Who is your Yoda?

I am a self-proclaimed Star Wars geek. Of course, I have seen all six movies and one of my greatest thrills in life was introducing my daughters to the two beloved trilogies (no, I never made them dress up as Princess Leia for their Halloween costumes!).

One of the most famous characters in Star Wars lore is Yoda. The Muppet-manufactured, wisdom giving Jedi always had just the right insight. His famous sayings included:

“Do or do not. There is no try.”
“Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by size, do you?”
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

Yoda knew just what to say and when to say it. He gave sage wisdom and counsel.

So who is your Yoda? We all need at least one or two people (or Jedi!) to keep us on the right path (and for you Star Wars fans, that means avoiding the path to the Dark Side). People who will help us when we face challenges at home or work. People who will give suggestions when work is overwhelming or when personal relationships are struggling. Life is not perfect—and we need to turn to others for help.

Before he passed away, my dad was my Yoda. Whenever I was facing a challenge at work or a career crossroads, Dad would offer advice (whether I wanted him to or not!). Today, I’m fortunate that my wife gives me insights along with a few trusted colleagues I greatly respect.

What makes a good Yoda? Every Yoda should:

(1)Provide you the unvarnished truth and not idle praise—You need people who will “call it like they see it.” In difficult situations we sometimes turn to people who will just listen and commiserate with us. While that is important, a true Yoda will tell you the truth: even if it hurts.

(2)Give short words of wisdom and not long winded answers—Do you know any old windbags? People who love to hear themselves talk. That is not a true Yoda. If you notice those quotes above Yoda was always giving pithy answers. Someone who can quickly succinctly summarize your situation and offer quick words of advice is a true Yoda.

(3)Have your best interest at heart—Yoda never had a hidden agenda; and someone you are turning to for counsel should only have one thing in mind: helping you succeed. You need people at work and life you can absolutely, 100% trust.

Everyone needs a Yoda. You need someone who can help you with your personal and professional life. We are not designed to go through life without help.

So who is your Yoda? Submit a comment telling us who your Yoda is and why.

Think Huge!