How to Be a Boss: 18 Tips from This Is Us’ Randall and Beth Pearson

When your life begins by getting abandoned at a fire station, up is really the only way to go. And, This Is Us’ Randall Pearson lives and breathes Dr. K’s mantra: “There’s no lemon so sour that you can’t make something resembling lemonade.” Here’s what we learned from Randall, his wife, Beth, and the Pearsons about how to win at business and life.

So you wanna be a boss. Netflix and chill will yourself to get off the couch already. How to Be a Boss (According to Your Favorite Shows) is your excuse to binge all the TV you want. It’s career inspiration, right? As for me, chain-watching teen dramas now qualifies as research to bring you this informative series. We all win.

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There’s a lot of big boss energy surrounding the characters of This Is Us. It’s all thanks to Rebecca and Jack Pearson, who raised a trio of kids at once (go Big Three!) and absolutely owned the task, passing down some fierce life skills to their kids. And, really, to all of us.

It is Randall, though, who grasped what it really means to be a boss, even from a young age. I mean, look at those crisp button-ups! It’s he who has proved—one tear-filled moment at a time—that he’s next in line for the Pearson throne. But wait. Who even is Randall without Beth? (Brandall, we stan!)

When your life begins by getting abandoned at a fire station, up is really the only way to go. Thus, Randall lives and breathes Dr. K’s mantra: “There’s no lemon so sour that you can’t make something resembling lemonade.” Here’s what we learned from Randall, Beth, and deliciously flawed characters of This Is Us about how to win at business and life.

1. Shop talk isn’t pillow talk, even if your life partner is also your business partner.

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2. Learn what to do (and, in some cases, what not to do) from those around you.

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3. Dress to impress.

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4. ...even on your days off. After all, opportunities can strike at any time.

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5. But maybe leave the power-clashing to someone who can pull it off.

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6. ABC (Always Be Curious).

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7. Find a mentor who’s been through it all.

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8. ...and pass along your lessons to the youth (even if they’ll probably have to learn the hard way).

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9. But remember that you can learn a lot from them too. Just brush up on your gen Z speak first, dad. #hardo

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10. It’s OK to be emotional during your journey. (Just never let your competitive brother see you cry.)

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11. Seek out a business partner who makes you better. Because who would Randall be without Beth?

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12. You’re never too old to get advice from your mom (and hopefully she’s as perfect as Rebecca Pearson).

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13. Feedback is a gift. Even if you don’t want to hear it from your better half who tells it to you straight.

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14. Perfect your stony, confident stare. It’ll serve you well during tough negotiations.

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15. ...but, um, lighten up every once in a while.

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16. Hustle hard for what you want—being a boss (and a mom) doesn’t stop at 5 pm.

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17. On your way to the top, never forget where you came from (even if it’s a really long story).

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18. And always remember why all of this effort matters in the first place.

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Feature image by Niall McClelland