Heroes and Wise Old Men

An elegant weapon for a more civilized age.

Some of you already know exactly what I am talking about. You hear that distinct "bruhoooomm” sound in your dreams and imagine the feel of the polished aluminum in your hand as it hums. You can already picture the movements you would make with it in your wrist as your face lights up, both literally and figuratively.

Even if you are not sci-fi fans, you may have still guessed the iconic weapon I was talking about. It is the lightsaber. I do not know anyone, especially men, under the age of 50 who did not covet one of these. Since George Lucas’ masterpiece came out in the 70’s, the lightsaber became the go-to weapon of choice for many nerds like myself.

Why did the lightsaber become so iconic? It was not just cool, but it became a symbol of standing against tyranny and oppression. It was a method of self-expression in a world of millions of face-less drones. It was the tool of a bygone age that helped a farm boy from the middle of nowhere over-take the evil galactic empire.

Even as I write this, I am tempted to imagine myself as Luke. As a human being, we want to imagine that we are destined for great things. However as a salesperson, we should embrace a different role.

Rather than seeing yourself as Luke, envision yourself as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Your job is to give the real hero, your customer, the ability and confidence to tackle the empires and build a world where justice and self-expression are the norm.

Too many salespeople out there want to be the star. They wear fancy suits and drive expensive cars all for the attention and accolades. Rather than doing that, aim to be the wise old man who gives the hero the tool they need to accomplish amazing things. Support them when things are the most challenging, and they will come to you for advice over and over again.