I’m a groupie of The Princess Bride. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen that movie. Heck, I can probably quote it word for word, in all the correct accents and pentameters. It is one of my favorite things. EVER.

Turns out, one can learn many valuable business lessons from The Princess Bride. You might think it inconceivable, but take a look at this list and see how you can apply it to your business.

• Brand your business memorably. Montoya had it right with his phrase, “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You kill my father. Prepare to die.” It became his mark of remembrance on almost every single scene in which he appeared. It became a chant that we could all get behind. Make your business memorable with consistent branded sound bytes that have a punch.
• Be selective in your business associations. No one wants to work for or with a Vizzini, the double crossing Sicilian. Screen potential connections well, and take note of abusive or downright unsavory tendencies before dealings go too far. After all, you won’t be able to poison them by developing immunity to iocane powder.
• Seize good business opportunities. Westley knew that becoming the Dread Pirate Roberts was a sweet business gig. He made sure that he would be in line to get that promotion when the time came, and he milked it for everything he could. In your own business, evaluate the landscape and proactively determine what openings exist and work to ensure that you will be in line to pounce on them when the time comes. With the right approach, you may have it all handed to you.
• Be fearless. When Westley and Buttercup go storming into the Fire Swamp, they truly fear that they won’t make it out alive. Being in business can be like that. Make difficult, challenging decisions without fear, and charge ahead on the strategic paths you choose with gusto. Even if you doubt yourself, don’t give up. It may not be easy to survive, but you’ll likely guide your business through to the other side.
• Be strong when others torture you. And they will. Competitors and other mean people live to send your business to the Pit of Despair. Don’t let them keep you there for long. Hold your business passions in mind, and don’t lose sight of them no matter what others throw at you.
• Assemble a strong team. Westley needed Inigo and Fezzik to rescue him and revive him from his tortuous experiences. They needed him to find the Six Fingered Man. They worked well synergistically because they complemented each other. Find people to be on your own team who complement you. Where you have bad habits, find someone who fills in those gaps. If you are really weak in an area, work with someone who is extremely strong in it. A well rounded, functional team will almost always win the day.
• Take your medicine, even if it tastes awful. Westley ate the magic potion to live for his true love. In business, taking medicine is almost never pleasant. Whether you need to sit in a class to expand learning on a particular subject, confront a disruptive employee or have a difficult conversation with a client or customer, realize that these unpleasant tasks are business medicine. We all need medicine sometimes to feel healthy or operate efficiently. Take your business medicine when you need it.
• Own a Holocaust Cloak. Storming the castle would never have been possible without the Holocaust Cloak. Whether you need to just back up every day or make a detailed disaster plan for your business, strong growth can happen during down times with good planning. Brainstorm what you need to be effective in the worst conditions and start assembling those tools so that your business can operate in any situation to storm its surroundings and win.
• Don’t choke in stressful situations. Inigo got to meet the Six Fingered Man, and he almost failed to vanquish him. He choked. Make a list of the business situations that really, truly make you stressed. Jettison the ones you don’t need to deal with and examine the rest. What is it about each situation that causes you problems? Make a plan to systematically address each one. Sometimes, it can be as simple as putting yourself in that situation repeatedly until it isn’t so bad anymore.
• Ride off into the sunset. Everything ended happily ever after. In business, we don’t want things to end, because that usually means something went wrong. However, riding off into the sunset on vacation once in a while is rejuvenating. No matter how busy you are, take time to take vacations. Unplug and focus on enjoying them. Work will be there when the sun comes up on your return.