren’t worth your energy. Focus only on the battles that matter.

2. Be Okay with Being Misunderstood

People see the dragon incinerating enemies and whipping opposition with its tail, and they shudder in fear. That’s all they see. But in one episode, we see a different side of the dragon—a softer side—where it allows Jon Snow to pet it.

Behind that dominating exterior, the dragon has a heart. Just like that dragon, we often have motives rooted in care, loyalty, and love. Your role isn’t to make others understand or validate you. Your focus should be on giving your all every day for those you love and care about.

People may judge you based on appearances or assumptions, but that’s not for you to worry about. Be the dragon who fights for those who matter.

Action Step:

Make a list of people or causes that you fight for. Use that as your motivation when faced with misunderstanding or judgment.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Fly

As the dragon entered its first real battle, weapons designed specifically to kill it came flying toward it. Did the dragon flinch, retreat, or rethink its plan? No. Why not? Because it was a dragon, and it was there to do its job.

Many of us have the strength and skills, but we’re afraid to fly because we’re afraid that people will try to knock us down. And the truth is, they might. But what’s the point of having wings if you’re not going to use them? What’s the point of having dreams if you’re not going to move toward them?

You have some unique skill set or ability—that’s your wings. Stop clipping them or waiting for someone else to carry you. Spread your wings and fly toward your goals yourself.

Action Step:

Identify one goal you’ve been afraid to pursue fully. Make a commitment today to take the first step toward achieving it.

4. Know When to Breathe Fire

Inside each of us is a burning passion for something—whether it’s status, finances, family, or something else. What’s important is that you recognize what lights your fire so you can call upon it as a source of strength.

When the dragon entered the major battle, it seemed like it was burning up everything. But upon watching the replay, I learned that the dragon was very strategic. It created a path of fire that allowed its troops to reach the heart of the battle, blazed through the enemy’s supply trains, and finally, attacked the major weapons formed to hurt it.

See the keyword there? Strategic. Too often, when we’re passionate, we resort to a sort of blind rage. Our motives are good, but we expend all our energy on everything and everyone without getting the results we want. Why? Because we had no focus.

Action Step:

Identify what “lights your fire” and develop a plan to use that passion strategically. Be clear about where to direct your energy and where not to.

Take Flight, Breathe Fire, and Become Legendary

You have the potential to be a dragon in your life. It’s about developing resilience, maintaining your focus, and directing your energy toward meaningful goals.

So, what will you do today to take flight, breathe fire, and leave a legacy? Remember, there’s a dragon inside you—it’s time to unleash it.

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If you want to take your team, event, or conference to the next level, book Baylor to speak. For more mindset motivation, check out his 10-minute-a-day podcast, Shark Theory. Purchase Baylor’s self-development books here. Mindset Matters: Let’s make yours unstoppable.