Love of Money

Stan Pines is all about the money. He has even created his own. This is a character trait that is often rejected by analysts today. It is especially true of that cohort in Silicon Valley. But Grunkle Stan would be the first to tell you — outcomes are not judged on teddy bears and smiles. Not in the business world anyway. Money is a way of keeping score and Stan is all about winning.

Stan was not a star pupil in his youth, far from it. But while I don’t recall him ever doing an ROI analysis on the show, there is no doubt in my mind that he would pwn it. My guess is that his ROI analysis would include the carrying cost of money, opportunity loss, and maybe even some halo effect… just saying.

Stan is not without morals, though the early seasons of the show might have led us to believe that. He simply recognizes that people pay for what they value and he is in the business of providing value - with as little work and overhead as possible! He also recognizes the value of money in terms of trying to finance what he values … but more on Ford later. For now, know that Stan’s love of money and his understanding of it as a form of feedback on value creation is a powerful attribute for him and any analyst.

Street Smarts in the Form of Cognitive Insight

Stan understands people. Well, sort of. Stan understands how people think, whether he understands how they feel is an altogether different issue. He has cognitive insight — another great asset for any analyst or would-be con-man.

When life gives you lemons, call them ‘yellow oranges’ and sell them for double the price.

Aside from his love of money, it is his only other talent when it comes to sales. The combo leaves him a passable salesman and even a viable politician (unfortunately his criminal record put the kabash on that one). It also makes him a formidable manager. Numerous episodes have the twins and other characters challenging and testing Stan’s management skills. He almost never loses.

Though he may not communicate it well, he has a deep understanding of the thinking and decisions that drive his customers and his employees. He wisely realizes that young employees need discipline, that customers want interest — not terror, and that many people aspire beyond their means. He also realizes that many lessons need to be learned directly.

Understanding employees and customers is a key analytic strength. Stan makes a very strong model. While his gruff exterior and rough demeanor do not allow him to expand on his talents, they do serve to starkly focus viewers on his true core competency. His comic aspects do occasionally distract — but that is just good TV.

Grunkle Stan on Mabel’s pet pig.

Generally Objective Awareness

No one can be completely objective, not even Stan. But Stan is incredibly aware of his own short comings; has little passion beyond his family (and money); and though his cynical mindset may be a touch beyond healthy, he has a proclivity for seeing the core of things.

When his decisions seem stark, it is often the case that Stan is simply doing the cost-benefit analysis. What is most amazing is how unselfish those decisions are. His most epic example of objective decision making and perhaps Stan’s greatest moment comes in his final battle with Bill Cipher.

Thanks for reading! Here’s a cipher that even Stan would enjoy -

19–15–15–19 3–15–13–9–14–7 19–15–15–14

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