Borderlands is based on the equally outrageous video game of the same name. It’s a raucous, random, and outrageous film that may leave moviegoers feeling disorientated. I know I left trying to figure out what I just watched.
In the Borderlands film, we’re introduced to Lilith (Cate Blanchett), Roland (Kevin Hart), Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis), Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), Krieg (Florien Munteanu), and the droid Claptrap (Jack Black). These six adventurers are on a mission to access the mysterious Vault on the planet Pandora. It’s believed Tiny Tina is the key to unlocking the Vault.
Will the crew be able to save Tiny Tina from Atlas (Edgar Ramírez) and Commander Knoxx (Janina Gavankar)? You’ll discover that as you watch Borderlands on the big screen.
More importantly, you’ll also discover plenty of leadership lessons in Borderlands. Though zany, insane, and outlandish, Borderlands is packed with leadership wisdom.
Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Borderlands
1. Money can speak to your employees:
Atlas approached Lilith at an intergalactic bar. He had a mission for her: to save his daughter Tina.
Lilith balked at his request. She told him she was a bounty hunter, not a babysitter. Lilith knew her role. The mission would also take place on her home planet of Pandora, a place she vowed never to return.
To counter Lilith’s concerns, Atlas revealed how much he would pay her to recover his daughter. The dollar amount spoke to Lilith.
As much as we like to say pay shouldn’t matter, it does. Your employees are looking to make a good living. They have bills to pay, families to care for, and needs to tend to.
Without a living wage or better, they won’t be able to survive.
The better you pay your employees, the better employees you’ll have. Money is not always the answer but it can speak to your employees to get the job done.
2. Know when to shut up:
Lilith went to Pandora to track down Tiny Tina. To get around, she boarded a Vault tour bus. The tour bus driver rambled about the Vault and the people searching for it.
His incessant ramblings bothered Lilith. She asked him to stop. To shut up.
Would he? No, not really. He quieted down only to turn on a video describing the area and how to hunt for the Vault.
All Lilith wanted was to be transported to her destination. She couldn’t do this well with the constant distraction.
Many leaders like to talk. Sometimes, I think it’s because they like to hear their own voice.
There are times to talk, sure. There are also times to shut up.
You must provide your team with information crucial to completing their tasks. After that, you can remain quiet until they seek additional assistance.
Don’t be someone who nags your employees by never shutting up.
3. Claptrap:
I have many skills.
Claptrap was awakened by Lilith’s arrival on Pandora. He had been programmed to search for her biological signals. If she returned, he would activate and assist her.
Upon meeting Lilith, Claptrap tells Lilith he has many skills. He begins to prattle off the skills he has. Many are impressive.
What skills do you have? Are you making others aware of those skills? Figure out what you do well and do it.
Maybe you want this to apply to your team… Listen to each person. Hear what they do well. That’s their skills. Help them develop and grow. The better their skills get, the better your organization gets.
4. You may not understand the motives of others:
Lilith scoped out a platoon of soldiers from the Crimson Lance. They were interacting with another rogue faction holding multiple children hostage in a cell.
As she watches, she waits for the Crimson Lance to leave. Then, she launches into an attack that frees the children and kills the remaining bad guys.
Claptrap was impressed. Lilith’s actions were out of character for her, and he never expected her to be in the child-rescuing business.
She wasn’t. Instead, she was looking to get a vehicle.
Her motives were not what Claptrap understood.
Understanding others’ motives can be difficult. We may see them acting one way, thinking they’re being virtuous. However, they may be doing something for a selfish reason—or vice versa.
In my opinion, we should give people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to motive. Always assume the best. If it’s not, at least you were thinking positively.
5. Lilith:
Like it or not, we’re on the same side.
Lilith believes Roland wants Tiny Tina because she can access the Vault. She flat-out tells him this.
Roland is offended. His response is to tell Lilith to take a hike.
Upon hearing that, Lilith tells Roland they’re on the same side. They need to work together.
You may not like the other people on your team. They may not like you. Or you may not see eye to eye with others. That’s too bad.
If you’re working within an organization, you’re all on the same side, the same team.
Imagine the organizational change you could implement if you were to have the mindset of being on the same team. Then, getting others to feel the same way. You’d have a team of people working toward the same goals.
6. Not everything will work for everyone:
The group goes to a place they were told is safe. There, they meet Tannis. She’s someone from Lilith’s past.
Everyone’s filthy from their journey there. Tannis tells the group there’s an electric shower they could use.
Tiny Tina and Krieg use the shower. Claptrap, the android, decides to use it as well. When he enters the electric shower, it fries his circuits.
What worked for Tiny Tina and Krieg didn’t work for Claptrap.
We have to consider the advice and tools we’re given. We have to examine them to see if they will work for us.
Look them over. See what’s pertinent to your situation. Use what’s good. Discard the rest.
7. Roland:
So, you ask for it.
Tannis mentioned she needed a gun to help fend off the psychos. She didn’t ask for one, though.
Roland tells her she needs to ask for what she needs. If she does, she’ll get it.
Are you asking for what you need? Maybe you need your team members to do a specific task. Ask them to do it. Or do you need something from a senior leader? Go to them and make the request. You might get it!
Don’t forget, it’s a two-way street. If your employee comes to you and asks for something, be open to considering their request. They wouldn’t come to you if they didn’t need it.
8. Tannis:
There’s no salvation without sacrifice.
It’s believed Tiny Tina is the third piece of the key to the Vault. Tannis tells Lilith this, and she becomes concerned for Tiny Tina’s safety.
Lilith believes the keys will be destroyed when they’re used. How could they sacrifice a sweet, young girl to reach the end goal?
Tannis is less concerned. She understands there is a need to sacrifice to be successful.
I want to point out two things with this leadership quote from Borderlands. The first is business-related. The second is faith-related.
Leaders have to be willing to sacrifice for the good of their team and organization. You will have to give up time with loved ones, financial gains, and more. However, you will be repaid more than enough when you do so through loyalty, success, and beyond.
The second thing I want to share is that Tiny Tina was willing to sacrifice herself for the good of her friends. She was going to lay down her life to be their savior. We have a real-life savior in Jesus. He gave us salvation through sacrifice if you’re willing to accept him.
9. You may not be the hero you think you are:
Tiny Tina was ready to give herself up. When they got to the site of the Vault, they placed the keys in their locations. Tiny Tina walked to her spot. She planted her feet. Then she waited.
Nothing happened. The Vault didn’t open.
Come to find out, Tiny Tina wasn’t the key. Lilith was.
Leaders can get a big head. They believe the organization is successful because of their work, wits, and wisdom.
I’ve got news for you… Many times, leaders are not the heroes of their organizations. It’s the hardworking people you lead day in and day out.
10. Lilith:
I have something in life you will never have: enough.
Lilith opened the Vault. She let Atlas go through as he was holding Tiny Tina hostage.
Atlas was awed by what he saw inside. He could feel the power radiating from within. He was excited.
Lilith broke the news to Atlas. He would never have something in life. He would never have enough because he was always wanting more power.
Leaders have to be cautious not to become an Atlas. There’s a draw to obtaining more and more in our lives. Whether it’s power, money, fame, etc… We want more.
If we continue to want more, there will be something we can never have: enough. We have to learn how to be content with what we have. Then, and only then, can we have enough.
