I’m not a great moviegoer, but even if you are like me, you must have heard the odd wise saying of the little winkly guy from Star Wars, Yoda. I was at a client’s office the other day and we agreed on a specific action point that warranted making it into a calendar event, so it wasn’t forgotten. My client proudly added her new calendar reminder alarm to the event, which was Yoda saying:
“No! Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.”
We both thought it amusing, but there was also real meaning behind it, which resonated with my client. How often have we all said, “I’ll try” when asked to do something? But the fact is, either you will do it… or you won’t. There really is no “trying” as Yoda has pointed out. Either you will make that phone call… or you won’t. Either you will learn that computer program… or you won’t. There is no “in between”, which “trying” implies. My client says she procrastinates a bit (don’t we all) and uses this saying of Yoda to help her commit to action.
So it got me thinking, what other wise sayings of Yoda are out there and what could they mean in business life?
“[Luke:] I can’t believe it. [Yoda:] That is why you fail.”
Meaning: Ever said, or heard someone say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” If everyone followed this mantra, nothing would be invented. Everything that you see that’s been created didn’t exist at one point in time. Someone had to have a vision of it, believe they could produce it, then set to work making it happen. They believed it first… then worked at it until they succeeded.
“Named must your fear be before banish it you can.”
Meaning: Understand your fear, then the fear will disappear. Question why you have that fear. Where did it come from? In other words, don’t try to conquer it, but shine a light on it and examine it closely. Not a confident speaker? Accept that this is a real problem and look to make small changes in your skill base to slowly improve your technique in public speaking. Any skill can be learned. Lack of skills may result in you having an unrealistic fear.
“Always in motion is the future.”
Meaning: Nothing ever stands still. Everything is always changing… always. You can try to imagine some future event, but by the time that “future” appears as now, it has changed because other factors have affected it.
“But when the day comes that even old Yoda does not learn something from his students-then truly, he shall be a teacher no more.”
Meaning: No matter how smart you may think you are, you will always have more to learn. Commit to on-going learning in business. Read a book rather than watching TV. If you look to pick up 1 new business skill per week, you have more than 50 new business skills within a year. Also remember, sometimes the best teachers come from unexpected sources. That may be your staff, so be open to suggestions on ways to do thing better.
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU
Andy – The Trades Coach