I’ll never forget the conversation I had with Will (my business partner) last year when he found out I was a sci-fi geek! He had no idea I was so passionate about all things Star Wars, (and I was equally dumbfounded that he wasn’t). After watching one of the six franchise installments for the 1000th time, I realized there are so many business lessons buried in them. (For the record, these thoughts are mine and mine alone, and do not reflect the thoughts or ideas of Lucas Films LTD, i.e. please don’t hurt me!) OK! Here it goes!
A long, long, time ago in a county far, far away… A young hero started a business…
Are you becoming Darth Vader?
Seeking the guidance of a mentor is a great idea whether you are a seasoned business veteran or thinking about a start-up. Finding the right person or persons to help you grow, both personally and professionally, is difficult and can have a huge impact on your journey to success or failure. Yoda and Emperor Palpatine are great examples to compare and contrast.
Most people simply look purely at the accomplishments of their potential mentor. Let’s take a look at Palpatine, for example; he started as a lowly senator and he was well-respected by his peers. He also was very persuasive as evidenced by his getting the entire galactic senate to name him Chancellor and Supreme Emperor of the known galaxy. This was his ultimate goal, and he was laser-focused on it. Pretty impressive on the surface, but what do you know about him as a person? People that interacted with Palpatine closely would describe him as ruthless, self-absorbed and well… evil! Poor Anakin Skywalker chose this guy to be his mentor because he wanted to be just as powerful and well known. BUT, Palpatine also taught him the way to get there was to do things as he did. Anakin didn’t realize he was becoming evil in the process of learning from his mentor. As a result, Anakin Skywalker ultimately took on the persona of the evil Darth Vader..woops. Yoda, on the other hand was equally well known for his power but also as a wise, kind, and brilliant teacher. He initially focused on the mastery his own skills which propelled him to the rank of Jedi Master. After which, he spent over 900 years dedicated his life to teaching young Jedi to develop and master their own skills as well as their humility. (Sign me up!!!)
Business application: It’s wise to seek out the help of a mentor and some people find it helpful to seek guidance from 2 or 3 at the same time. Do your due diligence. Selecting one with a great track record for success is a great place to start. Not only will they teach you great things about business but what else might they be “teaching” you?
- Who are 3 people you are considering as potential mentors?
- What is the story of their personal journey to success
- What type of person are they and do they have the qualities you really would like to emulate?
Unlikely alliances
All six of the Star Wars movies are loaded with a variety of strategic alliances including Droids, Jedi’s, Rebels, and Imperials, but by far- my favorite would be the little Ewoks. An Ewok is a 3 foot tall walking teddy bear, clutching a spear. When the Rebels teamed up with them, they took on the Imperial forces together with wooden sticks, rocks and gliders, and kicked some serious butt! What gave them the advantage in the face of overwhelming Imperial military superiority? Local knowledge and a common goal. The unassuming Ewoks shared their knowledge about the local terrain, and most importantly–were equally passionate about defeating the Imperial forces as the Rebels.
Business application: When sizing up potential business relationships or official partnerships, look beyond initial impressions. Open your mind to the possibilities. Get creative and really explore what that person or organization brings to the table.
- What potential strategic partnership could you possibly reconsider?
- How are their business goals similar to yours?
- What industry or local knowledge do they have that could potentially benefit all parties involved?
How did a purple light saber make it in the film?
Mace Windu, played by Samuel L. Jackson, is the only person in the first 3 movies that has a purple light saber. Why is that? It has everything to do with Jackson’s personal brand. He’s got a larger-than-life personality (both on-screen and off) which lands him acting gigs, requiring the portrayal of aggressive, no-nonsense characters with lots of machismo. It was for this unique “bad ass” quality that George Lucas wanted him for the role of Windu. On an British talk show interview Jacson shared that he agreed to take the role on one condition. All Jedi have either blue or green light sabers, and Jackson wanted his character to stand out from the rest, so (and I quote) “…he could pick himself out in one those big-ass fight scenes!” Brilliantly, he negotiated his having the only purple light saber.
Business application: Samuel L. Jackson’s personality is part of his brand, and the purple light saber was simply an extension of his unique image. When he’s cast in a movie, the directors are specifically looking for that type of actor, and movie-goers also know exactly what to expect from Samuel L. Jackson: A unique Bad-Ass!
- How would customer’s currently describe their first experience with you, your service, or product?
- How can you integrate your personality into your own, unique brand experience?
- What are the expectations of your services/products from your client referral sources and are they the same as your clients?
- What are 3 changes can you make to ensure everyone you encounter gets the experience you are attempting to brand?
There is a disturbance in The Force!
All Jedi and Sith, (who are the bad guys, by the way) use The Force. The Force is described in the Star War movies as the energy that flows through everything and binds the galaxy together. People “in tune” with The Force can use it to move things with their mind, see the future, and even to detect when something is going well or badly.
Business application: You might not have the ability to use The Force, but you do have the ability to develop your gut instincts. “Listening to your gut” is a phrase used to describe your first thoughts and feelings regarding a situation or potential opportunity. In a split second your brain makes a snap decision in terms of what’s good and bad about that situation. Developing the skill to pause briefly and dial in to your gut (before proceeding) is a skill the vast majority of business owners and industry tycoons employ before making an important decision. Honing this skill can help you immeasurably–especially when you can’t get all of the information you want or need to make an “informed” decision.
- When was the last time you trusted your gut, and it served you well?
- How could you create a true “gut check” when faced with a major decision?
- What resources are available that would help you in further developing your gut? (Hint: Gladwell’s book “Blink” is awesome!)
“I find your lack of faith disturbing”
I LOVE this line. Darth Vader was on the Death Star when some lippy commander challenged his devotion to The Force. After uttering, “I find your lack of faith disturbing,” he proceeded to do a Sith neck choke and almost killed him–just to prove a point. The rest of the folks present were effectively terrified, and immediately snapped into line, and never questioned his faith again! This doesn’t mean you should choke someone to death if they rattle you, but there is a deeper lesson here– one of conviction in your belief that something will work.
Business Application: It’s called “The Knowing.” It has two parts: The first half occurs when you have such conviction for an action or idea that you absolutely know it will work no matter what. The other half of the equation happens when something or someone gets in your way. You MUST be willing to “go to the mat” over it because other challenges and people will inevitably mount as you dive deeper into implementing your idea. When you are actually required to fight for the survival of your idea or your vision, you will discover your true passion for its success–and that is a hallmark of all successful visionaries, including American greats like: Rockefeller, Edison, and even Lucas himself. Some have failed miserably and lost everything before they were successful, but they were willing to do whatever it takes.
- What dream do you have that you “KNOW” will work?
- What is the worst thing that could happen if you failed and could you handle this?
- What is the best thing that could happen if you succeeded?
- How bad do you want it?
My wife (also a sci-fi geek) and I both own businesses and are well acquainted with the hardships, ups, downs, joys, and especially the learnings that come along with the journey. We both still watch the Star Wars movies over and over again, and each time we get a little nugget that we apply to our business and life.
Movies can influence how you see the world and do business. What great lessons have they taught you? Let us know by posting your favorite movie and what it taught you on our Facebook page!
