Are You The Butler?

Or are you the Master, or Something Else Entirely?

You might not want to hear this.

In The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro paints a portrait of a man whose life is shaped by service. A butler, loyal to his employer. Bound by duty. Unable, or unwilling, to question the morality of the decisions made above him.

The question is not about him.

It is about you.

You might work for yourself. Or you might work inside a large corporation. Either way, the same choice stands. Do you operate as the butler? Do you follow the rules, execute the orders, and avoid questioning the higher plan? Or do you step into the space where you take control?

We have spent over 20 years in startups, investment, and mentoring. We have seen this decision shape careers and companies. The choice to serve. The choice to challenge. The choice to move up the chain.

None of these paths are wrong. But you must know which one you are taking.

Ask yourself:

• Who truly makes the decisions that affect your future?

• Do you influence them, or simply carry them out?

• If the decisions are wrong, do you speak up?

• Is your loyalty to the role, or to the outcome?

In business, many operate in environments controlled by others. Boards. Investors. Senior leadership. Regulations.

Some accept the role. They find security in delivering exactly what is expected.
Others resist. They push against the frame they are given.
A few climb high enough to set the frame themselves.

Where are you right now?

Three realities to face:

1. If you are the butler
   You execute decisions you did not make.
   Your value lies in flawless delivery.
   You succeed by anticipating needs before they are spoken.
   You fail when you start to believe you have power you do not have.

2. If you challenge the butler role
   You put yourself in conflict with authority.
   This can lead to progress, but also to removal.
   You must understand the cost of dissent before you speak.
   You cannot win every fight. Choose the ones that matter.

3. If you rise further up the chain
   You make the decisions others follow.
   You carry the weight of those decisions.
   Your success depends on moral clarity and strategic skill.
   You must be ready to be judged.

I once worked with a founder who was brilliant at execution. She could deliver complex projects without error. She was trusted. Respected. But she never questioned the board’s strategy.

The company grew, then stalled. The market shifted. The board’s plan failed. She was left carrying work for a direction that no longer made sense.

She told me, last monthr, she wished she had spoken up earlier.

The butler had the insight. He had the data. He lacked the permission. And he never took it.

If you recognise yourself in that story, act now:

• Map the real decision-making structure around you.

• Identify whose approval you depend on.

• Test the limits of your influence in small, low-risk moves.

• Build alliances with others who can support your view.

• Decide if your long-term plan is to serve, to challenge, or to lead.

This is not a moral judgement. Serving can be a valid choice. Challenging can be costly. Leading can be isolating.

What matters is that you choose. And that you accept the consequences of that choice.

The worst position is not to be the butler. It is to believe you are the master when you are not.

So, what are you?

If you are ready to find out, let’s talk.

Insights into Remains of the Day and the legacy it provides for insights into running a business and decision making.