May the Fourth, also known as Star Wars Day for its play on the famous phrase, “May the Force be with you,” is an annually recognized day for fans of the Star Wars saga to celebrate the historic franchise. From its blockbuster 1977 theatrical release of A New Hope to the latest Disney+ spinoffs, the Star Wars universe has cultivated one of the most engaged and passionate fan bases in the world, err, galaxy.
From its sheer entertainment value to the romance, humor, action and everything in between, the Star Wars franchise has produced timeless quotes and lessons that can be applied to all facets of personal and professional life. In honor of May the Fourth, we’re looking at some of the more iconic quotes and translating them for the tech industry.
“Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.” — Leia Organa in A New Hope
Translation: “I need enablement, certifications and training to grow my business.”
Obi-Wan Kenobi was a legendary Jedi Master, gifted in the way of the Force. He used his knowledge and mastery to train Anakin Skywalker and mentor Luke Skywalker in their respective journeys. There is a tremendous amount of Jedi Masters within the tech ecosystem who are equipped with the knowledge to enable channel partners in new technologies, practices and solutions, such as our ExitCertified business or the recently-announced Passage Program, where mentors help guide the next generation of cybersecurity experts.
“Do. Or do not. There is no try.” — Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back
Translation: “Embrace solutions orchestration or fall behind your competition. There is no status quo.”
Yoda, the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order has had immense wisdom to share in the Star Wars franchise, but maybe none as memorable as this line. In the IT ecosystem, the concept of solutions orchestration is one where all channel partners align with the concept of implementing multi-vendor, multi-technology solutions to address today’s next-gen needs. Simply put, channel partners that lean on the traditional linear supply chain are not staying status quo; instead, they’re lagging behind.
“It’s a trap!” — Admiral Ackbar in Return of the Jedi
Translation: “Be on the lookout for malicious phishing attacks from cybersecurity threat actors.”
Even those outside of the Star Wars fan base have seen the “It’s a trap!” meme or GIF in some context over the past decade. The quote by Admiral Ackbar was in response to recognizing deception upon arrival at the second Death Star. IT teams are battling their fair share of deceptive emails from cybercriminals hoping to infiltrate firewalls and filters to take advantage of vulnerable co-workers. The majority of malware and ransomware that are successful are simply due to users clicking or downloading unauthorized links or attachments. However, you can stay on top of these traps with these tips to protect, detect and remediate cybersecurity attacks.
“You can’t stop the change, any more than you can stop the suns from setting.” — Shmi Skywalker in The Phantom Menace
Translation: “Digital transformation is happening all around us and in every industry.”
It’s not easy to step out of your comfort zone, as Anakin’s mother recognized his uncertainty when faced with a new challenge. Over the past two years, the pandemic fueled years of digital transformation in just a few months, as workforces were moved to remote environments and IT projects were migrated to the cloud. It’s normal to feel hesitation and uncertainty, but shifting to a digital-led environment is a requirement in 2022. Good news though: the route to digital transformation might be simpler than you think.
“Today we fight for more than the Republic. Today we fight for all our brothers back home.” — Captain Rex in The Clone Wars
Translation: “Today, we establish a sustainable corporate responsibility program for all of the future generations to come.”
May the Fourth falls just a few weeks after Earth Day and just a week after Arbor Day, so the connection to making the world a better place couldn’t be more timely. In the Clone Wars, Captain Rex was looking out for more than just himself; he saw the big picture and the importance of fighting for a bigger cause. There are significant benefits to why organizations should invest in community relations or embed environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics into company culture, but none more important than the fact that we have the ability, right now, to start making impactful change for those that will follow in our footsteps.
“This is the Way.” — The Armorer in The Mandalorian
Translation: “The entire IT ecosystem solves end user challenges together.”
“This is the way” is the moral code and mantra used by the Mandalorian people to declare unspoken rules of protection and commitment. In the IT ecosystem, the mantra is closer to “the most important asset we have is each other.” Establishing a strong network of connections is a powerful way to solve end user challenges. One way we achieve that is through peer-to-peer communities, where like-minded individuals can share best practices and drive innovation in the channel.
“If not us, then who?” — Fennec Shand from The Book of Boba Fett
Translation: “If we don’t capitalize on next-gen technologies, then our competitors will.”
Fennec shares a moment with Boba Fett that their people need them as leaders. In the tech channel, organizations that capitalize early on next-gen trends, such as 5G, mobility, data analytics, hybrid cloud, cybersecurity and IoT can be looked at as innovative influencers and trusted advisors. Today’s world also heavily suits companies that support a flexible, everything-as-a-service model that can more easily adapt to a rapidly-changing market. If you’re not stepping up as the leader, then your competitor will.
Read last year’s May the Fourth article: Wisdom on Succeeding in Channel Technology
