For many years if you asked me one of my favorite quotes, I might reply with “Do or do not. There is no try.” – Yoda
I would give that answer partly because I love movies and because I am a huge Star Wars fan. I also love the wisdom in the simple phrase. It addresses the mindset of fully committing to something and burning the bridges leaving no option for failure. Clearly, I still love the advice given by the greatest Jedi Master of them all, but maybe it isn’t right all the time?
What about the person who is sitting on the sidelines scared to get in the game? What about the person who is so concerned that their new product or business idea has to be perfect so they aren’t even taking action?
“Do it” implies that our attempt will succeed. If we don’t think we are “ready” yet, we may wait to do anything. Waiting, procrastinating, fear of failing is what keeps us from making progress. We are never ready. If we wait for the feeling of being ready, we may never act.
Who am I to challenge a Jedi Master? I’m just a normal guy. I can’t use the Force to send objects flying through the air. But I can try.
Maybe that is the right advice sometimes. Let’s just try. What if we don’t succeed? Well, let’s just try it. Let’s take the first step.
Let’s not be scare to try and fail. At least, we started. We should celebrate trying. It is a whole lot better than not trying. Once we are trying and taking action, Yoda’s advice makes sense when we want to master it. We have to fully commit and go beyond trying. But we don’t have to start there.
I have challenged a Jedi Master. I may have failed in my attempt, but at least I tried. I can feel good about that.
Rich Florence 