We All Answer to a Dark Lord

Whenever your underlings complain about the workload or deadlines, remind them: “We all answer to a Dark Lord”, implying your simply doing what your manager requests of you, simply responding to the pressure placed on you. Even the top executive has Dark Lords, whether it be shareholders or the greatest Dark Lord of all: profit.

Predicting the Future

The farther into the future that predictions are made the more accurate they become.

-Unknown

“Hiring Should be as Hard as Firing”

These are wise words to pass on to your managers.  Firing someone is the hardest thing a manager can do and therefore when they are hiring, remind them of the above Sith proverb and make them reflect on the magnitude of their hiring decision.  A body hired today, may have to be fired tomorrow.  Hire wisely.

Leaders Don’t Need to Lead - they just point the way…

Leadership isn’t so much of “hey follow me”, but rather pointing out where to go. Have you heard of the saying the blind leading the blind? As a Leader, you don’t want people aimlessly following you regardless of where you go.

Leaders carve out that Vision, point a beacon of light towards the solution, and clear out the path for where people need to go.

If you want to be a leader, or are a leader, make sure your mindset is less “follow me” and more “this is where to go”.

Work Attire

“Dress for the position you want, not the position you are in.”

Common sense is not so common

A famous quote that holds true throughout the universe.  Remember it when dealing with people in any situation.

Even amongst slaves, there are leaders…

Earlier this month we had an uprising on the slave planet of Tiyuk, a place we reserve for rebel scum that we’ve captured. Many rebels had escaped in a well coordinated plan, that I definitely will give kudos for. This wasn’t a mindless emotional uprising, but a well planned and executed feat - all because of one guy who rallied the slaves together.

And even throughout history, such as the slave gladiator Sparticus who led the escape of his fellow captives and even successfully fought against their pursuers… this demonstrates that even a slave can be a leader. People who by all intensive purposes have had all their rights and ability to make choices stripped away from them.

You don’t need to be a manager, or titled as someone that is indicative of leading people… Anyone can be a leader. Leaders aren’t nominated to lead, and they don’t wait to told to lead. They see the need, step up, and just do it.

What’s holding you back?

Luck is being prepared for an opportunity

Often people who are less accomplished like to blame the advancements of others as just pure luck, or that they themselves have had bad luck.

No. Those who excel in life are relentlessly persistent in their ambitious pursuits. They don’t react to opportunities, they’re prepared for them. No one knows when those opportunities will arise.

This doesn’t apply to just your life, career, or well being. It’s very applicable to business management as well. For example our ancient historic texts speak of a “tech bubble” that burst in the early 2000’s era; many companies clamped down on their I.T spending and determined that they would only invest once things got better.

However, companies that continued to invest during the tech wreck period were able to continue their technology innovation. Hence as a result, when the economy picked up they were totally ready for the opportunity and all their competitors were 1-3 years behind in their product cycles and would have to spend an inordinate amount of money to catch up.

For example, if you’ve been stashing away money and an incredible investment opportunity happens to come along - you’re prepared to leverage that opportunity. Those who are unprepared would try to scramble to raise the funds, or simply have to pass on the opportunity.

And so for those who were making the same salary as you (who could have saved the same amount) will continue to stay where they are, while you excel. Their perspective will be that you got incredibly lucky.

Yes. Absolutely, because you were prepared for it.

Get Things Done Today

“Never put off what you can do today for tomorrow.  If you like the results, you can do it again tomorrow.”

When employees have exuses

Asteroids do not concern me, Admiral. I want that ship, not excuses.

- Darth Vader

One of my personal favorites. Feel free to modify for your purposes, “<Excuses> do not concern me, <employee name>. I want that <X>, not excuses.”

E.g. “Weddings do not concern me, John, I want that report, not excuses”