What would Harvey do? Six life lessons depicted in Suits

“The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary.”

Suits is an iconic legal drama, played by a flawless cast, starring Gabriel Macht, Meghan Markle, Rick Hoffman, Sarah Rafferty and more talented actors. It’s regarded as one of the most intellectual series for its mindblowing portrayal of lawyers worldwide, each representing different personalities.

It’s an emotional rollercoaster that’s kept many breathless. In order to win, the group of lawyers must do fantastic things for their company; the twists and turns in the court, the storyline and the unpredictability of being “Litt-up” keeps viewers hooked. 

Harvey Specter, Suits‘ lawyer, played by Gabriel Macht, defines success for many. He’s hands-down the best closer in town, and he is intelligent, affluent, very confident and witty. His strategies are not limited to basic competencies but also encompass many clever ideas. He’s both book and street-smart, and there’s even a book named The Harvey Specter Handbook on how to be successful like him. 

But enough with the talk – here are some accurate life lessons this ingenious legal series offers.  

Never break the rules – there are other ways to achieve goals 

Or, as Harley said, “Win a no-win situation by rewriting the rules.”

Having a career in the legal industry or being an entrepreneur means constantly learning. New must-follow rules appear as new things come around, and one must be smart and adjust. 

However, some rules can sometimes prevent progress. That’s when Harvey uses the “bend the rules” rule. 

Many have enjoyed the series and find the legal industry appealing, and have gone on to consider a career in law. That dream can be fulfilled with the right commitment and in the right location. Manchester, for instance, is a city full of legal promise. According to experts from www.legalrecruitmentagencyuk.co.uk/legal-recruitment-agencies/manchester, there are many career opportunities and vacancies to be filled. Some of them include legal secretaries, like Donna Paulsen (played by Gray Rafferty), or paralegals, like Rachel Zane (portrayed by Meghan Markle). 

Find solutions instead of running from problems

Or, as Harvey puts it, “Winners don’t make excuses when the other side plays the game.”

As successful as Harvey is, he isn’t spared problems – in fact, he seems to be looking for them. Remember he hired Mike, despite the fact that he didn’t have a law degree? However, he’s done so because Mike’s quick-thinking, encyclopaedic knowledge, unparalleled perseverance, sense of justice and eidetic memory are sure-fire qualities that make a great lawyer. 

Knowing that things will always be challenging, whether halfway through or at the beginning, but nonetheless standing his ground, can only lead to one conclusion: “When you’re backed against the wall, break the goddamn thing down.”

The protagonists in the series face several obstacles, yet they always find a way to overcome them. Using that grey matter to get control of the situation is key. A difficulty is only an opportunity waiting to be seized, so one should try not to run away from troubles, face them and defeat them. As Harvey puts it, “You are never going to win big if you only look to minimse your losses.”

Remain calm throughout all storms

“Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument”. Isn’t it one of the most accurate quotes? 

Keeping cool even in hopeless, desperate situations is essential. Lashing out can’t bring anything good, but composure certainly can. Only a calm leader can lead and motivate a team through thick and thin to win others’ confidence. At whatever cost, principles should not be abandoned; having faith in oneself and one’s ideas, and planning before executing are ways to success. 

Anyone who has watched Suits has seen Harvey angry at his partner. However, the main character would also go to great lengths to make a statement and prove his point and that he’s not perfect, either. 

If it’s worth it, take the risk

Harvey always has that “You wanna lose small, I wanna win big” glow.

According to his behaviour, experience is the ultimate guide to being a successful entrepreneur. Even failures can turn into lessons if one remembers that there’s always something to be learned in almost any situation. And it’s important to lose sometimes, otherwise, how can one grow? Well considered risks may potentially bring rewards and enormous achievement.

The lesson here is clear: being in a terrible position does not imply being entirely out of the game. Simply thinking outside the box can overcome the hurdles.

Act like you know what you’re doing

Mike is the epitome of “fake it till you make it”.

Hearing this phrase being thrown around is one thing; seeing it put in action is another. Even though Mike lacks any formal legal education – or any college education – it doesn’t keep him from acting cool and portraying himself as a connoisseur. His calm and confident air also helps him through difficult situations. 

It’s fantastic to have this lesson come from a character other than Harvey. However, something that applies to real life is that anyone who absorbs as much knowledge as possible, does what they feel is best, and assesses what has worked and what hasn’t can make it. 

No one knows “how to live life”, and that’s fine. It may be possible to accomplish a lot by being confident and acting as though one knows what one is doing when the situation requires one to do so.

If you like the finer things in life, why not pursue them?

Harvey has always been proud and open about who he is. He likes the finer things and nothing stops him from pursuing them. Even in his early stages at the firm, he pushed his limits and worked hard to show his potential and make a name for himself. He became a successful lawyer because he knew what kind of life he wanted. 

If there is a quote that represents this iconic character the best, it’s this one: “Life is this” [raises hand above the table] “I like this” [waves his hand over his head].

Each character is unique, and there are many things to learn from an intellectual TV show. Next time it’s necessary to make a life-altering decision, it could be time to ask the question, “What would Harvey do?”.

The editorial unit