7 Key Lessons on Success From Suits’ Harvey Specter

Have you watched Suits yet? Anyone who has watched this fascinating and intriguing American TV series is obsessed with the character of Harvey Specter. His enchanting personality, witty outlook, and intrepid attitude, leave a gravitating influence on the audience. If there is a fictional character people would want to impersonate, it would be Harvey Specter. Suits is an acclaimed TV series with an IMDb rating of 8.5, which is stellar. A larger part of the show’s profound success can be attributed to the impression Harvey Specter leaves on every mind.

Here are 7 lessons on success we can learn from Harvey Specter:

1. It all starts with appearance 

It may seem like an unpopular opinion, but dressing sense has a lot to do with success. The way you dress defines your confidence and your zeal to win. In Suits, Harvey is always seen in the finest tailored suits. Of course, that is where the name of the TV series comes from. Harvey is always dressed as an accomplished gentleman. Also, he has excellent people skills to make the perfect first impression. 

How you present yourself and conduct yourself in front of others is critical to their perception of you. So, Harvey teaches us that dressing exquisitely while meeting people is no less than a success mantra. Hence, have your best outfits always ready to facilitate your pursuit of success. Because Harvey often tells Michael Ross that the first impression is the last!

2. No detail is too small 

There is one thing that remains common in every episode of Suits. Harvey always stays one step ahead of his competitors. This is because Harvey does not like to ignore any detail, no matter massive or menial. He inspires us not to be complacent and to not be over the top flamboyant. Of course, he has a lot of flamboyance and vanity, but that does not make him ignorant. He pays attention to all details and new facts to scrutinize every aspect. He believes in staying informed on the ins and outs of people trying to outsmart him. Therefore, you should not have that ‘I know it all’ attitude in life. If you have to be successful, you have to be aware and vigilant.

3. The romanticization of risks is paramount

In a famous dialogue from the show, Harvey Says, “That’s the difference between you and me, you wanna lose small, and I wanna win big.” This has a deep life lesson inscribed in it. The crux is that you cannot enlarge your victories until you limit yourself to minimizing the losses. Success does not start with an idea. The pursuit of success begins when you decide to take risks associated with an idea. It is Harvey’s risk-taking ability that defines his winning attitude. Harvey knows how to win the unwinnable because he rewrites the rules. You have to make your own fortune and do whatever it takes. Conviction to risk it is the key! Harvey is the prodigy of what top performers do to win.

4. Staying poised in crisis is a winning strategy 

Throughout the series, you will never see Harvey Specter freaking out. This is because he has profuse self-belief to face every challenge. Besides, he always has a plan B, and he prepares well for all vulnerabilities. He charmingly keeps all causes of stress at bay. People often tend to get nervous in situations that test their character. Out of this nervousness, they cripple their own abilities and potential. 

But Harvey Specter shows us how to have the best attitude amid the odds. He is always chilled out and smiling no matter how hard it gets. This is a character trait of someone who backs his ability a lot. Do you back yourself to overcome insurmountable odds? Explore yourself, realize your strengths and develop a temperament like him. Harvey shows us how to maintain the perfect relationship between money and mental health. Poise can be a competitive advantage, after all!

“Win a no win situation by rewriting the rules.” – Harvey Specter

5. Dreams demand action 

Of course, you would have dreams but do you have goals? Or do you make an effort to translate your dreams into goals? In one of the arguments in the show, Harvey says, “I do not have dreams; I have goals.” Now you see how influential the power of goals is. We might forget our dreams someday, but we do not forget our goals. 

Having said that, unless your dreams turn into goals, they may be useless. This is the simple reason why every dreamer is not an achiever. Harvey has a staunch belief in aims and objectives, and that is what makes him so successful. The lawyer in him and the person in him are exemplary, given how they prioritize their ambitions.

6. Win the battle and not the battleground 

Harvey knows how to win a no-win situation, and that is a rare trait to have. People who have watched Suits will already know that Harvey likes to settle most of his lawsuits outside the court. He believes in winning the battle even before it goes to the battleground. It is obvious that it saves a lot of time and effort. So, for all those who are big fans of procrastination, this is a lesson for them to learn. To attain success and recognition, you need to act in time and eliminate escalations. If you do it the Harvey way, you can make victory a beloved friend. Managing time and resources in an effective way is crucial to success.

7. Fixing problems is far better than complaining about them 

If you are working on something, your job is to complete it and fix the loose ends. You cannot keep cribbing about the problems you are facing to complete the task. You volunteered for the task, or you self-assigned a task to yourself because you are capable enough. Others do not have the time to listen to your complaints, and you do not have much time to waste. 

This is where a lot of people miss the bus. They keep waiting for miracles to fix things. In this large amount of time they waste, others take the lead. But you have to fend for yourself and fix your own problems. If you are going to enjoy the credit of the achievement all by yourself, why not fix the issues on your own? 

To wrap up, first, you need to start watching Suits if you have not watched it yet. Once you do, you will, by default, feel the urge to learn from Harvey’s cunning and positive character. Besides, if you are an aspiring lawyer, Harvey can be a perfect epitome for you. The charm with which he expresses meaningful learnings of life and success is astonishing. He keeps it simple, uncomplicated and pays more heed to triumphs than fearing losses. He may be a fictional character at the end of the day, but we can always learn a few tricks from his illustrious aura. Living life the Harvey Specter way can be a way to success!