"You still drive me crazy" says Princess Leia to Han Solo in what is one of the most emotional scenes of Episode VII, the last movie of the Star Wars saga. Something similar occurs in the entrepreneur world: the world created by George Lucas infatuates those who work with innovation and technology.
The movie depicts the fight between individualists and a centralized governance and Han Solo, a spaceship pilot who becomes a leader among the rebels, represents the quintessence of the entrepreneurs or the freelance work in the new economy. His Millennium Falcon may well be a vehicle in the Uber fleet and, the “bad guys” in Star Wars – The Empire- are associated to linear hierarchies that disruptive companies despise.
“Star Wars trilogy is ultimately about a bunch of scrappy individualists who fight against heavy-handed, centralized governance”, says James Douglas in an essay he wrote about Star Wars philosophy. That´s why it is no surprise that many Silicon Valley heroes such as Mark Zuckerberg, Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel have declared themselves as Star Wars fans in many interviews, maybe because Star Wars is riddled with analogies with the new entrepreneur world.
It is true that some cynic refer to another analogy: Han Solo and the entrepreneurs are involved in great adventures but large corporations still rule.
Either way, maybe the most symbolic of the Star Wars inspiring metaphors for the entrepreneur world is George Lucas´ life itself, for his first movie he created his own special effects company to maintain independence and make sure he owns merchandising copyright.
In fact, the movie saga started as a personal project and it took a lot of work and sacrifice. Only a few people believed in Star Wars and yet it became one of the most iconic stories of science fiction. Why? The movie can be analyzed from many different perspectives. To me, it is the story of a young boy who follows his dream and embarks on a journey to the unknown. Does it sound familiar?
So, what we can learn from 'Star Wars'?
The saga contains great lessons that have become philosophy of life for many:
1. Mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like. It's the only way we grow. - Padme Amidala
A mentor’s constructive criticism will show you new perspectives of your business. A good adviser will help you stay grounded, learn from feedback and from your own mistakes.
2. Yeah, I'm responsible these days. It's the price you pay for being successful. - Lando Calrissian
Once you have achieved some level of success you'll have to remember that your business is no longer just yours. Any decision you make affects several people. Moreover, surely someone helped you reach this point, why not do the same and help other entrepreneurs now you have the chance?
3. You're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view - Obi-Wan Kenobi
In life as in business it is essential to have an open mind and remain responsive to changes. Also, a good leader listens to other people’s opinions however different from their own.
4. Never tell me the odds! – Han Solo
Of course it is important to do some market research but it is also important to know when to listen to your gut. You should never let fear of failure immobilize you.
5. Who's the more foolish, the fool, or the fool who follows him? - Obi-Wan Kenobi
Do not follow a leader blindly. Pick your mentors and role models carefully and always question what they say. There is no one-size-fits-all solution and what worked for them may not work for you.
6. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful that you can possibly imagine - Obi-Wan Kenobi
Big failures can be the best teachers. Don’t be afraid to be wrong, it is inevitable to make mistakes as you grow as a person and entrepreneur. Once you have made a mistake do not obsess. Better learn from it and move on.
To sum up, likely one of the most iconic Star Wars quotes:
Do or do not, there is no try - Yoda.
About Ariel Sztern
Ariel is a Software Engineer with more than 20 years of experience in Software Development with experience in managing projects in more than 16 countries
Nowadays Ariel is responsible for managing the operation in USA as President of TISA Software LLC.
Beyond his technical knowledge and passion for the technology Ariel enjoys watching the NBA and playing Ping-Pong, he also likes sci-fi movies and was recognized as one of the 40 under 40 by the Houston Business Journal in 2014.
