Luke Skywalker, Who’s Your Yoda?

March 14, 2009 by Frank Hooks · Leave a Comment

I have a good friend, Lisa, who always says we’re like brother and sister. She’s also good friends with my wife and we’ve known her for eighteen years. Lisa is always talking about her Yoda. Since I really didn’t get into Star Wars too much after the first one, I wasn’t sure what she was talking about. Lisa explained the whole Jedi Knight training to me and how Yoda is the mentor/confidant/wise one. You know, the little funny looking guy with the pointy ears. She was single and lived by herself for a long time so I thought maybe she had a stuffed animal or an invisible friend. The good news is that she’s not crazy and actually has a real life Yoda. Her Yoda is a good friend that she can turn to whenever she needs some advice or wisdom bestowed upon her. I keep asking her how her Yogi is doing. It’s not a yogi, it’s Yoda. It’s all very confusing because her Yoda also turns out to be a yogi. Now, that we have that all sorted out, let’s get to the point.
This Yoda topic comes up from time to time over the years. This past year it seems to keep popping up over and over again. Laying in bed one night, I asked my wife, “Who’s your Yoda?” I was surprised when she said it was me. I felt honored to be some one’s Yoda. She continued to tell me how I tell her things that keep her grounded and help to keep her life and what she’s doing on a daily basis in perspective.

This got me thinking. Who’s my Yoda? It used to be my dad, but he’s not around anymore. My mom? Kinda sorta, somethings you just can’t tell your mom about. Yesterday, I figured it out. My Yoda isn’t just one person. I can’t believe how lucky I am. I happen to have about fifteen different Yodas. They’re not Star Wars collectibles and they’re not invisible either. I happen to be a member of Vistage International. Vistage is an organization that provides peer groups for ceo’s, business owners and key executives. Vistage members are split up into groups of 12 to 18 members. We meet once a month from 8am to 5pm. No cell phones allowed. We discuss our businesses, lives, careers and life’s journey with other members. It’s an amazing experience and one I look forward to every month.

Yesterday, I met with my Vistage group. We usually have a talented speaker in the mornings and in the afternoons we do issue processing. It was my turn to bring a “wheelspin” issue. This is where I present something that’s going on in my life or my business that I’m mentally wrestling with and don’t quite know what to do. After I present my issue, I get to sit back and listen to all my Yoda’s. It’s both enlightening and uncomfortable at the same time. Some Yoda’s will tell you what’s wrong with your thinking and what you’re doing. Some Yoda’s will confirm and solidify your thinking. Some Yoda’s will tell you things about yourself and what you’re doing that you never saw or thought of your own. I’m lucky to have so many Yoda’s in my life.